Ottawa, November 17, 2020.- The Council of Canadians announced yesterday, November 16, its support for the nomination made by Dr. John Kirk, Dalhousie University scholar and professor, of the Cuban Medical Brigade "Henry Reeve" for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
Founded in 1985 and based in Ottawa, with regional offices in Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver, and a network of local branches across the country, this non-profit organization advocates for public health, renewable energy and access to clean water for all, as well as fair trade.
In its statement, the Council of Canadians recognizes Cuba's solidarity response to the pandemic and the commendable work of its health professionals. "Cuba's response (...) eclipses all other frontline efforts by industrialized nations in the fight against COVID-19. This response is more remarkable given that the island nation has been under a United States embargo for decades. The U.S. State Department has made it known since the beginning of the pandemic that it could retaliate against any country receiving Cuban medical personnel”.
Canadian personalities such as Michaelle Jean, former Governor General of Canada; Lloyd Axworthy, former Minister of Foreign Affairs; MP Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party in the House of Commons; Senator Pierrette Ringuette, co-chair of the Canada-Cuba Parliamentary Group; Svend Robinson, NDP member and former MP, among other well-known figures, endorsed the nomination of the Henry Reeve Brigade for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Several health professional associations, unions and religious organizations also supported the initiative.
Press statement from the Council of Canadians "Cuban Medical Teams for Nobel Peace Prize 2021”: https://canadians.org/update/cuban-medical-teams-2021-nobel-peace-prize
Embassy of Cuba in Canada