Cooling off on Cuba
Ottawa's excessive friendliness to the repressive Castro regime has made many Canadians uncomfortable. While few on this side of the border have shared Washington's obsessive hatred of the Cuban dictator - or have liked U.S. efforts to extend the reach of its anti-Castro laws beyond U.S. jurisdiction - many also have been embarrassed by a policy that has sometimes had an air of adolescent rebelliousness.
Mr. Castro is, after all, a Communist dictator who presides over a regime that jails peaceful dissidents. While that should not necessarily prevent Canadians from doing business with Cuba or having correct diplomatic relations with that country, it has been hard to square Canada's vociferous support for human rights around the world with its friendly stance toward a longtime human-rights abuser.
Now, Ottawa at last is "reviewing" its policy on Cuba. Prime Minister Chretien confirmed yesterday a report that Ottawa has been quietly freezing and re-examining its links to the country as a result of human-rights abuses there. Ministerial visits have been postponed and at least two joint projects have been suspended.
The proximate cause of the reassessment was the sentencing in March of four peaceful dissidents to jail terms ranging from 31Ú2 to five years. Their outrageous treatment was particularly disappointing to Ottawa, given that Mr. Chretien had raised their case during a visit there last year. (Perhaps another factor behind Ottawa's welcome change of attitude is to be found in a Wall Street Journal report that Canadian companies, which have been major investors in Cuba, are losing interest in that country anyway, complaining of poor treatment and unfavourable economic conditions. That means that less is at stake for Canada if relations sour.)
For the past couple of years, at least, Ottawa has made a point of saying that it has been raising human rights with Cuban officials. In January 1997, Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy made much of a human-rights deal he negotiated with Cuban officials during a visit there - a document that basically amounted to some wishy-washy plans to hold seminars and "share experiences." Cuban officials all along made it clear they did not plan to change their behaviour. And they haven't.
Canada's role as the host of two forthcoming western hemisphere meetings gives it potential leverage since Cuba is trying hard to transcend U.S. efforts to isolate it diplomatically and economically.
But if Cuba blithely continues its abusive ways, Canada should continue to distance itself from Mr. Castro. Having correct relations with unsavoury regimes is one thing, but lending them encouragement and help is quite another. If Canada's policy of "constructive engagement" with the Castro regime shows no sign of working, then it should be scrapped.
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The chances of change
In Cuba and Washington, attitudes slowly shift
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Gloria Estefan in concert: new pressures
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![[Photo: Gloria Estefan]](http://pages.infinit.net/westweb/estefan.jpg)
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BY ANDREW PHILLIPS
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MACLEAN'S / MAY 4, 1998
- Wednesday, May 20, 1998 Pope asks for Chretien's aid on Cuba
Vatican will push land-mine treaty if
Canada will help get visas for missionaries
By Alan Freeman
ROME -- Canada's unusual diplomatic alliance with the Vatican took a new turn yesterday as the Pope's top advisers promised Prime Minister Jean Chrétien that the Vatican will push for ratification of the global land-mine treaty among primarily Roman Catholic Latin American nations.
- Tuesday, May 19, 1998 U.S. bends on Helms-Burton
Europe cuts a deal Canada could join:
Firms that deal with Cuba can't get government aid
Washington The United States and the European Union have agreed to defang the contentious
Helms-Burton law, a deal that should also allow Canadian companies to do business with Cuba
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Castro to consider rights cases
Cuban president 'would have preferred me not to raise'
jailed dissidents, Chrétien says By Paul Knox
HAVANA -- Cuban President Fidel Castro promised yesterday to consider releasing four prominent political dissidents, but showed his distaste for the theme during a two-hour talk with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. "I don't think he was very happy," Mr. Chrétien told reporters after urging the Cuban leader to release the prisoners and take other steps to reduce restrictions on political freedom.
MY HAVANA by Anne Bayin
CBC NEWS ONLINE
- Wednesday 11 March 1998 Breaking the ice in Cuba
It's any southern port in a storm for film-maker Freed
Let's Talk about Cuba
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
March 18, 1998 #837
As advertised, this was Cuba Night and much of the discussion centred on the observations of one of our guests,Jacques Clément regarding his recent trip to Castroland.
Please see
the CIA Factbook on Cuba
#890 24th March 1999 Eric Hamovitch and his new book Paul Martin ..Kosovo Tito .. Milosevic may have a point ..Jacques Clément, two weeks in Matanzas Cuba .. Mark Roper suggests much-vaunted medical care a myth ..Mike O'Brien says airline market potential is immense. Dr. André Pasternac "no MRI at the Montreal Heart Institute"...Bruce Burnett and Andrew Cross "see +8.5% Real estate .. TB is here
He made the following points: Canadians are very popular in Cuba, Americans are not. In the case of the Americans, this sentiment is more a reflection of dislike of the Helms-Burton Act and the Embargo than of dislike of individuals. Despite the Embargo, there are many American business people and professionals who travel to Cuba through third countries (including Canada).
Wages are very low. It is virtually slave labor. Construction workers earn $6-$18 a month, start work at 7:00 a.m.
Prostitution is on the rise. Some of the prostitution is quasi-official, but there is also a lot of free-lance. There are many single parent families with kids and the mothers will do anything to obtain dollars to buy necessities for the children.
But, despite the problems, the people are surprisingly happy with a warm sense of family. There is no grumbling about the government; the heroes are Fidel, Che and José Martí.
The Cuban Government has U.S. cash reserves but the people lack basic services like running water. There is a two-tiered economy. The government takes in the money (example of the doctor at the hotel clinic; the foreigner pays for consultation in dollars; the doctor earns $45 a month from the government) and gives back what services it can afford to the people. Nobody is starving, education - including university-level is free.
There are signs that the economy is evolving towards a mixed economy and that it is becoming more entrepreneurial. The Cuban people are trying to improve their condition, but in many cases, lack the skills.
There is evidence of state control everywhere - one in 5 persons is a policeman.
Nobody expects anything to change until Castro dies.
Other guests' comments on these points included the following.
There are Labor Laws in Cuba, there is not slave labor. Cuba, several guests pointed out, is not unlike India. Wage levels are similar, work starts very early in the morning because of mid-day heat. This is true throughout the tropics.
Human Rights violations are evident, people cannot travel freely, even within the country and emigration documents cost up to $1500 - an unattainable amount for the majority of the population. It is not likely that citizens would criticize the government - Freedom of Expression is NOT acceptable, but neither are there massacres of peasants as in Mexico, or of street kids as in Brazil.
There is a lack of consumer goods and money, however, the Cuban population is better off (and better looked after by its government) than many other Latin American countries. Nobody is starving, but everyone has to be careful.
Regarding the rise of prostitution, remember that Cuba has always been a sexually permissive society.
The government operates attractive hospices for HIV patients. Yes, but this is largely as a consequence of the years when Cuban soldiers served as mercenaries in Africa. Many came home with disease and to protect the island population, these individuals have been virtually incarcerated in the hospices. They may look attractive, but the patients cannot leave them. Moreover, the Castro government has been extremely intolerant of gays. Many have been forced to leave the country.
What about Helms-Burton?
Clinton cannot act on it, he doesn't have the power constitutionally. While the Embargo was introduced in the Cold War anti-Communist era, Helms-Burton is a sop to the Cuban élite in Miami (and elsewhere) who are a powerful lobby. They are highly organized and, according to one guest, have planned their return to Cuba down to settling the question of who will manage which bank branch. Another powerful group jockeying for position are the cadres within the Castro government who are trying to obtain rights to property before Castro dies. When that happens, it is unlikely that anyone will admit to knowing who Fidel and Che were!
Embargo stays, but pressure by Pope
helps gain concessions for ordinary Cubans
Friday, March 20, 1998
Saturday 21 March 1998 End the embargo [realy?] The Gazette [Please DTN]
Canada is reaping many of the benefits of the US policy; there is significant investment by Canadians and it is increasing. Axworthy has championed Cuba's readmission to the OAS. Canada should continue to develop its position in Cuba over the remaining life of Castro's régime which probably won't be more than 5 to 7 years.
Economic Issues - Facts, Opinions, Predictions
General agreement that 1998 will be a very good year (but not for natural resources).
A lot of old criteria no longer apply; there is a lot of money around and it is going into equities.
China is a major concern.
The Bank of Canada is forecasting 3.5% growth which appears realistic to some guests. Inflation is running at .9% - should be 1 - 1.5%.
Quebec's unemployment rate is 10.6% and will be lower (the Canadian rate is 8%), however jobs are there. The problem is that people are either unskilled or lack the relevant skills. Plus, we are losing talent to the U.S. - it's not just the bright new graduates, we are losing teachers, professors. Our universities simply cannot match the conditions (money and tax rates) offered in the States.
Where will growth come from? Capital investments.
Exports, consumer spending and industry are all strong. One billion trade surplus per month. Corporate profits are strong. The TSE should reach 8000 this year. Canada is one of the top performers of the G-7. The Martin budget brought only good news; the national debt is being reduced.
Others differed with the generally bullish outlook and suggested that financial media reporting is biased, particularly with regard to France. Some feel that the unemployment figures for France are inflated, others disagreed.
Is the "Asian Flu" over? NO. Indonesia is still a major problem spot. But, Canada's exports to Asia are only .8% of Canadian exports.
Despite the prohibition stated in tonight's invitation, the second "C Topic" was raised.
If Charest comes to Quebec, the nationalist momentum will be slowed. All agree that Charest IS coming, but is that necessarily a good thing? Will he win an election against Bouchard? Some say no, because he is too much of a conservative and has none of the social democrat qualifications that are so necessary in Quebec politics. There is still much concern around the table about Charest's lack of substance. What DOES he stand for? Will he be able to rally the "soft" nationalists in the event of a Referendum? Only if he espouses an increasingly nationalist tone at which point the very people who are so excited that he is coming to Quebec will be bitterly unhappy. "In the event" because Bouchard may not call one. He will only hold one when he is sure that he can win it. Likely there will not be an election until Spring of '99, at least not if the predictions of an increasingly healthy economy are believed by the PQ. That gives time for the Charest honeymoon to end.
Alliance Quebec
Our host suggested that very few business people and doers know who Bill Johnson is; yet there is a grave danger that he will win and escalate the tone of political discourse as well as the profile of the Equality Party and the partitionists.
Several guests opined that Johnson has a political agenda and should be encouraged to run for political office, not as president of Alliance. Should he win this race, it will be the end of Alliance as we know it, and some guests believe he may win. But, democratic tradition must be upheld and Johnson will no doubt eventually be exposed as the radical he is. People don't like fringe parties. Some around the table think that Johnson just isn't a factor on the Quebec scene.
At least one guest commented that Bill Johnson has been virulent in his accusations that French Canada is racist and filled with hatred, sometimes on the flimsiest of evidence. It must be recognized that Johnson and his cohorts do have things to say and truly believe them. The problem is the tone. While everyone has complaints about Alliance, recently the organization has accomplished good work in education, healthcare services and assistance to employers moving to Quebec (the program called Quebexpertise).
Raoul Wallenburg
As the evening drew to a close, Ron Meisels called our attention to the unveiling last weekend of the bust of Raoul Wallenburg. It is located in the little park just north of the Anglican Cathedral, between University and Union. It was Bishop Andrew Hutchinson who made this happen, as there is a law in the City of Montreal that no statue can be raised to anyone who is not dead. Russia has never confirmed Wallenburg's death, so Montreal would not allow the bust on public property. This triumph of bureaucracy was short-lived thanks to Bishop Hutchinson.
Reported by Michael Judson
Edited by Diana Thébaud Nicholson
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