Dear Minister Freeland: By June 4, 2020, we request that Canada publicly acknowledge Cuba’s remarkable acts of international solidarity in sending multiple health professional teams to help combat Covid-19 in Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
To easily accomplish this show of recognition for Cuba's major contribution to the global battle against the novel coronavirus, Canada could initiate a letter of recognition and circulate it to all United Nations member countries for their endorsement. Once completed, the letter could be read out at a special U.N. session called for this purpose. Canada would receive special mention for having initiated this show of recognition for the teams of Cuban medical professionals who have risked their lives so that the world's most vulnerable people could have a better chance at survival.
Why is this important?
Manitoba First Nations leadership requested earlier this year that a Cuban team of medical specialists in treating pandemics be allowed to come to isolated communities there to buttress sporadic health coverage. That request was quickly and publicly rejected by Deputy Prime Minister Freeland. This rejection by Canada came as the U.S. government issued a warning to countries not to accept Covid-19 professional medical help from Cuba. Canada needs to stand up now and publicly recognize the remarkable role that the small country of Cuba is playing internationally by contributing 25 teams of trained doctors, nurses and technicians (an estimated 2,000 medical personnel) to the global fight against Covid-19 on three continents.
You received this petition with more than 1,300 signatures on May 4, 2020 and we ask that within a month of the receipt of this petition, and on behalf of Canada, you sign, send and make public the requested letter regarding the remarkable role played by the Cuban medical teams in the global fight against COVID-19.
Sincerely,
Reasons for signing