Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has acknowledged the emergence of "new insights" regarding the health incidents known as the Havana Syndrome. He stated that he will wait for a comprehensive report before deciding on Canada's response.
Carney made these remarks on September 29 during a press briefing in Vancouver, broadcast in full by CPAC, following inquiries about recent revelations concerning Canadian officials' activities in Cuba and new data surfacing from the United States.
"I anticipate receiving a briefing on the situation. New information has surfaced, and I will make a decision afterward," the Canadian leader responded.
Carney emphasized the state’s duty to protect its diplomats stationed abroad, yet he did not announce the reopening of investigations or confirm the launch of a new independent inquiry.
Impact of Recent Revelations
Carney's statement marks his first public comment since new disclosures have reignited scrutiny over events in Havana from 2016 to 2018. On September 27, CiberCuba reported on an investigation by The Globe and Mail, citing two anonymous sources, that alleged Canadian diplomatic staff had gathered intelligence of interest to the United States during those years.
One source claimed that an official linked to the Global Security Reporting Program (GSRP) at the Canadian embassy occasionally shared information with American personnel in Havana. Another suggested that communications equipment introduced by the U.S. under diplomatic cover was used from Canadian-affiliated sites.
The Canadian government has refuted characterizing the GSRP as a spy operation, asserting that its officials conduct diplomatic activities within the appropriate legal framework.
Canada’s Official Report on the Incidents
To date, Ottawa’s official stance remains grounded in an August 2024 report by Global Affairs Canada on the so-called "unexplained health incidents" in Cuba. After years of medical, environmental, and security investigations, a Canadian interdepartmental group found no evidence attributing the symptoms to a hostile act by a foreign government, nor did it identify a common cause explaining all cases.
Nonetheless, the report affirmed the authenticity of the symptoms experienced by diplomats and their families, some of whom have long reported neurological issues, dizziness, headaches, cognitive challenges, and other repercussions.
The file was subsequently transferred to the occupational health domain within Global Affairs Canada.
An Intelligence Program in a “Gray Area”
An additional official document provides context for the new revelations. In 2023, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency (NSIRA), Canada's independent intelligence oversight body, examined the GSRP's operations.
NSIRA described the program as existing in a "gray area" between traditional diplomatic functions and intelligence-gathering linked to priority objectives. The agency also noted that some officials lacked adequate legal guidance on the boundaries of their activities, recommending enhanced security protocols, oversight, and legal training.
This report did not conclude that Canadian officials were engaged in espionage in Cuba, nor did it establish any link between the GSRP and the health issues reported by diplomats.
The Device Under U.S. Investigation
Questions directed at Carney also emerged after U.S. media investigations unveiled another factor rekindling the debate over the incidents' origin. In January, CBS News reported that U.S. authorities acquired a portable device capable of emitting pulsed radiofrequency energy in late 2024. The Pentagon has been testing it to determine if such technology could replicate some effects described by affected individuals.
The device reportedly contains components of Russian origin, according to sources cited by the network. However, there is no public official determination yet that this device was used in Havana, caused the symptoms among diplomats, or was employed at the behest of a specific government.
CiberCuba has tracked these investigations, reporting in July on the first compensation payments made in the U.S. under the HAVANA Act for affected personnel.
Uncertainty Over New Investigation in Canada
Recent revelations have prompted calls from former Canadian intelligence and security officials, quoted by The Globe and Mail, for an independent review of the case and the government's handling of affected diplomats.
One public option is a review by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, whose members have access to classified information. As of now, the government hasn't committed to this path.
Canada's Foreign Minister, Anita Anand, has requested senior department officials to review the file, but her office clarified that this request does not equate to formally reopening the 2024 conclusions.
Carney's current stance leaves the case at a new juncture: the Prime Minister acknowledges the existence of new information warranting examination and has indicated a decision will follow a detailed briefing. This doesn't mean Canada has revised its conclusions on the Havana Syndrome's origin, but the matter is back on the table nearly a decade after U.S. and Canadian diplomats first reported symptoms in Cuba.
Questions on Havana Syndrome and Canada's Response
What new information has emerged about the Havana Syndrome?
Recent revelations have brought to light the potential involvement of Canadian diplomats in intelligence activities of interest to the U.S., as well as the U.S.'s testing of a device emitting radiofrequency energy.
Has the Canadian government reopened the Havana Syndrome investigation?
Prime Minister Mark Carney has not announced a reopening of the investigation but is waiting for a detailed report before making any decisions.