Philippe Couillard defends Justin Trudeau over Castro comments

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard is defending Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's controversial comments on the death of Fidel Castro, saying the Cuban leader was a "giant of the 20th century."

When asked whether Trudeau's statement was "tone deaf," Couillard said no. He called the statement "well-balanced."

"It was alluding to a reality that no one can contest," he told reporters in Madagascar, where both he and Trudeau are attending asummit of la Francophonie.

"Fidel Castro was a giant of the 20th century. I think nobodycan express any disagreement on this.As to his influence on his own country, the human rights questions, of course historians will have to look at this as time goes by, butagain, nobodycan contradict the fact that we have seen the passing away of a giant of the 20thcentury."

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He added that, Castro's"accomplishments will be in various tones of grey, some white, some black, but historians will have to decide this."

The prime ministerhas beencriticizedfor his written statement expressing "deep sorrow" following Castro's death.

Trudeau remembered the late president as a "legendary revolutionary and orator," and said he was a good friend of his father's.

He stood by his original statementin Madagascaron Sunday, but added that Castro was a dictator.

"He certainly was a polarizing figure and there certainly were significant concerns around human rights. That's something that I'm open about and that I've highlighted. But on the passing of his death I expressed a statement that highlighted the deep connection between the people of Canada and the people of Cuba," he told a news conference.

Calls for an apology

Opposition politicians were quick to denounceTrudeau'soriginal statement.

Conservative leadership hopeful Lisa Raittwrote on Facebookthat Trudeau should be ashamed of himself after his remarks.

"With those words, Justin Trudeau has placed himself on the wrong side of history against the millions of Cubans yearning for freedom. The Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself. He must retract this statement and apologize," she wrote.

Lawmakers in the United States, including formerRepublican presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, also slammed Trudeau.

Castro was an extremely divisive figure, viewed by many as a revolutionary icon and by others as a totalitarian dictator.His system of one-man and one-party rule kept himin power for 49 years, the longest of any head of government in the world.

Warm relations with Quebec

Quebec has a long history of warm relations with Cuba.

Earlier this year, Quebecannounced plans to open a permanent office in Havana, andCouillardvisited the country on a trade mission two months ago.

On that trip, hemet withRaulCastro,Castro's brother and the country's current president.

"I was able to confirm that Cuban society, to whichFidelCastro contributed so much, is in the process of transforming and opening,"Couillardsaid in his own statement on Saturday following Castro's death.

Jean-Francois Lise, head of the Opposition PartiQubcois,also called Castro a historic figure who "shaped the 20th century."

"In their fight against the dictator Fulgencio Batista, Fidel Castro and his companions, especially Ernesto Che Guevara, embodied, at the start, the hope of liberty and justice," Lise said in a news release.

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