Canada's response to the Venezuela crisis

On this page

• Political situation
• What Canada is doing
• Human rights violations and crimes against humanity
• Sanctions
• Humanitarian situation and development efforts
• Refugee and migrant situation
• Statements
• Related links

Political situation

Since 2017, Canada has sustained and expanded sanctions against Venezuelan officials for human rights abuses and the erosion of democratic institutions. In January 2019, Canada declared that it did not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate President of Venezuela and has not maintained a diplomatic presence in the country since that time. In January 2025, Canada formally recognized Edmundo González Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela.

Canada is concerned by the ongoing political, economic and humanitarian crises in Venezuela and its impact across the region. The de facto regime controls Venezuela’s state institutions — judicial, executive and legislative branches — exercising full control over decision-making, election outcomes, and legal proceedings. The regime has criminalized and silenced dissent by arresting and harassing political figures and social leaders, including human rights defenders and humanitarian workers. Hundreds of political prisoners are still in jail, including several foreign nationals. Independent news media, journalists and media workers are targeted in Venezuela and subject to continued censorship measures.

De facto President Maduro claimed victory in the presential election on July 28, 2024, despite credible evidence that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won by over 67%. He was then illegitimately inaugurated as president in January 2025, extending his mandate for six years until 2031.

Venezuela is one of the primary sources of geopolitical tension and instability in the Western hemisphere. The regime has developed illicit revenue sources with violent non-state actors, including transnational criminal gangs and foreign armed groups. 

The association of regime officers and the military with these violent groups is of particular concern.

Regional destabilization is occurring due to participation in:

• gold mining
• drug trafficking
• human trafficking
• illicit financing
• uncontrolled environmental destruction

What Canada is doing

Canada is committed to protecting human rights. Canada is supportive of a negotiated solution between Venezuela’s democratic forces and the de facto regime. We strongly encourage the parties to find solutions that will benefit Venezuela and Venezuelans.

Canada has been instrumental in the adoption of several statements and resolutions as part of the following groups and organizations:

• The G7
• The G20
• The UN Human Rights Council
• The Organization of American States

Together with our other international partners, we continue to explore ways to contribute to the restoration of democracy in Venezuela through peaceful and negotiated means.

In response to a crisis that has resulted in millions of Venezuelans leaving Venezuela and seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, one of the largest displacements of people in the world, Canada has demonstrated leadership by highlighting the crisis internationally, particularly by hosting and participating in solidarity conferences to raise funds in support of countries hosting refugees. To learn more, please visit International conferences in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Human rights violations and crimes against humanity

In its September 2024 report, and confirming the findings of previous reports, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela concluded that high-level officials in the de facto regime resorted to means that included human rights violations to remain in power. Many human rights violations amounted to crimes against humanity, particularly those committed in the context of the 2024 presidential elections, which included at least 25 dead and hundreds injured and detained.

Sanctions

Canada has imposed sanctions on individuals involved in:

• attacks on democratic institutions
• gross violations of human rights
• acts of significant corruption

We promote accountability and an end to impunity for those responsible for such acts. These measures consist of asset freezes and prohibitions on dealings with sanctioned individuals. Canada reviews its sanctions on an ongoing basis and takes action as needed.

Humanitarian situation and development efforts

The ongoing crisis in Venezuela continues to affect access to basic commodities and essential services such as:

• food
• health
• education
• protection
• water
• sanitation
• hygiene

As of 2023, 83% of Venezuelans live in poverty, and 50% in extreme poverty. There are currently 7.6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Venezuela.

Since 2019, Canada has provided over $100 million in humanitarian, development, and stabilization assistance.

Canada’s bilateral development program in Venezuela focuses on women and girls facing increased vulnerabilities in:

• health & sexual and reproductive health and rights
• education
• food security and livelihoods

Canada’s humanitarian assistance in Venezuela focuses on providing food assistance, and protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, and health services to the most affected people.

Refugee and migrant situation

Nearly 8 million Venezuelans have fled or left Venezuela since 2015.

About 85% of this population remain in host countries in the region, primarily:

• Colombia
• Peru
• Brazil
• Chile
• Ecuador

This is placing significant pressure on receiving countries to provide basic services.

Canada recognizes the leadership of many Latin American and Caribbean countries in responding to this unprecedented situation and applauds their efforts to integrate Venezuelan refugees and migrants into their countries and communities.

Canada supports the efforts of host countries and communities hosting Venezuelans.

This includes improved access to:

• legal status
• health
• education
• protection services
• employment

We’re strengthening migration-related institutions and combatting human trafficking.

For example, between 2015 and 2024, Canada provided funding to Cuso International to improve inclusive economic growth in Colombia.

This project provided training for women, victims of armed conflict, at-risk youth, and Venezuelan migrants. This program led to employment for:

• Venezuelan refugees and migrants
• returned Colombians
• members of host communities

In 2022, the project expanded to support Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Ecuador and Peru.

Between 2022-2024 Canada provided funding to UNICEF to support Venezuelan children access schools in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The project resulted in 6,533 new school enrollments by Venezuelans across the three countries, and in 4,361 teachers trained on how to better provide education services to displaced populations. The project also supported 908 crisis-affected children in accessing specialized protection and psycho-social supports in their host countries.

Statements

Canada has been instrumental in the passing of several statements and resolutions at the Organization of American States, United Nations, the G7, among other multilateral forums, supporting the people of Venezuela in their efforts to achieve political and economic reforms. We have also joined with other countries in the hemisphere to address the critical situation in Venezuela and to explore ways to contribute to the restoration of democracy through peaceful and negotiated means.

Related links

• Embassy of Canada in Venezuela (operations temporarily suspended)
• Venezuela travel advice and advisories
• Canadian sanctions related to Venezuela
• The Canada Fund for Local Initiatives