Canada pledges $53M to help Venezuelan refugees as Lima Group allies meet to discuss 'dictator' Maduro

The federal Liberal government is promising $53 million to help Venezuelans caught in a burgeoning refugee crisis, as Canada plays host to its Lima Group allies in Ottawa Monday.

"Canada is stepping up ... to address the most pressing needs of Venezuelans on the ground, including the almost three million refugees,"Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said during his opening remarks at the summit in Ottawa.

Canada has earmarked the newfundsto help those Venezuelans who have fled to neighbouring countries in recent months due to an increasingly acutefood shortage. The $53 million is in addition to the $2.2 million Canada has pledged alreadyfor similar efforts to help people grappling with thelargest refugee crisisever recorded in theAmericas.

Trudeausaid the money would be distributed to "trusted partners" in the region to "help them support Venezuela and Venezuelans."

The regime ofauthoritarian leader NicolasMadurohas denied there is widespread food insecurity in Venezuela, and has instead blamedthe U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and smugglers forwhat the government describes aslocalized supply problems.

Independent observers pinpointthe Maduroadministration's socialist price control policies, its restrictions on foreign currencies (the U.S. dollar, mainly)and a dramatic drop in domestic food productionfor widespread hunger in Venezuela,once one of the richest nations in South America.

Canada's International Development Minister Marie-ClaudeBibeausaid Monday there are "huge issues with having access to basic supplies.So many people are leaving the country. I'm very concerned about that."

Trudeau pledges money for Venezuela

6 years ago

Duration 0:35

Prime Minster Justin Trudeau pledges $53-million to aid Venezuela and the countries harboring Venezuelan refugees at today's Lima Group summit in Ottawa.

Foreign ministers from the Lima Group countries Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala,Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia,along witha handful of representatives from other nations, such as the United Kingdom have convened in Ottawa to discuss further support for Venezuelan opposition leader JuanGuaido.

Guaido addressed the conference via videolink Monday, praising Canada and the Lima Group for their support while asking partner countries toredouble their diplomatic efforts to help loosen Maduro's grip on power.

"We are very close to reaching freedom, and that is the result of the international support we've received and the recognition of this process of respecting the rule of law and having a non-violent approach," Guaidosaid in Spanish.

"Unfortunately we're still under a dictatorship in Venezuela. That's why it's time to increase pressure."

To that end, Trudeauannounced today he will formally recognize Guaido's chosen envoy,Orlando Viera Blanco, as the legitimate representative of Venezuela in Canada.

"For years now, we've witnessed the breakdown of democracy in Venezuela and a dictatorship willing to use force, fear and coercion to retain power," Trudeau said.

"The violation of human rights and the complete disregard for the rule of law shown by the regime has been both inexcusable and unacceptable."

Friday saw cracks emerge in the military's support for Maduro:Venezuelan Air Force Gen.Francisco Yanez switched his allegiance to Guaido and called on his fellow officers to do the same.

The U.K.'s representative at the Lima Group meeting, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Alan Duncan, urged others in Venezuelan government and military circles still loyal to Maduroto turn their backs on himand make way forGuaido as interim president,for their country's sake.

"We've seen three million people flee. This wasn't caused by a famine or a hurricane. It was caused by the government mismanagement and kleptocratic approach of this dictatorshipof Nicolas Maduro and his cronies," said Duncan.

"Maduro and his socialism are entirely self-discrediting. If anyone believes his management of the economy is in any way an example of how to go about it, then they need their heads examined."

Guaido addresses Lima Group

6 years ago

Duration 1:40

Interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaido addresses the Lima Group meeting in Ottawa.

Protests have erupted across Venezuela since Madurobegan his second term on Jan. 10. He was elected last year in a vote Canada, the U.S. and other nations deemed illegitimate.

Guaidohas since declared himself interim president. Canada has joined the United States, the European Parliament and several Latin American nations in recognizingGuaido'sclaim. Russia and China which have invested heavily in oil-rich Venezuela supportMaduro, as does Turkey.

Notably missing from the Lima Group attendee listis Mexico.Its new left-leaning president,AndresManuel LopezObrador,has taken a stance different from that ofhis predecessor on Venezuela, going so far as to inviteMaduroto his inauguration.

On Sunday, Trudeau's office saidhe spoke withGuaido about the need for countries to send a clear message about what the Prime Minister's Officecalls "the illegitimacy of the Maduro regime."

Trudeaualso brought up the Venezuelan constitution during a town hall in Milton, Ont., last week.

"This all seems very complex and complicated, and it is, but it is all grounded in human rights, the rule of lawand Venezuela's own constitution," he said.

"The international community recognized that there were not free and fair elections in Venezuela, and thereforeMadurois not the president of Venezuela in the eyes of the world and also in the eyes of Venezuelans.Article 233 actually provides for what happens when there is no president in Venezuela."

As authority supporting his claim to the presidency,GuaidocitesArticle 233 of the Venezuelan constitution,which gives temporary presidential power tothe head of the National Assembly when the presidency is otherwise vacant.

Setting the expectations

But those looking for significant action followingtoday's talks could be disappointed.

One of Canada's top former diplomats said the public shouldn't expect to see much morethan a statement of principles coming out of theemergency meeting.

"I would expect there would be a declaration asking for movement forward, asking for continued respect for human rights and really putting it on the line that this interim president [JuanGuaido], as per the Venezuelan constitution, should be the one to step up and call for elections,"said PeterBoehm, a longtime senior diplomat with postings to Cuba, Costa Rica and the Organization of American States.

Trudeau recently appointed Boehm to the Senate.