Canada & the World

Canadian diplomats sue Ottawa over children's lingering Havana Syndrome symptoms

The families allege the government denied them leading-edge health care and downplayed the seriousness of their ailments.

By Daniel Cormier, Foreign Affairs Reporter
October 5, 2026

OTTAWA · Ten Canadian diplomats and their families are suing the federal government, alleging it failed to provide adequate support and specialized medical care for unexplained health issues. The families say their children continue to suffer from symptoms linked to Havana Syndrome years after serving in Cuba from 2016 to 2018. The symptoms first emerged in 2017 after they heard unusual vibratory noises in their Havana homes. They included nose bleeds, impaired vision, nausea, fatigue and headaches.

The children now experience a range of ongoing ailments including sleep disorders, light sensitivity, depression, anxiety and tinnitus. One diplomat said their son and daughter were five and eight when the family left Havana in late 2017. "Both developed ADHD symptoms during the last year of our posting," the diplomat said. The son now often misses school, is sensitive to noises, and was recently diagnosed with possible vestibular migraines causing dizziness.

Paul Miller, the lawyer representing the foreign-service officers, said the parents feel "enormous guilt" for what happened to their children. He said the families have incurred significant out-of-pocket medical expenses. "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." The lawsuit is sealed under a federal court order and a publication ban.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said it connected the returning families with "specialist physicians." "Employees have also received GAC’s support throughout the legislated compensation process," spokesperson Thida Ith said. The department noted litigation is ongoing and cited privacy for not providing further details. A 2024 GAC report had attributed the symptoms to "pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses."

Possible Russian involvement

The health effects, known as Havana Syndrome, have been linked in recent reports to possible attacks by Russian intelligence using sonic weaponry. A 2024 joint investigation by CBS’s 60 Minutes and Germany’s Der Spiegel said American diplomats may have been targeted by Russian sonic attacks. American officials in Havana were the first to report similar unusual experiences starting in late 2016. Former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said Ottawa and Washington have failed to adequately investigate whether Russia used directed energy against their diplomats in Cuba.

Bolton suggested the Canadians may have been targeted because they were involved in espionage, a claim Global Affairs Canada has denied. Unlike Canada, the U.S. government disbursed US$3-million in July to American personnel affected by Havana Syndrome. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has referred the file as a human-resources concern. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa has a duty of care to the diplomats and has asked for a detailed briefing.

With files from The Globe and Mail