When to Stand Up for Democracy and Human Rights? Canada and the Venezuela Crisis
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Venezuela is facing a humanitarian crisis resulting from an unstable, chaotic and volatile political situation, and Canadian influence is needed to help restore stability in that region.
That was the message from Dr. Yvon Grenier, StFX Political Science professor and Resident Fellow in the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government.
Speaking to an overflow audience at the Political Science Colloquium on February 5 in the Mulroney Building, Dr. Grenier said that Canadian values of freedom, equality and democracy must be channeled through the foreign policy of the Federal Government with specific attention aimed at Venezuela due to its current and ongoing political crisis. His talk was titled “When to Stand Up for Democracy and Human Rights? Canada and the Venezuela Crisis.”
Professor Grenier is a Latin American political expert, with a specialty in Dictatorships and human rights. He has done research on Canadian Foreign Policy. He is also a prolific author who has written six books, and published more than a hundred articles in peer-reviewed Journals.
Over the years, Canadian policies towards foreign countries in regard to human rights and democracy have been spotty, and according to Grenier, Ottawa must show more consistency. The government will take a stand on human rights, but it tends to fizzle out. A good example is a place like China, he said. The Prime Minister’s office will raise the topic at universities, but then not pursue it with the Canadian electorate or with targeted countries around the world.
Professor Grenier says there is a crisis in Venezuela due to their authoritarian governing style and subsequent intolerance, and Canada needs to do more to address the problem.
Venezuela is hugely dependent on oil, which makes up ninety-one percent of the country’s exports. They have lots of oil, but if the world price drops, their revenue declines dramatically. For example, he said the economy has contracted sixty-five percent in the last four years; there is seven-digit inflation; mismanagement and corruption abound; oil production is plummeting, and oil prices are collapsing. In addition, there is a shortage of food, medicine, water and electricity. Furthermore, the Transparency International Corruption Index has shown that Venezuela stands at 173 out of 180 countries. According to Professor Grenier, there are currently as many as five million refugees, and he suspects this is perhaps the largest forced displacement of population in Latin American history. And, he said: “this is in a time of peace.”
“There is a mega crisis in Venezuela, calamity in their elections, and protests in the streets. The Canadian government is taking an active role with the Lima Group but more needs to be done,” said Grenier.
Canada took a leading role in the creation of the Lima Group in 2017 to pressure Caracas. This Group has many members from the region including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, and Peru. The organization has contributed over $66 million to regional stabilization, and to humanitarian and development programming for refugees. Canada and the Lima Group are calling for the restoration of free and fair elections.
The leadership in Venezuela is chaotic, confusing and unstable with Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido both claiming power. The country currently has three legislatures and two leaders. “It is totally bizarre,” says Grenier. World opinion is also split. As for Canada, it has said Maduro is not legitimate, and our position is a call for free and fair elections.
Dr. Grenier says Canada has decided to take a new role concerning Venezuela and is starting to come out of its comfort zone mainly due to the human rights abuses and deteriorating social conditions in that country. He pointed out that the people are facing government abuse including violence from paramilitary forces, and there have been thousands of executions. As a result, the country has faced some the largest protests in Latin American history. “This has forced Canada to react more,” he said. He added that there is also momentum in the international community to address this crisis.
Dr. Grenier says Canada’s role here is one of restoring democracy, not exporting it, and he added that this is interesting since we have no significant interests in that country, and there would be little impact at home if we acted. He said it is perfect for Canada to get involved, and the probability of pushing this agenda is high because there will be no restraints or pushback from Canadians. He said the crisis is currently in Ottawa’s focus and is now government policy for Trudeau. However, he outlined some criticisms and concerns.
The Lima Group is basically conservative, and some Lima members have poor records of their own on human rights. In addition, Canadian policy is inconsistent with other countries; there remains no Plan B in case there is no change or progress, and there also appears to be no plan to apply the same principles elsewhere. There is also the problem that this country does not have an embassy; the region is like a war zone, and at times it is very difficult to get accurate information on the ground.
Dr. Grenier says Canada must stand up for human rights and democracy when a crisis like this is happening, especially when there is a local democratic opposition that can be supported. Canada must step out of its comfort zone and be forceful. Grenier suggested that Canadian policy should be multi-lateral, non-military, and make use of sanctions which could prove effective. We should be champions of human rights and defenders of democracy, and he even suggested that Trump would be pleased if we took a lead on this file.
The situation in that South American country is challenging, according to Dr. Grenier. Venezuela is widely corrupt; there is a humanitarian crisis, and there are thousands of refugees. But they need our support. “Canada is doing good considering the situation, and we are needed there,” Grenier concluded.
