The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Canadian government to lift economic pressure on Cuba by collaborating with international partners to ease humanitarian hardships exacerbated by longstanding U.S. Sanctions, a call rooted in solidarity with the Cuban people amid worsening shortages of medicine, food, and energy.
Why Canada’s Voice Matters in the Cuba Debate
Canada has maintained diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba longer than most Western nations, a relationship dating back to the early 1960s when it refused to join the U.S.-led embargo following the Cuban Revolution. This historical continuity gives Ottawa a unique channel to advocate for humanitarian exemptions without being dismissed as ideologically aligned with Havana. As Carney settles into his role as Prime Minister, his background as former Governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada positions him to understand the macroeconomic toll of prolonged sanctions—not just on Cuba, but on global supply chains for nickel, cobalt, and medical supplies where Cuba plays a niche but critical role.
Here is why that matters: U.S. Sanctions on Cuba, codified through the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, restrict foreign firms that traffic in Cuban-confiscated property from operating in the United States, creating a chilling effect on third-country investment. While Canada is exempt from these extraterritorial provisions under the 1998 Canada-Cuba Cooperation Agreement, Canadian businesses still face indirect risks due to U.S. Dominance in global finance. For instance, Canadian banks have occasionally hesitated to process Cuba-related transactions fearing secondary sanctions, even when legally permissible.
The Humanitarian Toll Beneath the Headlines
Cuba’s current crisis is not merely a product of U.S. Policy but a convergence of factors: collapsed tourism revenues post-pandemic, Venezuela’s reduced oil subsidies due to its own economic collapse, and internal inefficiencies in a centrally planned economy struggling to adapt. By early 2026, the World Food Programme reported that over 30% of Cubans faced moderate to severe food insecurity, while the Pan American Health Organization documented chronic shortages of antibiotics, insulin, and dialysis supplies—conditions PSAC describes as “a silent humanitarian emergency.”
But there is a catch: lifting pressure does not mean endorsing the Cuban government’s political system. Rather, it reflects a growing consensus among international humanitarian actors that sanctions designed to provoke regime change often inflict disproportionate harm on civilians while failing to achieve their stated goals. This viewpoint was echoed by the UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures, who stated in March 2026 that “sanctions on Cuba have worsened access to essential medicines and intensified migration pressures, with no measurable impact on democratic reform.”
“The idea that economic strangulation leads to political liberation has been repeatedly debunked. In Cuba’s case, six decades of sanctions have entrenched hardship without shifting the political balance an inch.”
— Dr. María Fernanda Espinosa, former President of the UN General Assembly and Ecuadorian Foreign Minister, speaking at the Geneva Forum on Humanitarian Sanctions, April 2026
Global Ripple Effects: From Nickel Markets to Migration Flows
Cuba’s economic distress reverberates beyond its shores. The island holds significant reserves of nickel and cobalt—key components in electric vehicle batteries—and while its mining output is modest compared to Indonesia or the Democratic Republic of Congo, disruptions still affect niche markets. Canadian firm Sherritt International, which operates the Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar but has historical ties to Cuban nickel ventures, has lobbied Ottawa for a clearer sanctions framework to protect its legacy investments.
deteriorating conditions in Cuba have contributed to a new wave of migration. U.S. Coast Guard data shows interdictions of Cuban migrants rose by 40% in fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous year, with many attempting perilous journeys to Florida or via Central American routes. This surge adds strain to regional migration systems already coping with flows from Haiti, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
To contextualize the stakes, consider the following comparative data on sanctions impact and humanitarian access:
| Indicator | Cuba (2025) | Venezuela (2025) | Iran (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Sanctions Regime | Comprehensive (Helms-Burton) | Comprehensive (Executive Orders) | Comprehensive (JCPOA withdrawal) |
| Medicine Shortage Severity (WHO) | High | Critical | High |
| Annual Emigration Rate (per 1,000) | 18.2 | 22.1 | 9.7 |
| Key Export Commodity | Nickel, medical services | Oil | Oil, petrochemicals |
The Case for Pragmatic Engagement
Advocates for easing pressure on Cuba argue that engagement—not isolation—has historically yielded better outcomes. The Obama administration’s 2014–2017 rapprochement, which included restoring diplomatic ties and easing travel restrictions, coincided with a rise in Cuban entrepreneurship, increased U.S. Agricultural exports, and expanded people-to-people ties. While the Trump administration reversed many of these measures, the Biden administration has partially reinstated visa processing and remittance allowances.
Canada, as a middle power with credible diplomatic access to both Washington and Havana, is well-positioned to quietly facilitate backchannel discussions on humanitarian carve-outs—such as permitting expedited approvals for medical exports or creating a multilateral fund to support Cuba’s renewable energy transition, reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels.
As one Caribbean diplomat based in Ottawa noted off the record: “Canada doesn’t need to agree with Havana’s politics to recognize that sick children shouldn’t go without penicillin because of a geopolitical grudge match that ended decades ago.”
Conclusion: Solidarity as Strategic Statecraft
The PSAC campaign is not merely an act of moral sympathy—it is a call for pragmatic statecraft in an era where humanitarian crises increasingly bleed into migration, economic instability, and geopolitical tension. Lifting undue pressure on Cuba serves Canadian interests by reducing migration pressures, protecting legitimate trade interests, and reinforcing Canada’s reputation as a principled actor in global affairs.
As the world grapples with multipolar competition and climate-driven fragility, the Cuba file offers a test case: can nations separate humanitarian concern from ideological opposition? For Mark Carney and his government, answering that question affirmatively could define a new chapter in Canada’s foreign policy—one where solidarity is not just a slogan, but a strategy.
What role should middle powers like Canada play in easing humanitarian impacts of long-standing sanctions? Share your perspective below.
