Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose family’s ties with the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro go back decades, is mourning the loss of a “remarkable leader”, sparking a flurry of criticism and humour at his favourable tone.

Mr Castro, who died on Saturday (AEDT) aged 90, won support for bringing schools and hospitals to the poor, but also created legions of enemies for his ruthless suppression of dissent.

Mr Trudeau’s comments on Castro were markedly more positive than most Western leaders, who either condemned the revolutionary leader’s human rights record or tip-toed around the subject.

Instead, Mr Trudeau warmly recalled his late father’s friendship with Mr Castro and his own meeting with Mr Castro’s three sons and brother — Raul, Cuba’s current president — during a visit to the island nation earlier this month.

“While a controversial figure, both Mr Castro’s supporters and detractors recognised his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for ‘el Comandante’,” Mr Trudeau said in the statement.

He called Mr Castro “larger than life” and “a legendary revolutionary and orator”.

Mr Castro was an honorary pall-bearer at the 2000 funeral of Mr Trudeau’s father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

In 1976, Mr Trudeau’s father became the first NATO leader to visit Cuba since its revolution, at one point exhorting “Viva Castro!”

“I know my father was very proud to call him a friend, and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away,” the Canadian prime minister said on Saturday.

Mr Trudeau did not see Fidel Castro during his official visit to Cuba in November.

‘Is this parody?’

His statement was met with puzzlement and derision by some Americans, including US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who is of Cuban descent.

“Is this a real statement or parody? Because if this is a real statement from the PM of Canada it is shameful and embarrassing,” Mr Rubio tweeted.

Is this a real statement or a parody? Because if this is a real statement from the PM of Canada it is shameful & embarrassing. https://t.co/lFXeqU7Ws0

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 26, 2016

The statement spawned the Twitter hashtag #TrudeauEulogies, which quickly began trending as people emulated Trudeau’s upbeat tone and lack of criticism.

“While controversial, Darth Vader achieved great heights in space construction and played a formative role in his son’s life,” tweeted @markusoff, riffing on the Star Wars’ movie villain.

Mr Trudeau has since defended his comments.

“The fact is Fidel Castro had a deep and lasting impact on the Cuban people,” Mr Trudeau told reporters in a televised news conference at a Madagascar Francophonie summit.

“He certainly was a polarising figure and there certainly were significant concerns around human rights, that’s something I’m open about and that I’ve highlighted.”

Asked whether he thought Castro was a dictator, Mr Trudeau said: “Yes.”