e-3105 (Foreign affairs)

The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canadian foreign policy and is a priority for the Government of Canada’s engagement with all international partners. Canada is deeply concerned by the unprecedented political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, particularly with the increasing number of Venezuelan migrants moving to neighbouring countries and refugees seeking asylum, including in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). The drowning of 29 Venezuelan migrants in December 2020 was a tragic event and Canada is very concerned by the smuggling and trafficking of migrants and refugees and limited capacity by countries in the region to absorb them.

To address the issue, T&T has announced tougher penalties for individuals trafficking migrants or refugees from neighbouring Venezuela into T&T. In addition, T&T has renewed work permits for approximately 15,000 migrants, extending the temporary visas for more than 13,000 Venezuelans who initially registered in 2019. This extension will provide Venezuelans with the opportunity to remain in T&T and work legally in the country.

The Government of Canada is engaged on this issue and working to support the Government of T&T under the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP) to combat  organized crime, including trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling by committing $2.3M directly to anti-crime capacity building assistance in T&T and partnering with multilateral institutions, including the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to provide training on investigative techniques, needs-assessment and analytical reporting to government, law enforcement and border security officials. Global Affairs Canada is also working with the Government of T&T and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to ensure that Venezuelan refugees and migrants travel through regular and safe migration routes and is encouraging Trinidad and Tobago authorities to continue supporting regional efforts in safeguarding the human rights of Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Canada is committed to protecting and advancing human rights, and the values of democracy, diversity, pluralism, and rule of law, consistent with its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter, and will continue to provide humanitarian and development assistance in Venezuela and to maintain global attention on the multidimensional emergency stemming from the situation in Venezuela.

Since 2019, Canada has provided more than $86 million to respond to the Venezuela crisis, including more than $74 million in humanitarian and development assistance for the regional response to the refugee and migrant situation. Canada’s Minister of International Development will host the next International Donor’s Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants on June 17, 2021. The conference will gather international partners to raise awareness of key priorities, challenges, and opportunities; mobilize additional resources; and identify actions to maintain attention on the crisis and to ensure commitments are honoured.