Open this photo in gallery: A hospital room in Toronto on Aug. 13, 2019.Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press Friend of mine Re “Warship’s visit to Cuba was intended to deter Russia, says minister” (June 18): Someone in the Defence Minister’s office maintains that Cuba is not an “ally” of Canada. That may be true in a narrow definition of the term. Revolutionary Cuba is certainly a good friend of Ottawa, as 65 years of interrupted diplomatic relations can attest. This bilateral relationship allows Canada to regularly tout a trade surplus, is home to significant Canadian direct investment and displays an outstanding...