Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Erin O’Toole, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, issued a statement calling on the other party leaders to condemn the violent actions of the Cuban communist government in the wake of pro-democracy protests:

“While the Cuban people have taken to the streets to demand democratic freedoms, and basic necessities like food, water, and medicine, the leaders of Canada’s left-wing political parties have remained silent. 

“These brave Cubans are facing the brutal repression of the communist regime while calling for the basic democratic freedoms we enjoy in Canada – and the supposed political leadership in Canada seems not to care. 

“I want to be clear. I condemn the actions of the communist regime in Cuba and am calling on Justin Trudeau, Jagmeet Singh, Yves-François Blanchet, and Annamie Paul to do the same. 

“The silence of these individuals, some of whom have praised the brutal dictators of the Cuban regime before, speaks volumes. Actions and words matter, especially when it is politically inconvenient to do so. 

“The Cuban people cannot afford Canada’s silence while they fight for freedom. If you are not concerned about your government supporting democratic rights around the world, then you have four parties to choose from. If you are, then there is only one choice: Canada’s Conservatives.”