A Canadian coalition of social and labor organizations, the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), on Tuesday called on its government to lift its advisory against non-essential travel to Cuba, push for the resumption of direct flights and protect Canadian businesses from U.S. sanctions.
The alliance, which comprises 26 organizations, also called for stronger economic, cultural and scientific cooperation with Havana, humanitarian assistance for the island, and for Canada to maintain its support on Wednesday at the United Nations General Assembly for a resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo.
“We are asking the federal government to lift the travel advisory and restore direct flights operated by Canadian airlines between Canada and Cuba,” said Tess Stuber, coordinator of the CNC’s Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade.
Julio Fonseca, CNC co-chair, meanwhile, called on Ottawa to authorize at least one direct flight per week on humanitarian grounds for Canadians of Cuban origin who have family members on the island.
“Maintaining family ties is a basic human need for us; it is not a luxury,” Fonseca said.
Flight Suspensions
Canada currently advises against non-essential travel to Cuba because of shortages of fuel, electricity, food and medicine. It also warns that all Canadian airlines have suspended their services to the island.
The impact has been particularly severe because Canada has been Cuba’s leading source market for international tourists for decades. Between 2011 and 2019, more than one million Canadians traveled to the island each year. In 2025, the figure still stood at approximately 754,000.
In 2026, however, arrivals have plunged sharply. Just 128,400 Canadian visitors traveled to Cuba between January and August, a year-on-year decline of 75.6%, according to Cuba’s National Office of Statistics and Information.
The downturn accelerated after Washington stepped up pressure in January on countries supplying oil to Cuba. The subsequent shortage of aviation fuel prompted major Canadian airlines to suspend their flights to the island.
