In July, Canada abstained from a vote calling for a debate about the ramped up blockade from the U.S., which has reportedly cost the Cuban economy over $8 billion between March 2025 and February 2026.
In an email to The Grind, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (GAC) acknowledged Canada’s “longstanding position” against the U.S. embargo, but did not confirm whether it would hold that position again this October.
The GAC is “closely monitoring developments” while continuing to “assess evolving circumstances and maintain dialogue with regional partners,” wrote spokesperson Thida Ith.
Ith declined to say whether U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had applied economic pressure to get Canada to vote in the U.S.’ favour come October.
But the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) believes he did. Samantha Hislop, CNC co-chair, told The Grind that a Liberal foreign policy advisor — whom she preferred not to name — had confirmed to them that while Rubio had spoken with GAC Minister Anita Anand in August “in the context of trade negotiations … the official response … is that Canada will not change its vote.”
Earlier this year, the CNC launched a campaign to ensure that happens, which includes a parliamentary petition sponsored by Winnipeg NDP MP Leah Gazan.
The petition, with more than 3000 signatures, calls for Canada to deepen ties with Cuba, protect Canadian corporations doing business there, lift sanctions against non-essential travel, and reaffirm its annual UN vote.
GAC did not answer The Grind’s question about whether they would send oil to Cuba, instead saying the $5.5 million aid package they sent in April included “$500,000 to the World Food Programme (WFP), for emergency food assistance and logistics support, such as UN purchase of fuel for the humanitarian response.”
Yet flights from Canada remain suspended.
Sunwing told The Grind their position remains “unchanged,” while Air Canada’s and WestJet’s websites state their flights remain suspended as of late September.
David Barlavi, owner of California-based Piña Tours and CubaABC.com, says flights from the U.S. have also dwindled, with bookings “at zero for months.” Donations via Aid4Cuba.com are also at around “one person a month.”
Meanwhile, Hislop says the Canadian Network on Cuba is sitting on warehouses of needed aid because there’s “not a single shipping company that will ship to Cuba.”
“This is a war on Cuba…. It costs lives, and it affects every facet of life,” she said.
This article appeared in the 2026 Oct/Nov issue.
