Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau skipping Fidel Castro's funeral
Justin Trudeau's office confirmed that the Canadian prime minister will not attend Fidel Castro's funeral on Dec. 4. Instead, Gov. Gen. David Johnston will attend the commemoration for the late Cuban president in Havana on Tuesday.
Relieved that Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau will not attend the dictator's funeral.
— Maxime Bernier (@MaximeBernier) November 28, 2016
On Nov. 26, the prime minister released a statement expressing his deep sorrow on the passing of the Cuban president. However, he was criticised on his statement as he remembered Castro as a legendary revolutionary and orator. He also said that the former Cuban leader made significant improvements to the education and health care of his country.
Castro was an honorary pallbearer of Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
"Does Trudeau believe his historic family ties with Castro are more important than our economic interests and the future of millions of Canadian workers?” Former foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement.
"I can't believe our PM is expressing 'deep sorrow' and calling [Castro a] 'legendary revolutionary' and 'remarkable leader,'" Bernier said on Twitter.
He also called on the prime minister not to attend the funeral.
Conservative leadership hopeful Lisa Raitt also called on the prime minister to decline in the strongest terms if he is invited to the Cuban leader's funeral. Raitt also shared her thoughts through an open letter to the prime minister on Facebook.
"With those words, Justin Trudeau has placed himself on the wrong side of history — against the millions of Cubans yearning for freedom. The Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself. He must retract this statement and apologize," Raitt wrote.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto are expected to attend the funeral. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend because he is preparing for a major speech. Instead speaker of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin will lead the Russian delegation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be represented by a senior lawmaker. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Theresa May will stay away.
North Korea, however, honours the late Cuban president through three days of mourning and a half mast flag.
