Even though Canada never broke off relations with Cuba after the revolution, the present government of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not been energetic in bringing the two closer, despite the political and commercial contacts that exist, and the large number of Canadian tourists who visit the Caribbean island each year.
In fact, three years ago at the summit of the Organization of American States, Canada and the United States were the only countries in the Western Hemisphere to reject a proposal to invite Cuba to this year’s summit in Panama.
The sudden rapprochement in December of Cuba and the U.S. announcing they would work together to normalize diplomatic relations, changed that, with Cuban President Raul Castro sitting with the other OAS leaders in Panama City on Saturday (April 11).
RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda has a report.
ListenMore information:
CBC News – Stephen Harper talks with Raul Castro at Summit of the Americas – here
Prime Minister press release – PM Concludes Successful Summit of the Americas – here
Toronto Star – Harper says he had ‘good and long discussion’ with Castro at Americas summit – here
National Post – As U.S. moves to normalize relations with Cuba, Harper’s antipathy to the communist nation evident at summit – here
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