This article originally appeared in the Hamilton Spectator.
By Sarah Teich and Michael Lima, June 12, 2025
If Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government intends to chart a new course, not simply continue Trudeau-era diplomacy, it must adopt a more principled and proactive foreign policy. One clear place to start is Cuba.
For decades, Canada’s Cuba policy has been shaped by outdated beliefs and misguided assumptions. These are long overdue for a reckoning.
Canada’s Cuba policy should no longer stand apart from the American approach. Differentiation, long viewed as a hallmark of Canada’s independent foreign policy, is increasingly outdated. As authoritarianism rises — and Chinese influence in particular spreads across Latin America and the Caribbean — democratic allies must act in co-ordination. Canada’s stance should reflect this geopolitical reality.
Another outdated belief is that quiet diplomacy, trade and investment might draw Havana away from its alliances with China and Russia. In reality, these relationships are not tactical or superficial. They are strategic and entrenched, rooted in shared repression tactics and a vision of a new global order hostile to democracy. A cautious, conciliatory approach will not alter these deeply entrenched alignments.
In fact, the Cuban regime has only grown more repressive, despite Canada’s long-standing efforts to encourage reform through engagement. July 2021 pro-democracy protests were met with violent crackdowns and mass arrests. Political repression is at its worst in decades. Protesters are imprisoned, journalists silenced and artists censored. Canada might better grasp these realities if its embassy in Havana engaged with human rights defenders, not only regime officials and government-aligned NGOs.
Globally, Cuba is increasingly positioning itself as a key player in a growing authoritarian bloc. Reports from the Wall Street Journal and the Center for Strategic and International Studies warn of Cuba-based Chinese surveillance facilities, blending Beijing’s technology with Havana’s intelligence networks. Cuba has also strengthened military and strategic ties with Russia and Iran, while supporting authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua. This is no longer just a domestic human rights crisis — it’s part of a global effort to erode democracy.
As a leading democracy, Canada is well equipped to respond with diplomatic, legal and political tools. A key step is applying targeted sanctions on Cuban officials responsible for repressing protesters and collaborating with Russia and Belarus in the war on Ukraine.
Canada has applied targeted sanctions in numerous contexts, including against officials in Iran, Russia, Belarus, Venezuela and Myanmar. Applying similar measures to Cuban repression would be a consistent extension. The United States has applied targeted sanctions. Canada has failed to act — missing a vital opportunity to work with our allies on important shared priorities.
Private diplomacy has also proven ineffective. Closed-door meetings with Cuban officials on human rights have led nowhere. Public condemnation exerts greater pressure on authoritarian regimes. Cuba would be no exception.
Beyond sanctions, Canada must protect its citizens from foreign interference. For example, Cuban access to Canadian airwaves provides Russia a significant loophole. Cuba’s national broadcaster regularly rebroadcasts content from RT — a Russian state-controlled network. In 2023, Democratic Spaces — a Canadian NGO focused on democracy and human rights in Cuba — formally asked the CRTC to remove Cubavisión Internacional from its list of authorized foreign broadcasters. Despite the broadcast regulator’s stated policy to respond within days, they have not yet replied.
Canadians take pride in our foreign policy values — appeasement is not one of them. There is a better path, grounded in principle and action, and aligned with Canada’s democratic values and long-term interests. Imposing targeted sanctions, removing Cubavisión Internacional from Canadian airways and ensuring Canadian diplomats engage with civil society would send a clear message: Canada stands with those who fight for freedom, not with those who work to suppress it.
