For many Canadians Venezuela may seem a world away, made noticeable perhaps in the past by socialist leader Hugo Chavez or recently by headlines of hyperinflation, crime and a lack of basic goods. As a dual citizen born in Venezuela to a Canadian mother, I grew up knowing both countries well and I know how similar they really are to us.

Until recently Venezuela was a magnet for immigrants from Europe, to China to even my Canadian Grandfather who went there after he returned from the Second World War. It is a country of immense natural beauty and blessed with minerals and the world’s largest oil reserves. However, here is where the similarities end. The current Venezuelan government is holding its people hostage. It has taken over all institutions leaving the people powerless. It has seized private land and industries, it even controls who gets foreign currency and who doesn’t. Venezuela has become one giant prison where the government officials and Generals enrich themselves with the oil money coming in, and give nothing to the people. This means there is no money to import basic goods like food or medicine. Children are dying of hunger, disease from polluted water and even simple bacterial infections because there are no more antibiotics. The middle class is gone, the garbage can has become the last recourse to look for scraps. Unlike Syria, Iraq or Ethiopia during its famine, the government has not allowed a humanitarian corridor for aid to come from abroad. I cannot even send much needed medicine to my family because it gets stolen by corrupt officials in customs. Millions of lives are at risk and more die every day that something isn’t being done.

Canada can do something very significant and vote in the Organization of American States to activate the Inter-American Democratic Charter. Venezuela is the cruelest of all dictatorships and we have yet to do or say anything. A humanitarian crisis not seen since the days of Stalin is at our doorsteps on the shores of the Caribbean. Here is our chance, let us add our voice and demand that the Venezuelan people have a right to food, clean water, medicine, human rights and democracy.