The Canadians and Americans both want a change to Western democracy in Cuba, but differ on how to bring it about.

While the US favors isolation, Canada is trying to engage Cuba.  The Canadians also protest the Helms-Burton Act, which lets US companies sue Canadian companies operating in Cuba.

Chretien spoke well of Castro, who has been friendly to Canada.  Canada is Cuba's second largest trading partner and recently the Cuban Government said it would reimburse a Canadian company for property nationalized shortly after the revolution.