Ottawa, June 18, 2026 – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Josefina Vidal Ferreiro led a Cuban government delegation on a working visit to Ottawa from June 15 to 17. During the visit, she held meetings with officials from Global Affairs Canada, members of Parliament, and representatives of the Canadian business sector and other economic entities.
Among the meetings, particular significance was attached to those held with Mr. Glen Linder, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas at Global Affairs Canada; Senator Peter Boehm; and Member of Parliament Ahmed Hussen, Chairs of the Senate and House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committees, respectively.
Also noteworthy were the exchanges with representatives of the Canada-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group, members of solidarity organizations, Cubans residing in Canada, and staff of the Cuban diplomatic mission.
During the meetings, the participants discussed various issues of bilateral interest, as well as the negative consequences of the escalation of aggression by the U.S. government, including repeated threats of military action and the tightening of the blockade against Cuba. The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister explained the severe impact of the illegal energy siege and the new economic strangulation measures on the Cuban people and on Cuba’s relations with other countries.
She also thanked her counterparts for Canada’s longstanding support for Cuba’s demand that the cruel U.S. blockade be brought to an end, as well as for the material assistance offered to the Cuban people in the face of current challenges.
The Cuban delegation also included Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Yanet Vázquez Valdés and Vice President of the Central Bank of Cuba Alberto Quiñones Betancourt.