Canada-Burma event Update!

News Update on Zoya Phan's tour in Canada:

October 30(Friday) @ Bromley Road Baptist Church, Ottawa
Karen Community and Ottawa Friends of Burma present:
Community and public event for Zoya Phan
WHEN: from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., October 30(Friday)
VENUE: Bromley Road Baptist Church - Sanctuary 1900 Lauder Drive (Lauder Dr & Bromley Rd), Ottawa

October 28 (Wednesday) @ University of Western Ontario, London
The Rights and Democracy Network presents
Time: 6:30pm, October 28 (Wednesday)
Location: Student Activities Centre, Huron College, University of Western Ontario, London
Admission: free

October 28 (Wednesday) @ York University, Toronto
The Rights and Democracy Delegation at Glendon College presents:
Time: Noon-1:30 pm, October 28 (Wednesday)
Location: Room 219, Glendon Hall, Glendon Campus, York University
2275 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Admission: Free

October 27 (Tuesday) @ downtown, Toronto
Meeting with Burma supporters and activists in Toronto
Location: 340 Gerrard St East (half block east of Parliament Street), Toronto
Time: 6:30pm, October 27 (Tuesday)

October 26 (Monday) @ Ryerson University, Toronto
Penguin Canada, the publisher of “Little Daughter,” presents
Time: 6:30pm, October 26 (Monday)
Location: Room 204, Ryerson University, Rogers Communication Centre, 80 Gould Street (Gould and Church)
Admission: Free

October 24 (Saturday) @ Ottawa’s Writers Festival, Ottawa
Zoya Phan and Karen Connelly in conversation with Kate Heartfield, the Citizen’s editorial writer
Time: at noon, October 24 (Saturday)
Location: Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts and Humanities, 314 St. Patrick Street (at the corner of Cumberland), Ottawa
Tickets: $15 / $10 Student or Senior (Free for Festival Members and Carleton Students)

News Update: Burma Advocacy Trips in Canada
Ottawa (Oct.2,09) – a leading Burma delegation comprised of Dr. Sein Win, Dr. Cynthia Maung, Charm Tong, K'nyaw Paw and Aung Than Wai arrived in Ottawa early this week to advocate Canada’s continued support for Burma. Representatives from Canadian Friends of Burma, Inter Pares, and Rights and Democracy accompanied the delegates in meeting with a number of Canadian political leaders, ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, and various government officials. For your info, please see below some important events and meetings taken place in recent days:

Proclamation of ‘Dr. Cynthia Maung Day’ at Vancouver City Council
Mayor Robertson proclaimed Tuesday, September 22, 2009, as “Dr. Cynthia Maung Day” in the City of Vancouver and invited Saw Aung Than Wai, who was present on Dr. Maung’s behalf, to receive the proclamation and say a few words. The proclamation was immediately followed by a reception in the foyer outside Council Chamber in honour of Dr. Cynthia Maung. Video:http://cityofvan-as1.insinc.com/ibc/mp/md/open/c/317/1198/200909221330wv150en,007

Standing Ovation for Dr. Sein Win in the House of Commons
Dr. Sein Win received a rare standing ovation on September 30 of all Members of Parliament including Prime Minister Stephen Harper and all his Cabinet members when House Speaker Peter Miliken announced “I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Dr. Sein Win, Leader of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.”

Minister Jason Kenny meets Burma delegates
Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney met Dr. Sein Win, Dr. Cynthia Maung and other delegates in his Parliamentary Hill office on Sept. 29 noon. Hon. Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Affairs also met the delegates on Oct.1.

Liberal Party Leader Michael Ignetieff meets Burma delegates
The Liberal Leader and main opposition leader Michael Ignetieff met Burma delegates at his office on Parliament Hill on Sept. 30 in the early evening.

NDP Leader Jack Layton meets Burma delegates
An opposition leader and New Democrat Party leader Jack Layton met Burma delegates in his office on Parliament Hill in the morning of Oct.1. NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar first met the delegates on Sept. 28 and CIDA critic John Rafferty on Sept. 29.

75 Canadian Parliamentarian call for ‘Commission of Inquiry’ on Burma
On Sept.30 noon a press conference was held to make an announcement of unprecedented support from 75 Canadian Parliamentarians calling for the United Nations “Commission of Inquiry” on human rights situation in Burma. Along with some Burma delegates, MPs from all political parties participated including Senator Consiglio Di Nino (Conservative), Madam Francine Lalonde (Foreign Affairs critic, Bloc Quebecois), Paul Dewar (Foreign Affairs critic, NDP),and Iwin Cotler, former law professor and former minister of Justice (Liberal). The press conference was presided by the chair of Parliamentary Friends of Burma, Hon. Larry Bagnell.

Parliamentary Reception for Burma delegates
A reception was held at Commonwealth room on Parliament Hill in the evening of Sept. 30 by Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB). Hon. Larry Bagnell presided the event that was attended by more than 100 MPs, Senators, parliamentary staffers, some government officials including House leader and an opposition party leader Jack Layton. Former Secretary of State – Asia/Pacific Hon. David Kilgour also hosted the first reception for the delegates in the evening of Sept. 27.

Testimony at Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Dr. Sein Win, Dr. Cyntha Maung and Cham Tong testified the situation in Burma in front of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in the morning of Sept. 29; Mika Leveque from Rights and Democracy also testified along with them. The delegates also testified at Sub-committee on International Human Rights at noon.

Other various activities and meetings
The delegates have other numerous meetings and activities including meetings with foreign affairs officials on Sept. 28, CIDA officials on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. They also attended a Burmese community meeting on Sept. 29 and a meeting with local health workers and professionals Oct. 1 and medical students Oct. 2.

They also met some prominent Senators including Senator Nancy Ruth on Sept. 29 and Senator Roméo A. Dallaire on Oct. 1.

Currently, the delegates are scheduled to attend ‘Burma Ethnic Conference’ at York University in Toronto on Oct.3, 2009.

-Reported by Canadian Friends of Burma

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A historic moment for Burma and Canada

Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets Burma’s Prime Minister in exile Dr. Sein Win on May 7, 2008.

Read News

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

Read related news

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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.