Hon. Leo Housakos: It’s nice, Senator Gold, that we’re always discussing these issues with our partners and relying on international help, but Canada is a G7 country that should stand up for its Canadian citizens, as well as for liberties and civil rights around the world.

Senator Gold, while we’re on the topic of detained Canadians, has Minister Joly or anyone from her office managed to provide consular service to Michael Carey Abadin, the Canadian citizen being held in Cuba as part of a crackdown by the authoritarian regime in that country against political dissidents and pro-democracy protesters?

We’re told by Mr. Abadin’s family that this 19-year-old, who is in poor health and has been denied proper medical treatment, has also been denied assistance from the Canadian embassy. Has that changed? If not, why? What is Mélanie Joly waiting for in giving support to this young Canadian detained in Cuba?