Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Trudeau's Office Says Prime Minister Won't Attend Funeral For Fidel Castro

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Nov, 2016 10:35 AM
  • Trudeau's Office Says Prime Minister Won't Attend Funeral For Fidel Castro
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says he won't be attending any memorial or funeral services for the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
 
Instead, Trudeau has dispatched Governor General David Johnston to attend a memorial service scheduled to take place Tuesday in Havana.
 
The service is to take place in Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana, steps away from a memorial where Trudeau laid a wreath during his recent visit to the island nation.
 
The Prime Minister's Office would not say if any other government representatives would attend memorial services or Castro's funeral. 
 
 
Trudeau's decision follows harsh criticism at home and abroad for a laudatory statement issued on the weekend that praised the dictator's legacy.
 
Trudeau's statement expressed "deep sorrow" about the death of Castro, 90, without mentioning the human rights violations of his regime beyond referring vaguely to him as a "a controversial figure."
 
Trudeau also described Castro as a "legendary revolutionary and orator" who made significant improvements to the education and health-care systems of Cuba.
 
Trudeau defended his statement by saying he was trying to highlight the connections between Canada and Cuba.
 
When asked directly whether he thought Castro was a dictator, Trudeau said: "Yes."

MORE National ARTICLES

Evening Walk In Edmonton Ends In Emergency Hospital Trip For Pregnant Woman

Police the 25-year-old woman suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries when she was hit in a marked crosswalk early Thursday evening.

Evening Walk In Edmonton Ends In Emergency Hospital Trip For Pregnant Woman

Tests Required To Determine Responsibility Of Calgary Brothers In Sex Assault Case

Tests Required To Determine Responsibility Of Calgary Brothers In Sex Assault Case
The sentencing hearing for Corey Manyshots, 25, and his brother Cody, 21, was scheduled to continue today but has been postponed until Dec. 8.

Tests Required To Determine Responsibility Of Calgary Brothers In Sex Assault Case

Ontario Police Bust Luxury Car Theft Ring That Sold Vehicles Across Country

They say 23 people have been arrested and $5 million in high-end vehicles, drugs and cash has been recovered as a result.

Ontario Police Bust Luxury Car Theft Ring That Sold Vehicles Across Country

Ottawa Runs $2.4B Deficit For September, Double What It Was Same Month Last Year

Ottawa Runs $2.4B Deficit For September, Double What It Was Same Month Last Year
The Finance department says the bigger shortfall was due to a combination of lower revenue and higher program spending.

Ottawa Runs $2.4B Deficit For September, Double What It Was Same Month Last Year

NDP Promises To End Trophy Hunt For Grizzly Bears In B.C. If Elected In May

NDP Promises To End Trophy Hunt For Grizzly Bears In B.C. If Elected In May
NDP Leader John Horgan stopped short of an outright prohibition on the hunt, saying the party would look at regulations on subsistence hunting

NDP Promises To End Trophy Hunt For Grizzly Bears In B.C. If Elected In May

Investigators Clear Calgary Police In Shooting That Left Man In Wheelchair

Investigators Clear Calgary Police In Shooting That Left Man In Wheelchair
The head of a unit that investigates Alberta police actions says an officer didn't do anything wrong when he pursued and shot a man after he spat on the ground at an anti-racism rally.

Investigators Clear Calgary Police In Shooting That Left Man In Wheelchair