July 29, 2020
Read More
July 28, 2020
Remdesivir Granted Health Canada Authorization
Today, Health Canada provided the first authorization for a COVID-19 treatment in Canada, Remdesivir (marketed as Veklury in Canada). The Public Advisory on this drug can be found here. Remdesivir…
Read More
July 26, 2020
Census 2021
The 2021 Census content has been made public through the Canada Gazette. During the last mandate, one of our first actions as Government was to restore the mandatory long-form census.…
Read More
July 25, 2020
COVID crisis reminds us that we’re only as strong as our weakest link
23 July 2020 George Tsereteli, Member of Parliament from Georgia and President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE/OSCE Parliamentary Assembly) Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen…
Read More
July 24, 2020
Feds fund gender-based violence services in Vancouver
July 24, 2020 – Vancouver, BC Hon. Hedy Fry, MP, Vancouver Centre, on behalf of Hon. Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality, announces $250,000 in support of 10…
Read More
July 22, 2020
Essential Services Contingency Reserve
Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) remains hard at work, securing the life-saving PPE and medical supplies needed for our frontline healthcare workers, as well as supporting access to supplies…
Read More
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…
Read More
July 21, 2020
Industry Canada Update
Today, Minister Bains announced continued investments of close to $230 million to support national research facilities through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)’s Major Science Initiatives (MSI) Fund. This funding…
Read More
July 20, 2020
African Descent Youth Engagement Forum
On July 17th, I was invited to listen & give feedback to the African Descent Youth Engagement Forum. I heard a diversity of African youth speak eloquently about the challenges…
Read More
July 17, 2020
Supporting Canadians with Disabilities
Last month, our Government announced a series of measures to help Canadians with disabilities navigate the effects of the outbreak, including a one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment of $600 to assist…
Read More
July 17, 2020
CEWS Expansion
Today, #GOC announced proposed changes to the CEWS that would broaden the reach of the program, providing better-targeted support and enabling more workers to their jobs quickly as the economy…
Read More
July 17, 2020
Strategic Assessment on Climate Change
While we continue to fight COVID-19, we are committed to fighting the other looming threat that is climate change and to build a net-zero economy by 2050 The Strategic Assessment…
Read More
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…
Read More
July 16, 2020
OSCE PA leaders criticize Belarus’s failure to extend timely invitation to observe election and to provide a level playing field for all stakeholders
COPENHAGEN, 16 July 2020 – The leaders of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions expressed concern today that Belarus had failed to extend a…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
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…
Read More
July 9, 2020
Updates to Vaping Regulations
On July 1st, Health Canada’s new labelling requirements for vaping products came into force. These requirements are pursuant to the Vaping Product Labelling and Packaging Regulations and are intended to…
Read More
July 8, 2020
Phase 2 of $500M COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Arts, Culture and Sport Organizations
Minister Guilbeault has announced the final details regarding Phase 2 of the disbursement of the $500-million Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage, and Sport Organizations. This final component helps address…
Read More
July 8, 2020
Update on Indigenous Child & Family Services
Yesterday, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, together with Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, participated in a signing ceremony for a Protocol…
Read More
July 7, 2020
Heads of OSCE parliamentary delegations meet online for discussions on activities during COVID-19, organizational reform and geopolitical challenges
COPENHAGEN, 7 July 2020 – Some 40 members of parliament participated in a virtual meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Standing Committee today, hearing reports from the PA President, Treasurer,…
Read More
July 6, 2020
Infrastructure Funding
Last week, #GOC announced $170 million in funding for Community, Culture and Recreation infrastructure in BC. These investments will play a key role in strengthening local economies, and helping ensure…
Read More
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…
Read More
July 3, 2020
Liberals lay groundwork for amending law that criminalizes the sale of sex in Canada
Liberals lay groundwork for amending law that criminalizes the sale of sex in Canada Six years after the Stephen Harper government clamped down on the sex trade, the Liberals appear to be…
Read More
June 30, 2020
Read More
Letter from U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin on anti-Black racism
June 29, 2020
Canada Student Service Grant
I am pleased to announce the launch of the Canada Student Service Grant (CSSG) and the I Want to Help platform to support students, youths and non-for-profit organizations. CSSG will…
Read More
June 29, 2020
Enabling Accessibility Fund – Small Projects Component
Launch of a call for proposals under the newly modernized Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF) small projects component. The call for proposals for the EAF small projects component provides funding to…
Read More
June 26, 2020
Students Update
Yesterday, the Government of Canada announced comprehensive supports of nearly $9 billion for post-secondary students and recent graduates. This plan will help provide support they need this summer, help them…
Read More
June 23, 2020
OSCE PA Human Rights Leaders Denounce Anti-LGBT Actions in Poland
COPENHAGEN, 22 June 2020 – Following an increase in discriminatory rhetoric targeting LGBT communities in Poland, including at the highest levels of politics and society, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly human rights…
Read More
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…
Read More
June 20, 2020
Liberal MP Hedy Fry presents petition in Parliament urging that subsidies be restricted to Canadian-owned media
As the federal government gears up to deliver $595 million in media subsidies over five years, some want to ensure that this money remains in Canada. Margaret Ormrod, a resident…
Read More
June 19, 2020
Dr. Peter Centre: Emergency Shelter / Urgent Public Health Need Site National Community of Practice HUB
VANCOUVER, BC - The Dr. Peter Centre is creating a Community of Practice Hub for frontline service providers, health care professionals, and policymakers with the goal of building capacity within…
Read More
June 18, 2020
Support for Cultural and Heritage Organizations
Today, the Government of Canada announced new measures to assist the museum sector as well as the first component of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural,…
Read More
June 17, 2020
Petition on Media e-2464
https://youtu.be/YPInnIgzTHQ Initiated by Margaret Ormrod from St. Albert, Alberta. Whereas: Canada’s largest newspaper chain is owned mostly by U.S. hedge funds which did a legal end run around our foreign…
Read More
June 16, 2020
CERB Extension
More Canadians are returning to work, but many people still face challenges due to COVID-19. As we begin to take steps to safely restart our economy, we will continue to…
Read More
June 15, 2020
Emergency Processing Fund – Agriculture
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, launched the $77.5 million Emergency Processing Fund (EPF) as part of the Government of Canada’s action to support Canadians and businesses…
Read More
June 15, 2020
Including women in decision-making key to effective and gender-sensitive COVID-19 responses, participants say in OSCE Parliamentary Assembly webinar
COPENHAGEN, 15 June 2020 – Governments should ensure that the gendered impacts of COVID-19 are prioritized in their responses to the crisis, participants said in a webinar organized by the…
Read More
June 13, 2020
Vancouver Centre Business Call
I chatted with Vij's and Oceanwise about the government assistance programs available to them. Tune in to see how these two Vancouver Centre businesses have benefited from the CEWS and…
Read More
June 12, 2020
Support for Provinces/Territories
Talked to many businesses. In order to reopen safely many of them will have to borrow or find money to comply with public health regulations to minimize the spread of…
Read More
June 10, 2020
Small Business Update
Today, Minister Ng announced our government’s partnership with POST Promise, an initiative launched today by Canadian private-sector organizations to help businesses across the country reopen safely. You can find more…
Read More
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…
Read More
June 9, 2020
Addressing Systemic Racism
Last week, the Prime Minister participated in the ongoing demonstrations, in solidarity with racialized Canadians who are protesting against anti-black racism. At every level of government, we need to work…
Read More
June 8, 2020
Exemption to Travel Ban
In an effort to flatten the curve, the Government of Canada has taken a number of extraordinary measures at the border, such as restricting all non-essential travel. We know that…
Read More
June 5, 2020
Support for Canadians Living with Disabilities
One-time payment for persons living with disabilities A special one-time, tax-free payment of $600 will be automatically provided to individuals who are certificate holders of the Disability Tax Credit as…
Read More
June 4, 2020
Systemic Racism
Today in the House, I addressed systemic racism. Watch my statement here: Mr. Speaker, the terrible acts of violence against black persons in the United States has brought racism to…
Read More
June 3, 2020
Workplace Safety Resources
As the economy slowly restarts, workplaces are continuing to adapt to operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has released numerous resources to support…
Read More
June 1, 2020
Expansion to CEBA
#GOC announced an expansion to the eligibility criteria for the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to include many owner-operated small businesses. The program will now be available to a greater…
Read More
May 27, 2020
CEWS Consultation
On May 15th, we announced that after listening to Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs, we extended the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) by an additional 12 weeks to August 29,…
Read More
