Ottawa, February 5 (RHC)-- The Canadian government denied media outlets, like teleSUR, whose mission it is to provide news from the Global South, from covering the latest self-styled Lima Group meeting that took place in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.

The government did not provide any reasoning for the denial of Lima Group meeting access, but has recently been called out for limiting press freedom within the country based on the preferences of its government.  Their message read: "Thank you for your interesting in the 10th ministerial meeting of Lima Group in Ottawa.  This e-mail is to let you know you have NOT been accredited as media."

Canada’s foreign ministry issued the same terse response to Russian media outlets Sputnik News as it did Ria Novosti’s bid for press credentials for the meeting.  While the message provided no reason for the rejection, however, Canadian spokesperson for the Lima Group responded to Sputnik by saying that the news outlet was rejected for a “lack of respect to the Canadian Foreign Minister."

The predominantly right-wing Lima Group which supports the coup attempt by self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido backed by the United States, has said they would not condone a military intervention to depose President Nicolas Maduro.

The group was created in 2017 at the behest of Peru.  Recently, it has been highly engaged in promoting regime change in Venezuela with the backing of the United States and the European Union.

It is composed of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Santa Lucia, and Guyana.  All of its members, except for Mexico, Guyana, and Santa Lucia, have backed Guiado’s coup attempt.  Ecuador — not a party to the association — has also backed the group’s stance on Venezuela.