I went to Cuba in 2012 as part of a group put together by the Cuban, Canadian friendship committee. I hardly went to any beaches, but I stayed in Holguin and met a lot of Cuban people. Poverty was (is) a huge issue mostly because of American sanctions. It was a great opportunity to see how Cuban people live and to experience some Cuban culture: music, plays etc. I also visited at least one Cuban hospital and got some insight into the amazing work that Cuban doctors do in Cuba and around the world. I hope that PM Carney does not allow us to be bullied by Trump. He seems to be having a difficult time doing that, but lets hope he gets a little gutsier.
As you wrote in Corporate Control, free trade was less about subordinating Canada to the highest bidder and more about helping Canadian capitalists subordinate more of the rest of the world. Carney can live within the lie as long as he benefits from our subordination. Unless the million Canadian visitors to Cuba organize, Carney and Anand will remain silent because a broken Cuba presents an even bigger economic opportunity than a blockaded one.
Canadians, Cubans, Mexicans and everyone else on this new world continent need to reclaim the identity of Americans. We need to connect to the original people of this land and return to the radical democracy that some of them practiced. We need to forget the United States as a bad dream, I mean, they’re not even united anymore. Maybe some of them will join us as we redefine what it means to be American.
Isn’t it possible that the Prime Minister is waiting until all the Canadians are safely out before he makes a statement about the future of Cuba. Who knows what the US might do to our citizens otherwise. Just a thought.
It could lead to a major military and economic confrontation but I agree with you. We shoukd break the oil embargo and continu me our work with thid beautiful country. I've been to Cuba four times. The country has many flaws, but it doesnt deserve this. Here's a thought, maybe we can offer them province status - we solve their oil problem, they solve our doctor problem and demographic.
I've visited Cuba dozens of times, explored it's history, enjoyed it's beauty, and it's wonderful brave people. I've witnessed it's good years, bad years. I saw the changes while Obama was president - what diplomacy can accomplish. Was there in December, and these good people are suffering again, worse so today.
We should not abandon Cuba to the Trump regime - just as we wouldnt/shouldn't abandon Greenland, Ukraine.
You see that word “Ukraine” up there? Yeah? Well three words later is the word “its”. So the antecedent that “its” is referring to is “Ukraine”. Simple, isn’t it? ffs
I definitely that Canada should be standing up and supporting Cuba. Standing up to the American regime and demanding that their embargo be ended. If they won't do that we should break it, send food and aid, work with them, China and Mexico to get solar electric power functioning all across the country. Solar energy is ideal because it can be a decentralised small source of local power. They can work toward getting away from fossil fuels for much of their needs. It would take years, no doubt, but got to start somewhere.
Canada's silence and inaction is inexcusable. Cubans will soon be malnourished. We should send food and fuel immediately. This is no different than hurricane relief. And if the US objects, too bad...
From Globe and Mail e-mail post (sorry, no link so I have to post the entire article):
The cut-off point
More than 600 flights on Canada’s three major airlines were meant to depart for Cuba this month, carrying upwards of 100,000 passengers to cities across the Caribbean country. But on Monday, WestJet, Air Transat and Air Canada each suspended their service to Cuba, effective immediately. Empty planes will now take off from Toronto and Montreal instead, collecting thousands of Canadians currently visiting the island to bring them back home.
The problem for the airlines is that Cuba is nearly out of jet fuel, part of a crushing energy crisis triggered by the White House’s oil blockade. For decades, the island relied on Venezuelan oil to power its aging electrical grid – but U.S. President Donald Trump stopped that flow in January, after he ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Mexico, Cuba’s second-biggest oil supplier, followed suit under pressure of jacked-up U.S. tariffs. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO,” Trump posted last month. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
What that deal might actually look like remains fuzzy: Cuba doesn’t have much by way of resources to offer the United States. Rolling blackouts are common, stretching anywhere from 10 to 20 hours. In October, government officials said more than three million people – at least a third of the population – are without reliable access to water. Food and medicine is scarce and mosquito-borne illnesses are rampant, overwhelming hospitals. According to the Social Rights Observatory, a Spanish think-tank, 89 per cent of Cuban families live in extreme poverty.
Cuba routinely blames its difficulties on the six-decade-long U.S. trade embargo, though widespread domestic corruption and bureaucracy haven’t helped the state-run economy. Neither did the COVID-19 pandemic, which cratered its tourism industry. In 2018, a record 4.7 million people travelled to the island; last year, just 1.8 million did. Canada made up a huge share of that number – more than 750,000 of us visited in 2025. Now the airlines’ cancelled flights have cut off Cuba’s top source of tourists.
Last week, at a rare press conference, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said he was prepared to implement “Option Zero,” the strict austerity plan drawn up by Fidel Castro after the Soviet Union – and its support for the island – collapsed in 1991. Diaz-Canel recently introduced a series of emergency measures in response to the energy crisis: food rationing, a shortened work week, reduced school hours, limited transit and hospital services. Anyone who needs fuel for their cars now has to download an app, though the online queue for a turn at a gas station doesn’t seem to move.
Throughout his two-hour press conference, Diaz-Canel railed against Trump’s oil blockade, calling U.S. actions “criminal,” “vulgar” and “inhumane,” even comparing them to “those of Hitler’s hordes.” It’s unclear, however, who exactly the address was for. Trump doesn’t seem concerned about a collapsing Cuba: He’s already said the country is “going down for the count.” And most Cubans missed Diaz-Canel’s broadcast altogether. Their power was out.
Let's instead use the money to fund the creation of a vertically integrated electric battery industry.
I'm not sure why Cuba's destiny is any more consequential to Canada's global strategy amdist this apparent New World Order than that of Ukraine's. I agreed with your article about Freeland, but I don't follow why we're supposed to be particularly moved here by Pierre in the rowboat or Fidel on the sled. Your personal ideological sympathies aside, why should we be?
It seems there's myriad suffering and injustice occurring around the world all day, everyday. Highlighting particular cases over others warrants a good explanation. It's not difficult to understand why Carney would turn his head in Cuba's case, otherwise.
I went to Cuba in 2012 as part of a group put together by the Cuban, Canadian friendship committee. I hardly went to any beaches, but I stayed in Holguin and met a lot of Cuban people. Poverty was (is) a huge issue mostly because of American sanctions. It was a great opportunity to see how Cuban people live and to experience some Cuban culture: music, plays etc. I also visited at least one Cuban hospital and got some insight into the amazing work that Cuban doctors do in Cuba and around the world. I hope that PM Carney does not allow us to be bullied by Trump. He seems to be having a difficult time doing that, but lets hope he gets a little gutsier.
As you wrote in Corporate Control, free trade was less about subordinating Canada to the highest bidder and more about helping Canadian capitalists subordinate more of the rest of the world. Carney can live within the lie as long as he benefits from our subordination. Unless the million Canadian visitors to Cuba organize, Carney and Anand will remain silent because a broken Cuba presents an even bigger economic opportunity than a blockaded one.
Yes. Send food. Medical supplies. Fuel.
Canadians, Cubans, Mexicans and everyone else on this new world continent need to reclaim the identity of Americans. We need to connect to the original people of this land and return to the radical democracy that some of them practiced. We need to forget the United States as a bad dream, I mean, they’re not even united anymore. Maybe some of them will join us as we redefine what it means to be American.
Isn’t it possible that the Prime Minister is waiting until all the Canadians are safely out before he makes a statement about the future of Cuba. Who knows what the US might do to our citizens otherwise. Just a thought.
@markjcarney We urge you to send support for food and medicine to Cuba.
It could lead to a major military and economic confrontation but I agree with you. We shoukd break the oil embargo and continu me our work with thid beautiful country. I've been to Cuba four times. The country has many flaws, but it doesnt deserve this. Here's a thought, maybe we can offer them province status - we solve their oil problem, they solve our doctor problem and demographic.
I've visited Cuba dozens of times, explored it's history, enjoyed it's beauty, and it's wonderful brave people. I've witnessed it's good years, bad years. I saw the changes while Obama was president - what diplomacy can accomplish. Was there in December, and these good people are suffering again, worse so today.
We should not abandon Cuba to the Trump regime - just as we wouldnt/shouldn't abandon Greenland, Ukraine.
You’ve already abandoned Ukraine. You helped its Nazi government send a million people to their deaths.
Who?
You just said: “we wouldnt/shouldn't abandon Greenland, Ukraine.”. So clearly, you.
I mean who is a nazi gov't?
What level of reading comprehension do you have?
You see that word “Ukraine” up there? Yeah? Well three words later is the word “its”. So the antecedent that “its” is referring to is “Ukraine”. Simple, isn’t it? ffs
Angry much?
So your opinion is that Ukraine's gov't is nazi.
Sounds like Kremlin propaganda to me.
I definitely that Canada should be standing up and supporting Cuba. Standing up to the American regime and demanding that their embargo be ended. If they won't do that we should break it, send food and aid, work with them, China and Mexico to get solar electric power functioning all across the country. Solar energy is ideal because it can be a decentralised small source of local power. They can work toward getting away from fossil fuels for much of their needs. It would take years, no doubt, but got to start somewhere.
are you aware of any relief organizations in AB or BC sending needed goods to Cuba?
Open your eyes, government of Canada! Just because the US is bullying us, doesn't mean we should bully our Cuban friends!
🇨🇦💙 Does anybody know an authentic Cuban charity’s website?
Canada's silence and inaction is inexcusable. Cubans will soon be malnourished. We should send food and fuel immediately. This is no different than hurricane relief. And if the US objects, too bad...
Thank you so much for this!!
From Globe and Mail e-mail post (sorry, no link so I have to post the entire article):
The cut-off point
More than 600 flights on Canada’s three major airlines were meant to depart for Cuba this month, carrying upwards of 100,000 passengers to cities across the Caribbean country. But on Monday, WestJet, Air Transat and Air Canada each suspended their service to Cuba, effective immediately. Empty planes will now take off from Toronto and Montreal instead, collecting thousands of Canadians currently visiting the island to bring them back home.
The problem for the airlines is that Cuba is nearly out of jet fuel, part of a crushing energy crisis triggered by the White House’s oil blockade. For decades, the island relied on Venezuelan oil to power its aging electrical grid – but U.S. President Donald Trump stopped that flow in January, after he ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Mexico, Cuba’s second-biggest oil supplier, followed suit under pressure of jacked-up U.S. tariffs. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO,” Trump posted last month. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
What that deal might actually look like remains fuzzy: Cuba doesn’t have much by way of resources to offer the United States. Rolling blackouts are common, stretching anywhere from 10 to 20 hours. In October, government officials said more than three million people – at least a third of the population – are without reliable access to water. Food and medicine is scarce and mosquito-borne illnesses are rampant, overwhelming hospitals. According to the Social Rights Observatory, a Spanish think-tank, 89 per cent of Cuban families live in extreme poverty.
Cuba routinely blames its difficulties on the six-decade-long U.S. trade embargo, though widespread domestic corruption and bureaucracy haven’t helped the state-run economy. Neither did the COVID-19 pandemic, which cratered its tourism industry. In 2018, a record 4.7 million people travelled to the island; last year, just 1.8 million did. Canada made up a huge share of that number – more than 750,000 of us visited in 2025. Now the airlines’ cancelled flights have cut off Cuba’s top source of tourists.
Last week, at a rare press conference, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said he was prepared to implement “Option Zero,” the strict austerity plan drawn up by Fidel Castro after the Soviet Union – and its support for the island – collapsed in 1991. Diaz-Canel recently introduced a series of emergency measures in response to the energy crisis: food rationing, a shortened work week, reduced school hours, limited transit and hospital services. Anyone who needs fuel for their cars now has to download an app, though the online queue for a turn at a gas station doesn’t seem to move.
Throughout his two-hour press conference, Diaz-Canel railed against Trump’s oil blockade, calling U.S. actions “criminal,” “vulgar” and “inhumane,” even comparing them to “those of Hitler’s hordes.” It’s unclear, however, who exactly the address was for. Trump doesn’t seem concerned about a collapsing Cuba: He’s already said the country is “going down for the count.” And most Cubans missed Diaz-Canel’s broadcast altogether. Their power was out.
Let's instead use the money to fund the creation of a vertically integrated electric battery industry.
I'm not sure why Cuba's destiny is any more consequential to Canada's global strategy amdist this apparent New World Order than that of Ukraine's. I agreed with your article about Freeland, but I don't follow why we're supposed to be particularly moved here by Pierre in the rowboat or Fidel on the sled. Your personal ideological sympathies aside, why should we be?
It seems there's myriad suffering and injustice occurring around the world all day, everyday. Highlighting particular cases over others warrants a good explanation. It's not difficult to understand why Carney would turn his head in Cuba's case, otherwise.