On June 6, 2025, 29 Canadian civil society organizations, coalitions, and unions, including Common Frontiers and the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s Social Justice Fund, sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney calling for a reset of the Canada-Ecuador trade deal to ensure it aligns with his government’s commitments to human rights and environmental protection.
The letter, issued by Common Frontiers, expressed deep concerns that the agreement, negotiated under the previous Trudeau administration, promotes increased Canadian mining investment in Ecuador and risks undermining Indigenous rights and environmental safeguards in the Andean nation.
Organizations urged the government not to implement what they described as a “highly problematic, last-generation free trade agreement” that could exacerbate social and ecological harms, particularly in regions already affected by extractive industries.
The letter acknowledged Prime Minister Carney’s recent election victory and his stated commitment to reposition Canada’s foreign relations on a more just foundation, describing the current moment as a “hinge” point for peace, security, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and environmental health both domestically and internationally.
It emphasized that the Canada-Ecuador deal must be reevaluated to reflect Canada’s promises to prioritize human rights and ecological protection in trade policy, especially given repeated warnings from Indigenous and environmental groups in Ecuador.
The Social Justice Fund, as part of PSAC’s broader mission to combat social and economic inequities, supports initiatives that advance workers’ rights, humanitarian assistance, and international labour development, including worker-to-worker exchanges and education on globalization and social justice.
While the letter focused on Ecuador, the broader context includes ongoing international calls for humanitarian support to countries facing external pressures, such as Cuba, where Canada and Mexico have been urged to collaborate on aid efforts amid U.S.-imposed restrictions on oil shipments from Venezuela.
As of April 2026, Mexico had already sent two naval vessels carrying 800 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Cuba, including food and hygiene products, prompting renewed calls from Canadian officials like NDP interim leader Don Davies for Canada to follow suit in response to the deepening crisis on the island.