The report is a vindication of one of the few bright spots in Canadian foreign policy initiatives. Another notable finding: Despite fashionable explanations, neither U.S. sanctions, nor European or Canadian sanctions, are anywhere near the cause of Venezuelan suffering. “The economy of Venezuela, particularly its oil industry and food production systems, were already in crisis before any sectoral sanctions were imposed,” Bachelet’s report concludes. Several elected legislators are facing charges of treason and incitement to insurrection and conspiracy, and 16 of them have taken refuge in foreign embassies, fled the country or have gone into hiding, Bachelet’s report points out. “It is imperative that democracy be restored as soon as possible so that Maduro’s reign of fear and terror ends.”

Source: National Post July 10, 2019 19:52 UTC