Office Address:

145 Spruce St. suite #206
Ottawa, ONtario
Canada K1R 6P1
Tel: (613) 237-8056/ Fax: (613) 563-0017

Breaking News: Key Political Prisoners Released!

• Statement by Minister Baird on Burmese Political Prisoner Release - Read
• Statement: CFOB pleased by prisoners released but more reform needed - Read

Action and Campaign!

• Urge your MPs to join Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) - The effort to re-launch the Parliamentary Friend of Burma (PFOB) is now underway. Please urge your MPs to join PFOB. Please download information sheet about PFOB here. CFOB has been working with MPs and Senators from all political parties in Canada since 1990s in support of democracy and human rights in Burma.
• Join the campaign for release of all political prisoners in Burma - Please sign online petition. More than 500-600 political prisoners still remian in prisons! We can't forget that many of the unjust laws which saw these people imprisoned are still in effect, and those released over the past few months could be jailed again at any time as there is still not a truly democratic system in place in Burma. Campaign Postcard can be downloaded.

Ambassador Presenting Honours to Suu Kyi

Canadian Ambassador Ron Hoffmann presenting Carleton University's honorary doctorate degree to Aung San Suu Kyi. He also presented another doctorate degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Photos Slideshow

Côte Saint-Luc honours Aung San Suu Kyi

• Video message from Aung San Suu Kyi - click here
• The ceremony proceeding video - click here
• Event Photos Slideshow - click here

A ceremony unveiling a plaque in honour of Aung San Suu Kyi in Côte Saint-Luc City on Canada Day - July 1st 2011. Photos: Kyaw Zwa/CFOB

Carleton University honours Suu Kyi

• Video Message of Aung San Suu Kyi - click here
• Statement of Carleton University - click here

Awarding ceremony for Aung Sun Suu Kyi - Former Canadian Foreign Minister Flora MacDonald giving a key note speech on Feb. 22, 2011 - Photo Credit: Carleton University

Related News:

• Canadian University Honors Suu Kyi - Irrawaddy
• Carleton gives honorary degree - Metro Ottawa
• Commentary of Clarleton University Presidetn 'On the edge of history' - Ottawa Citizen

Aung San Suu Kyi's message to Canada

“I deeply appreciate the award of Honorary Canadian Citizenship. Canada has never faltered in its support for the democracy movement in Burma for which I am very grateful.”

“I have always felt a particular closeness to Canada because of my French-Canadian mother-in-law who was always proud to be Canadian and always kept her Canadian passport through living in England for over 60 years.

"I look forward very much to the day that conditions in Burma will allow me to be free to visit Canada myself and thank the Canadian people in person. Thank you very much.”

Canada PM's statements on Aung San Suu Kyi

Dec. 27, 2010: Canada to invite Burmese democracy leader to Canada
Nov. 13, 2010: Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the release of Aung San Suu Kyi

Canada FM's statements on Burma's Elections

Nov.8, 2010: Minister Cannon Expresses Concern over Burmese Elections
Nov. 5, 2010: Statement by Minister Cannon on Upcoming Elections in Burma
Sept. 16, 2010: Canada Concerned by Dissolution of Political Parties in Burma
Aug. 14, 2010: Canada responds to release of election date in Burm

Day of Action agnaist Sham Elections in Burma

Action News:

Ottawa: Protesters demand human rights, end of military regime in Burma
Saskatoon: City residents call for freedom in Myanmar
Vancouver: Don't buy into junta's 'Orwellian game', election protesters told

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News Update!

CANADIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAWRENCE CANNON MADE THE FOLLOWING REMARKS AT ASEAN-CANADA MINISTERIAL MEETING ON 26 JULY 2010 IN HANOI, VIETNAM

“Canada views the promotion and protection of human rights in Southeast Asia as a key requirement for ASEAN members to realize their full political, economic and human potential." "

In this regard," the Minister said "Canada has grave concerns regarding Burma’s disregard for human rights and repression of the country’s democratic forces. New electoral laws did little to change this. As the 2010 election approaches, Canada urges the government of Burma to respect and abide by international standards and human rights principles by conducting a process that is free, fair, inclusive and transparent.”

He further added,“Credible elections must be preceded by the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and genuine dialogue between the government, members of the democratic opposition and ethnic groups.” Further reading here…

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EXCERPT FROM CANADIAN AMBASSADOR RON HOFFMAN AT 65TH BIRTHDAY OF BURMESE DEMOCRACY LEADER DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI:

"Today we reaffirm our commitment to carry this collective struggle forward. The Government of Canada will do its part to ensure that Canadian actions match our words." "To this end," he said, "Canada has imposed, and continues to, the toughest sanctions in the world on Burma's military regime." He also added that Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the few foreigners granted honorary Canadian citizenship for her work towards democracy in Burma.Further reading here

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Excerpt from G8 Declaration
26 July 2010 - Muskoka, Canada

“We urge the Government of [Burma] to take the steps necessary to allow for free and fair elections. Full and inclusive democratic participation is essential to this. We urge the Government to release without delay all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and engage the democratic opposition and representatives of ethnic groups in a substantive dialogue on the way forward to national reconciliation.”Further reading here

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Canada Deeply Concerned by Burmese Election Laws

“Canada is deeply concerned by the new election laws unveiled by the Burmese regime this week. While Canada continues to study the new laws carefully as they are promulgated, what we have seen to date suggests that the Burmese regime is resolutely failing to deliver on its promise of free and fair elections this year. More

-The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs

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Canada Renews Support for Burmese Refugees and Displaced People

"Canada's renewed support builds on the significant results being achieved in Burma's border areas."

-The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation

March 6, 2010 Saskatoon (Saskatchewan)  ― On behalf of the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Kelly Block, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, today announced the Government of Canada will continue support for Burmese refugees and displaced persons living in Burma's border areas. More

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CFOB welcomes renewed and increased funding to Thai-Burma Border Projects

Ottawa (March 10, 2010) – Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) welcomes the renewed and  increased funding of the Government of Canada for the Thai-Burma Border Project – from $12.4 million to $15.9 million over five years, a substantial increase from the previous five-year program. More
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Saskatoon Declaration of 3rd Burma Forum Canada

The 3rd Burma Forum Canada was successfully held from March 6 to 7, 2010 in Saskatoon, Canada. More than 50 Burmese organizational representatives including ethnic nationalities across Canada and representatives from National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB), the Burmese government in exile, Ethnic Nationalities Council (ENC) and Euro-Burma Office (EBO) participated. A wide range of Burma-related issues such as international polices towards Burma, analysis on 2010 elections and possible scenarios, and the role of ethnic nationalities in the political process in Burma were discussed. The Forum participants unanimously agreed to announce the following: more

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A historic moment for Burma and Canada

Honorary Citizenship to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Canada presented the Honorary Canadian Citizenship to Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on May 5, 2008.

Learn more and Read related news

Canada imposed toughest economic sanction

The new sanctions include:

• ban all goods exported from Canada to Burma, except humanitarian goods
• ban all goods imported from Burma into Canada
• Freeze assets of any designated Burmese connected with the Burmese State
• Prohibit the provision of Canadian financial services to and from Burma
• prohibit the export of any technical data to Burma
• ban new investment in Burma by Canadian persons and companies
• prohibit Canadian-registered ships and aircraft from docking or landing in Burma
• prohibit Burmese-registered ships or aircraft from docking or landing in Canada or passing through Canada

See more detailed measure on government document, Canada Gazette

Current campaigns

• CPP Divestment Campaign     learn more...    Sign Petition Online
• University Endowment Divestment Campaign   learn more..

Canada-Burma relations

If you want to know more about Canada-Burma relations click here...

If you want to know about an historic Burma Motion passed in Canadian Parliament click here...

If you want to know more about us, read below...Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) founded in 1991 is a federally incorporated non-profit organization working for the establishment of democracy and human rights in Burma.CFOB’s committments include:

• monitoring Canada’s relations with Burma
• raising awareness in Canada about the political and social-economic situation in Burma
• encouraging the federal government, organizations and citizens to pressure the Burmese government to restore democracy, and respect human rights.
• working closely with Burmese exiles, democratic movements and human rights organizations in Canada and around the world.

CFOB is devoted to achieving political and social-economic changes in Burma by continuously carrying out research, publishing reports, and producing other educational material. CFOB also organizes campaigns and educational events, and maintains an on-going dialogue with the Canadian Federal government, and with various national organizations.

Recent achievements include:

• the creation of the Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB), a union of twenty-five MPs and Senators from various political parties in Canada who are working to raise awareness of conditions in Burma.
• Passing the Burma Motion in the Canadian Parliament.  This motion guarantees the federal government’s action on:
  • implementing comprehensive economic sanctions on Burma
  • openly pushing for the intervention of the UN Security Council
  • monetary support for the Burmese democratic movement.