Monday, July 15, 2019

Día de Acción en las Redes Sociales 17 julio: Canada must fully reopen the IRCC Office in Havana




July 17, 2019 - Coast-to-Coast Day of Action!

Canada Must Fully Reopen the IRCC Office & All Visa Services to Cubans in Havana, Cuba!

Press Contact:
Isaac Saney - Co-chair and National Spokesperson of the Canadian Network on Cuba
902-449-4967 | isaney@hotmail.com

On July 17, 2019, people across Canada will take part in a day of action demanding that the government of Canada fully reopen the IRCC Office and all visa services offered to Cubans in Havana, Cuba. This campaign, initiated by the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), will include calls and emails to elected officials and will use the hashtags #CdnVisas4Cuba #UnblockCuba and #NoMasBloqueo on social media. The campaign also coincides with the launching of a new national petition with the same demand, directed towards Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland; and Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen.

On May 8, 2019 the Government of Canada made the abrupt decision to shut down the section of its Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) Office in Havana through which visas were processed for Cuban citizens wishing to visit Canada. This includes Cubans traveling for family visits, and those seeking work or study permits. This decision has introduced unreasonable delays and significant financial obstacles, as well as personal and emotional distress for those Cubans seeking to travel to Canada, and will cause (and has caused), among other things, significant damage to family unification, business, cultural, scientific, and sports relations.

Each year over a million Canadians travel to Cuba. A Cuban grandmother, Odalys Riverón Martinez, now denied the ability to meet her baby grandson in Canada, was quoted by the CBC saying, “How is it possible that Canada closes the doors to this country who receives them?"

The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), represented across Canada by 20 member groups, promotes social, cultural, political, and economic relations between Canada and Cuba. Canada and Cuba have a long history of uninterrupted diplomatic relations since 1945. The CNC views this recent government of Canada decision as a serious departure from these friendly relations, a relationship which benefits Cubans and Canadians alike.

For further inquiries please contact: 
Isaac Saney |  isaney@hotmail.com
Julio Fonseca | jfonseca@rogers.com

You can also help by signing this Petition

Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC)

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