Some Venezuelans in Nova Scotia concerned by state of politics at home

Lisset Rios said she remembers a frightening experience when she was working at a university and the military entered in search of students who had protested against the government. That was when she knew she had to leave.  (Lisset Rios - image credit)
Lisset Rios said she remembers a frightening experience when she was working at a university and the military entered in search of students who had protested against the government. That was when she knew she had to leave. (Lisset Rios - image credit)

Some Venezuelans living in Nova Scotia are concerned about the state of politics in their home country. Maria Claudia Rosario is one of them.

Rosario said she was disappointed when the government didn't release detailed vote results when it announced the victory of current president Nicolás Maduro on July 28.

While Canada, the U.S. and other countries in the region want Maduro's government to prove its victory, Rosario said she is unsure of what six more years of his regime will mean.

"We wanted to believe that something could happen this time, but it didn't," said Rosario.

Ottawa did not recognize opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, but Chrystia Freeland said Canada has concerns about the election results and the country's "increasingly severe authoritarian regime."

"In Venezuela, there's not a lot of freedom of speech," said Rosario. "So if you were to talk bad about the government, it might be detrimental for you."

Venezuela's opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez campaigns with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, ahead of the presidential election on July 28, in Maracaibo, Venezuela July 23, 2024.
Venezuela's opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez campaigns with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, ahead of the presidential election on July 28, in Maracaibo, Venezuela July 23, 2024.

Venezuela's opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez campaigns with opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, ahead of the presidential election on July 28, in Maracaibo, Venezuela July 23, 2024. (Isaac Urrutia/Reuters)

Rosario moved to Halifax with her husband last April. She had already fled Venezuela in 2018 at the age of 17 to go to the U.S., claiming that the situation in her home country was becoming increasingly dire.

According to the United Nations, 82 per cent of Venezuelans live in poverty.

She said she remembers the food shortages, the long lines at the grocery store and the violent riots of 2014 and 2017 that pushed her and many of her friends to leave.

She is one of more than 7.7 million Venezuelans who have left their country, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. More than 20,000 Venezuelans have relocated to Canada.

"Me and my husband are both from South America and we thought that Canada will be a great place to start our family and immigrate," said Rosario.

María Claudia Rosario is shown in Arizona in 2018. She moved to Canada looking for a better life and a place to “start a family.”
María Claudia Rosario is shown in Arizona in 2018. She moved to Canada looking for a better life and a place to “start a family.”

María Claudia Rosario is shown in Arizona in 2018. She moved to Canada looking for a better life and a place to “start a family.” (María Claudia Rosario)

Asking Canada for help

Lisset Rios is another Venezuelan living in Halifax who left in 2021 due to the escalating violence.

"I didn't feel safe at work anymore," she said in an interview in Spanish. "I didn't even feel safe going to the store."

Rios even said the repeated violence makes Venezuela feel "at war."

To help Venezuelans escape that situation, Rios said she would like to see the Canadian government make it easier for Venezuelans to come to Canada.

She added that the government should be putting pressure on the Venezuelan government as a much larger and more powerful country.

"As a resident in Canada, I would like if there was more support for Venezuelan migrants with families," she said.

Demonstrators gather to protest against election results that awarded Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro with a third term, in Caracas, Venezuela, August 3, 2024.
Demonstrators gather to protest against election results that awarded Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro with a third term, in Caracas, Venezuela, August 3, 2024.

Demonstrators gather to protest against election results that awarded Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro with a third term. (REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told the CBC in an email it is "deeply concerned with the ongoing crisis" and that, while it does not offer special considerations to Venezuelans in Canada, it may consider situations on a case-by-case basis.

Individuals with an expired temporary status in Canada, such as a work or study permit, have 90 days from the date of losing their temporary resident status to apply for restoration.

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