May 11, 2021
Canada’s Current Travel Restrictions
From the beginning of this crisis, we have done everything in our power to protect the health and safety of Canadians. This includes implementing some of the strongest border measures…
April 13, 2021
Federal Government Secures Passenger Refunds from Air Canada for Pandemic-Related Flight Cancelations
In a country as vast as Canada, it is essential we maintain connections between people and our communities. To that end, today the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance,…
March 8, 2021
OSCE PA: Special Representative on Gender Issues, Hon. Hedy Fry Delivers International Women’s Day Message
OSCE parliamentarians celebrate women in leadership on International Women’s Day Marking the 110th International Women’s Day, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly leaders today celebrated the efforts of women and girls around the…
March 5, 2021
OSCE PA: Hon. Hedy Fry Addresses the UK House of Lords Regarding the Growing Number of Refugees
Hedy Fry, a member of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Migration and Head of the Canadian Delegation to the PA, discussed Canada’s approach to voluntary resettlement of refugees.…
March 3, 2021
The Georgia Straight: B.C.’s female politicians face down misogynistic, hateful bullies
B.C.'s female politicians face down misogynistic, hateful bullies Jenny Kwan, Hedy Fry, Elizabeth May, Christine Boyle, and Melissa De Genova share their thoughts and experiences in advance of International Women's…
February 25, 2021
Dr. Hedy Fry’s Speech at OSCE PA Winter Meeting in Vienna
Introduction Dear colleagues, I’m happy to be speaking with you today as the Special Representative on Gender Issues for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly. Thank…
February 16, 2021
Federal Government Supports International Students by Ensuring Online Studies Abroad Will Still Count for a Post Graduate Work Permit
International students bring so much to Canada, contributing more than $21 billion annually to our economy and supporting the vitality of our communities. The pandemic has presented myriad challenges for…
January 30, 2021
Federal Government Announces Stricter Travel Restrictions
On Friday January 29th, our government announced new measures to restrict travel and limit the spread of COVID-19 and its new variants. Starting this Sunday January 31, 2021 to April…
December 17, 2020
An Update on Canada Immigration Statistics 2020
Despite the impacts that COVID-19 has had on immigration in 2020, IRCC has continued working hard to ensure that people can immigrate to Canada safely and responsibly respecting all health…
November 25, 2020
Foreign Affairs Committee: Hedy Fry Asks Minister Champagne about Rising Violence Against Journalists and Parliamentarians
On November 24th, 2020, I questioned Minister Champagne on the steps Canada is taking to address rising violence against journalists and parliamentarians around the world. Since 1992, 1,350 journalists have…
November 12, 2020
Canada Opens Door to Hong Kong Students Through New Immigration Pathways
November 12, 2020 Canada announces immigration measures supporting Hong Kong residents and Canadians in Hong Kong Immigration is a key driver of Canada’s economic growth, and Canada continues to welcome…
October 31, 2020
Federal Government Announces 2021-2023 Immigration Plan
October 30, 2020—Ottawa—The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, tabled the 2021‒2023 Immigration Levels Plan today, which sets out a path for responsible increases to immigration targets…
October 6, 2020
OSCE PA President Makes Statement on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
As head of Canada’s delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA), I share with you the following statement. Nagorno-Karabakh bloodshed must end, says OSCE…
September 21, 2020
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a virtual address to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly.
September 21, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a virtual address to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly. "This is a…
August 13, 2020
Belarus must uphold international obligations and respect fundamental freedoms in wake of disputed election, OSCE PA President says
COPENHAGEN, 13 August 2020 – Disturbed by reports of excessive force following Sunday’s presidential election in Belarus, including the use of rubber bullets, water cannons, stun grenades and mass arrests,…
August 3, 2020
Statement on the 45th Anniversary of the Helsinki Act
COPENHAGEN, 1 August 2020 - On the forty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, Present and former Presidents of the OSCE PA issued the following statement: "Forty-five…
July 22, 2020
Call to save OSCE human dimension by current and former PA Presidents and human rights leaders
COPENHAGEN, 22 July 2020 – With the OSCE’s leaders’ mandates having expired on 18 July due to a failure to reach agreement among governmental representatives in Vienna, a group of…
July 16, 2020
Violence Along Armenia-Azerbaijan Border
Canada's statement: The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Canada is concerned by the violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. “Alongside the Organization for Security…
July 15, 2020
OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Meeting
Hedy Fry, the OSCE PA’s Special Representative on Gender Issues and Head of the Canadian Delegation, addressed the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation Group on Monday, speaking on the theme…
July 13, 2020
New OSCE PA report offers comprehensive recommendations stemming from series of Parliamentary Web Dialogues on COVID-19
COPENHAGEN, 13 July 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic, as an unprecedented global crisis that impacts all dimensions of security, has underlined the urgency of addressing long-standing challenges facing the OSCE…
July 12, 2020
OSCE PA human rights leaders urge U.S. government to reconsider decision to resume federal executions
COPENHAGEN, 9 July 2020 – Responding to reports that executions are set to resume on the federal level in the United States for the first time since 2003, the leaders…
July 3, 2020
Op-Ed on Racism in U.S. Congressional Record
Honoured to have my op-ed on racism read into the Senate Congressional Record by US Senator Ben Cardin (Dem.) Full text: The terrible acts of violence against Black persons in…
June 21, 2020
OSCE PA: World Refugee Day
COPENHAGEN/STRASBOURG, 19 June 2020 – On the eve of World Refugee Day, parliamentarians from the OSCE and Council of Europe participated in a high-level discussion organized by the British House…
June 10, 2020
Report: Gendered Impacts of COVID-19
Special Representative on Gender Issues to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Association (OSCE PA), Hedy Fry (Canada), has published a report ahead of next week’s Parliamentary…
May 24, 2020
Endorsement: Human security for public health, peace and sustainable development appeal
On the occasion of International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament (May 24, 2020) we express our deep concern about the humanitarian and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the…
May 24, 2020
Press Release: Human security for public health, peace and sustainable development appeal
24 May 2020. Governments need to cut military expenditure, and increase their focus and budgets on human security and global cooperation, in order to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, address…
May 23, 2020
Hong Kong National Security Legislation
We are deeply concerned at proposals for introducing legislation related to national security in Hong Kong and we are following the development closely. With hundreds of thousands of Canadians living…
February 5, 2019
Dr. Hedy Fry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
On Feb. 5th I spoke at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where I graduated in 1968 as a physician. It was an honour to go back, at the request…
