Representation to the Government of Canada

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Representation to the Government of Canada

We, the undersigned Canadian organizations, call on the Government of Canada to condemn the recent acts of violence in several Venezuelan cities. These actions were instigated by a minority of the Venezuelan opposition with the objective of undermining the elected government and democratic institutions of Venezuela. The Canadian Government should express its time-honoured commitment to peace and democracy by denouncing these illegal acts, which deny the will of the Venezuelan electorate.

In April 2013, Nicolas Maduro was elected President of Venezuela, the tenth since 1957. The election was recognized as transparent, fair and orderly by hundreds of independent international observers including the Carter Centre. President Maduro was elected on a platform in which the needs of the poor and disadvantaged in Venezuela are to be given particular attention through a range of health, education, literacy and housing programs. These programs have been applauded by UNESCO for their effectiveness and reach.

Some privileged Venezuelans, who are willing to use violence to obtain political power, deny the needs of their fellow citizens, even though the country’s oil wealth and its strong, accessible education system and mixed economy provide a solid foundation for a good standard of living for all.

Canada and Venezuela are both part of the Americas and as such should always support democracy in each other’s country. We ask the Government of Canada to publicly stand with the Venezuelan people and their elected Government and to express its dismay at the use of violence by some members of the Venezuelan opposition to obtain what was denied them at the ballot box.  

Cultural Centre Casa Maíz

People for Peace

Louis Riel Bolivarian Circle

Guatemala Community Network (GCN)

International Festival of Poetry of Resistance (IFPOR)

Salvadorian Canadian Association (ASALCA)

Tzijolaj (Ottawa)

Hands Off Venezuela

Human Rights Press

Latin American Canadian Solidarity Association (London)

Canada-El Salvador Cooperation for Development

Movimiento Farabundista, London, Ontario

Free the Cuban Five, Ontario Chapter

CASA Latinoamericana, Quebec

CASA Colombian Alliance Solidarity Action

Foro Nuestra America, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal

Latin American Canadian Solidarity Association (LACASA), London, Ontario

Sunday Poetry

Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network (LACSN)

Breaking the Silence

People for Peace, London, Ontario

Contact: cblriel@sympatico.ca