September 5, 2020
CBC Power & Politics Interview – Overdose Crisis
Thanks for speaking with me on a complex & multiple factorial issue. A safe supply is crucial to reduce overdose deaths from tainted supply and decriminalizing simple possession will remove…
August 31, 2020
Statement on the Vancouver Aquarium Pause
The Aquarium and Oceanwise are an institution in Vancouver. Like many tourist attractions, COVID-19 has had a major impact on ticket sales, which has caused their revenue to fall by…
August 31, 2020
Canada Summer Jobs 2020: Vancouver Centre
Over $1 million in funding in Vancouver Centre was distributed through Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) this year. This week I will be featuring some of the 240 students who were…
August 27, 2020
Post-Graduation Work Permit Changes
To help international students who would like to study in Canada this fall as they are facing uncertainty due to travel restrictions, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues to ensure…
August 26, 2020
Safe Return to Class Fund
We know the past few months have been especially hard on students who have been physically separated from their friends and classmates, and on parents who have had to juggle…
August 26, 2020
#MadeInCanadaProject
An update from the Government of Canada on Canada’s Plan to Mobilize Industry to Combat COVID-19: To date, over 6,000 Canadian firms from across the country have offered their expertise…
August 25, 2020
Support for Mental Health
As part of Canada’s rapid research response to COVID-19, the Government of Canada is providing $115 million to support mental health research in relation to COVID-19 through the: Knowledge Synthesis…
August 22, 2020
Global BC TV Interview: Housing & Homelessness
https://youtu.be/XY_rz5Q71vw
August 20, 2020
New EI Program
Today, the Government of Canada announced changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program and new income support benefits that will better support all Canadians. Our government also announced that in…
August 17, 2020
Vancouver Centre CYC
Vancouver Centre Constituency Youth Council 2020-2021: An opportunity to have your voices heard on policy and issues facing Canada. I am reaching out to you as your local Member of…
August 14, 2020
Support for International Students
As Canadian Universities usher in a new school year this fall, the Government of Canada is taking action to support international students through new measures, listed below: International students who…
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 6, 2020
Safe Third Country Agreement
The Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States (U.S.) states that refugee claimants are required to request refugee protection in the first safe country they arrive in,…
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 31, 2020
Support for Temporary Foreign Workers
Today, the Government of Canada announced additional action to reduce the incidence and impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on farms. With an investment of $58.6 million, our Government is strengthening the…
July 30, 2020
CBC’s On the Coast Interview
Spoke with Gloria Macarenko about local Conservative MP's petition to "review" the government's ban on the harmful practice of conversion therapy. The petition is based on disinformation. It's clear certain…
July 29, 2020
LGBTQ2+ Accomplishments
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
