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.
Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC)
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