Canada welcomes the opportunity to discuss Venezuela at the United Nations Security Council

26 February 2019

Thank you, President, for inviting Canada to join this timely debate.

Canada welcomes the opportunity to discuss Venezuela at the United Nations Security Council.

Since last we met, the situation in Venezuela has only worsened, with grave consequences.

On February 23^rd, regime actors deployed deadly force against their own people rather than allow the delivery of aid from neighbouring countries.

Canada offers deepest condolences to the families of the victims, and we reiterate our call for these events to be investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

The Maduro regime continues to hinder access for much-needed humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in Venezuela.

Let there be no doubt: Venezuela is under the control of a dictatorship that would see its people starve rather than cede one iota of power.

Fleeing these conditions, over 3.3 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, and neighbouring countries have generously offered refuge and support.

On February 4, during the 10^th Ministerial meeting of the Lima Group, Canada announced some $53 million in development, stabilization and humanitarian assistance to support those affected by the crisis in Venezuela, including refugees, migrants, and host communities.

But despite the international community’s efforts, it is clear that the deepening crisis in Venezuela is having increasing impacts on regional stability and security.

The Lima Group, including Canada and now with the full participation of Venezuela’s interim government, met yesterday in Bogota, where we affirmed that the continuance of Nicolás Maduro and his illegitimate regime in power represents an unprecedented threat to security, peace, freedom and prosperity throughout the region.

We also reiterated our commitment to democratic and peaceful transition based on the Venezuelan constitution, and our rejection of the Maduro regime’s illegitimate claim to power.

The presidential elections in May 2018 were clearly fraudulent. They included vote rigging, social coercion, counting irregularities and restrictions on opposition participation.

Even during his original mandate, Maduro demonstrated a record of repression, corruption and serious human rights abuses which violated the constitutional rights of Venezuelan citizens and denigrated their democratic institutions.

The regime’s attacks on democracy included the establishment of the National Constituent Assembly, created to usurp the powers of the democratically-elected National Assembly because of the opposition majority in that body.

It is clear that the Maduro regime has no authority to govern Venezuela.

Together with more than 50 democratic countries around the world – including most countries of the Americas – we have recognized Juan Guaidó as the legitimate Interim President of Venezuela.

This recognition is based firmly in Venezuela’s own Constitution.

On January 15, 2019, the democratically elected National Assembly declared that the Presidency had been "usurped" by Maduro.

According to Article 233 of the Venezuelan Constitution, in the absence of a legitimate president, Juan Guaidó as President of the National Assembly shall assume the function of Interim President.

The Lima Group supports his agenda to call free and fair elections as soon as possible in order to peacefully restore constitutional democracy in Venezuela.

Let us recall that the Democracy Clause of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, signed by then-President Chavez in Quebec City in 2001, clearly rejected any “unconstitutional alteration or interruption of the democratic order”.  

In this spirit, we repeat our call on the Maduro regime to cede power immediately.

Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in recent weeks demanding genuine change.

The Lima Group has made it clear that it supports a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela, a transition that is already underway, based on the Venezuelan constitution, and that it rejects the use of force.

We call on all Member States that are in communication with the Maduro regime to urge an end to violence.

Peaceful protestors seeking food and medicines should not face tear gas and bullets.

Until that time, Canada stands with the people of Venezuela in their peaceful struggle for democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

It is these principles that we have expressed in the Ottawa Declaration for Venezuela, and we encourage all those present to endorse that document to demonstrate their shared commitment.  

We will continue our efforts in cooperation with our partners in the Lima Group, through the UN System, and in other multilateral forums.

Canada calls on all members of the international community to likewise support the Venezuelan people as they seek to liberate their country from the Maduro dictatorship.

Thank you.