Increase humanitarian aid to Cuba
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to increase humanitarian assistance for Cubans via independent and multilateral organizations, prioritize food, medical and decentralized energy aid, expand people‑to‑people ties and remittances, and require safeguards and reporting.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would direct more aid to civilians through independent and multilateral organizations, increasing the chance that food, medicine and energy assistance reach people rather than being blocked by state systems.
- Prioritizing food, medical supplies and decentralized energy could address urgent needs and reduce reliance on state-controlled infrastructure that petitioners say diverts resources.
- Expanding people-to-people ties and remittances supports citizens and small independent businesses while required safeguards and reporting aim to limit diversion through state entities.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Channeling aid through independent and multilateral organizations can be costlier and slower than direct programs, potentially delaying urgent assistance.
- Imposing safeguards to avoid state diversion may be hard to verify in practice and could reduce the scale or speed of assistance delivered.
- Expanding travel, remittances and economic engagement risks benefiting intermediaries or creating diplomatic tensions; alternative approaches might better balance effectiveness and feasibility.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled The Cuban people are facing severe economic hardship, including shortages of food, medicine, and reliable energy; Canada maintains longstanding diplomatic and people-to-people ties with Cuba; The Government of Canada has consistently opposed broad economic sanctions that negatively impact civilian populations; There is concern that state-controlled systems in Cuba can divert resources away from those most in need; and Canadians support humanitarian assistance that reaches people directly and is delivered transparently and accountably. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Increase humanitarian assistance directed specifically to the Cuban people, delivered through independent, non-governmental, and multilateral organizations with strong accountability mechanisms; 2. Prioritize support for food security, medical supplies, and decentralized energy solutions (including community-based and renewable systems) that reduce reliance on centralized state control; 3. Expand people-to-people engagement, including travel, cultural exchange, and remittances, in ways that directly benefit Cuban citizens and small independent businesses; 4. Ensure that any Canadian assistance or economic engagement includes clear safeguards, transparency measures, and reporting to prevent diversion through state-controlled entities; and 5. Continue to advocate internationally for approaches that support civilian populations without entrenching authoritarian governance structures.
Government response
No government response is available yet.