CFOB Election Watch: Candidates of Interest
CFOB has compiled a list of candidates who are in the interest of Burma supporters in the upcoming federal elections. We hope it will be helpful in helping you distinguish ‘who did what’ for Burma. We are not attempting to endorse a particular party. However, we highly encourage you to support those candidates who have supported the democratic movement in Burma. Furthermore, we hope you will attend the all-candidates debates and question those candidates who have been less sympathetic to the cause.
Needless to reiterate, our two main objectives are to get more MPs on board the Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) and to get the Burma Motion implemented..
If you need any additional information about each candidate listed, please contact us. Please be advised that this is not a comprehensive list, and we will update the list further as soon as additional information is available.
Candidates who have shown support for Burma
British Columbia
Candidate: Stockwell Day (Con.)
Riding: Okanagan-Coquihalla
“Now is the opportunity for the Canadian government to act. Two things can be done: First, the government should pursue a policy of disinvestment in the cruel regime in Burma; and second, the government must acknowledge the all party resolution of the foreign affairs committee on Burma and call upon the Security Council to overcome opposition from China and vote to deal with the Burma issue at the highest level.”
Stockwell Day commenting in the House of Commons on Oct 24, 2005
Note: Mr. Day also played an important role in amending section (d) of the Burma Motion which was passed in the Canadian Parliament on May 25, 2005; confirmed to join the Parliamentary Friends of Burma (PFOB) as the leading member.
Candidate: Ujjal Dosanjh (Lib.)
Riding: Vancouver South
“I was born and raised not far away from Burma. I've had a very special place in my heart for that country. Therefore I am troubled, as are all of us, at the passage of events for the last many years in that country. I remember very fondly, years ago as a child growing up in India, being very proud of somebody called U Thant. Those are vivid memories of a young child who learned that U Thant, who was a citizen of that country, was the Secretary General of the United Nations -- perhaps the most famous Secretary General of all time for me, because I still remember his name with fondness.”
“I think it's important that we recognize that when you have a country like that -- that can produce the U Thants and the Aung San Suu Kyis of the world -- that country has potential. What's happening at this time is that the potential of that country and the potential of its people are being trampled underfoot by a military regime that has actually attempted to negate, and has successfully negated, the results of the last democratic election held in Burma.”
An excerpt from a comment made in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, as BC Attorney General, on May 4, 1999
Note: As B.C. Attorney-General, Mr. Dosanjh also presented “Thakore Visiting Scholar Award” to Ms. Penny Sanger, the then coordinator of the Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) in an award garlanding ceremony held at the Simon Fraser University (SFU) on Oct 2, 1995. The award honors individuals who have shown commitment to justice, peace, non-violence and other areas that were of concern to Mahatma Gandhi. Ms. Penny Sanger received the award on behalf of CFOB and Burmese Democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Candidate: Raymond Chan (Lib.)
Riding: Richmond
"We condemn the serious human rights situation in Burma and the regime's continued harassment of suspected democracy supporters. The record of the military rulers is unacceptable. The people of Burma made their choice abundantly clear 10 years [now15 years] ago. It is time that their wishes were respected."
A comment made in a press release as the Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) on May 26, 2000
Candidate: Svend Robinson (NDP)
Riding: Vancouver Centre
One of the strongest supporters for Democracy in Burma and the most promising member of PFOB if elected again on January 23rd.
Alberta
Candidate: Deepak Obhrai(Con.)
Riding: Calgary East
Obhrai has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB. He also attended a Mon Cultural event in Calgary in September, 2004.
Candidate: Jason Kenny (Con.)
Riding: Calgary Southeast
Kenny has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.
Candidate: Rahim Jaffer (Con.)
Riding: Edmonton-Strathcona
Jaffer has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.
Candidate: Judy Wasylycia-Leis (NDP)
Riding: Winnipeg North
“Canadians are outraged that our money is helping to prop up the brutal Burmese regime. Despite our official government position against doing business in Burma, our CPP Investment Board still pours millions of dollars of our savings into Burma, just as it knowingly invests our money in tobacco deaths and the arms trade.”
A comment made in the House of Commons on Oct 24, 2005.
Wasylycia-Leis has shown her commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.
Candidate: Bill Blaikie (NDP)
Riding: Elmwood-Transcona
“The regime in Burma is truly one of the most despicable regimes on the face of the planet right now.”
A comment made in the House of Commons on March 13, 1997.
Blaikie has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.
Ontario
Candidate: Jack Layton (NDP)
Riding: Toronto-Danforth
“We will call on the government now to respect the will of the House and to recognize the majority of those who were elected by Canadians”
Excerpt from an interview with VOA (Burmsese Serive) after the passage of the Burma Motion in the House of Commons on May 24, 2005
Mr. Layton is the leader of the NDP and lent his support to PFOB. He has some close friends in Toronto who happen to be some leading members of CFOB.
Candidate: Olivia Chow (NDP)
Riding: Trinity-Spadina
Chow is a strong supporter of international social justice, and a potential member of PFOB.
Candidate: Derek Lee (Lib.)
Riding: Scarborough-Rouge River
Lee has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB
Candidate: Joe Comartin (NDP)
Riding:Windsor-Tecumseh
Comartin has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB
Candidate: Irene Mathyssen (NDP)
Riding: London-Fanshawe
A potential MP who is likely to join the PFOB with the effort of the Burmese community in London.
Candidate: Sue Barnes (Lib.)
Riding: London West
She is another potential MP from London who is likely to join PFOB. She has a track record of supporting democracy in Burma, for example, signing in a letter calling on the Government of Canada to recognize the Committee Representing Peoples Parliament (CRPP) in Burma. She also met with Win Khet, Chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD – LA) in London, ON a few years ago.
Quebec
Candidate: Francine Lalonde (BQ)
Riding: La Pointe-de-l'Île
“What has the Government of Canada done to implement the recommendations of the motion passed by this House on May 18 particularly in connection with Canadian companies operating in Burma whose actions help the junta to remain in power?”
Excerpt from a comment in the House of Commons on Oct 26, 2005
Note: Mme. Francine Lalonde initiated the Burma Motion at the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Human Rights and International Development on Dec. 2, 2004. It was passed at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Dec. 8, 2005 with some amendments and eventually passed in Parliament on May 25, 2005.
Candidate: Roger Clavet (BQ)
Riding: Louis-Hébert
Clavet has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB. He helped the Burma Motion move forward at the Parliamentary Sub-committee on Human Rights and Development.
Nova Scotia
Candidate: Alexa Mcdonough (NDP)
Riding: Halifax
She is the former leader of the NDP and very active in international affairs. Mcdonough has shown her commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.She also played an important role in amending the section (C) of the Burma Motion at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Candidate: Peter Stoffer (NDP)
Riding: Lower Sackville
Stoffer has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.. He has also attended various Burma related events in Ottawa.
Yukon Territory
Candidate: Larry Bagnell (Lib.)
Riding: Yukon
Bagnell has shown his commitment to Burma by agreeing to attend the formation of PFOB.
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