Canadian diplomats sue Ottawa over ongoing health issues in children linked to Havana Syndrome

OTTAWA — Ten Canadian diplomats and their families are suing the federal government, alleging it denied them leading-edge health care and downplayed the seriousness of unexplained health symptoms their children continue to suffer years after serving in Cuba.

The foreign-service officers and their families began reporting symptoms in 2017, including nose bleeds, impaired vision, nausea, fatigue and headaches after hearing an unusual vibratory noise at their homes in Havana.

"We have no idea what the impact of a pulsed microwave weapon could have on the young developing brain and inner ears of our children," one diplomat said. "It is still impacting their lives."

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The Globe and Mail spoke to four diplomats who were in Havana from 2016 to 2018 about the medical conditions of their children and spouses.

To this day, the diplomats say their children suffer from a range of health issues that include sleep disorders, light sensitivity, depression, anxiety and tinnitus.

One diplomat said their son and daughter were five and eight years old, respectively, when the family left Havana in the fall of 2017.

"Both developed ADHD symptoms during the last year of our posting," the diplomat said. "Both were tested for auditory conditions two years after their return: They had difficulties understanding words in a noisy environment and my daughter had some hyperacusis."

The son often misses school, is sensitive to noises and must "sometimes wear earplugs in the classroom. In the last year, he has developed dizziness/vertigo for which he was diagnosed with possible vestibular migraines."

A second diplomat, who has a teenaged son and daughter, says their children complain of headaches, visual impairment and anxiety.

The spouse of another diplomat has trouble sleeping and suffers significant visual impairment, the diplomat said.

Paul Miller, the lawyer representing the foreign-service officers, said the parents feel "enormous guilt" for what happened to their children.

"The government doesn’t care about them. They have left them out to dry. It’s absolutely gross," Mr. Miller said. "[Havana Syndrome] is such a bizarre injury. I want to get enough money so these families can get specialized medical care."

Mr. Miller said the families have incurred significant out-of-pocket medical expenses.

In a statement Sunday, Global Affairs Canada said that upon their return to Canada, the department connected the families with "specialist physicians."

"Employees have also received GAC’s support throughout the legislated compensation process," spokesperson Thida Ith said. "We note that litigation is ongoing and due to privacy considerations, GAC is unable to provide further details at this time."

A 2024 GAC report attributed the symptoms to "pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses." It said the diplomats should deal with their health ailments through the Federal Workers’ Compensation Service, while their children are covered by provincial health plans.

The diplomats blame Ottawa for failing to provide enough support and access to specialized medical care.

The Globe is not identifying the diplomats because they still work for Global Affairs Canada and their lawsuit is subject to a rarely used national-security provision, invoked by the Justice Department last year.

A federal court order prevents them from revealing details of the multimillion-dollar lawsuit, which is sealed and under a publication ban.

The symptoms, known as Havana Syndrome, occurred after American diplomats in the city were the first to report the unusual experiences beginning in late 2016.

Scientists have offered conflicting explanations for what could have caused the set of health effects.

A joint investigation by CBS’s 60 Minutes and Germany’s Der Spiegel in 2024 said the Americans may have been targeted by Russian sonic attacks.

Earlier this year, 60 Minutes reported that the U.S. Defence Department obtained a similar directed-energy weapon from a Russian criminal network.

Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton told The Globe Friday that "it could be that they [Canadians] were involved in espionage and that made them particularly interesting to the Russians and the Cubans, too."

Mr. Bolton said Ottawa and Washington have failed to adequately investigate whether Russia used directed energy against Canadian and U.S. diplomats in Cuba.

Global Affairs has denied that Canadian diplomats were involved in espionage in Cuba.

Unlike Canada, the American government disbursed US$3-million in July to U.S. diplomats, spies and military personnel allegedly affected by Havana Syndrome.

Recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the diplomats’ unexplained health ailments were a human-resources concern for her department.

Prime Minister Mark Carney later told reporters that Ottawa does have a duty of care to the diplomats and has asked for a detailed briefing.

Nosy Mag reported in September that security experts called for an independent inquiry into Havana Syndrome at Ottawa's Cuba embassy.

With files from The Globe and Mail