Press Release Department: Federal - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, Alta.) issued the following statement: “Canada is concerned that Nigeria’s presidential, legislative and state elections have been postponed. The people of Nigeria must be allowed to exercise their democratic right to choose their representatives through free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.” … Read more

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, Alta.) issued a statement on Feb. 5 in response to reports that the town of Fotokol, on the northern border of Cameroon, suffered a deadly attack at the hands of Boko Haram: “Canada has listed Boko Haram as a terrorist organization and … Read more

At the Canadian Council for International Cooperation Leaders’ Forum, International Cooperation Minister and Minister for La Francophonie Christian Paradis (Megantic-L’Erable, Que.) announced the launch of Canada’s International Development and Humanitarian Assistance Civil Society Partnership Policy. This policy demonstrates Canada’s commitment to collaborate effectively with civil society to increase development results, reduce poverty and advance democracy and human rights. It … Read more

On behalf of International Cooperation Minister and Minister for La Francophonie Christian Paradis (Megantic-L’Erable, Que.), Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs) Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap, Sask.) announced funding to improve nutrition and food security in Kenya, Ghana and Nicaragua. “A nutritious diet is both fundamental for a good start in life and for healthy development. It is … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) issued a statement on Jan. 30 on the attack on Shia Palace in Pakistan. “I was deeply disturbed by the terrorist attack against a Shia place of worship in Pakistan today that claimed the lives of at least 50 people and left more than 50 injured. Canada unequivocally condemns all acts … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) issued a statement welcoming the reinstatement of Shirani Bandaranayake as chief justice of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court, and the appointment of a civilian, H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, as governor of the Northern Province. “It is our hope that President Maithripala Sirisena fulfills the mandate given to him by the people of Sri Lanka to … Read more

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights Deepak Obhrai (Calgary East, Alta.) issued a statement on Jan. 28 on the ongoing situation in South Sudan. “With over a million people displaced internally, and another 400,000 having taken refuge in other countries, the humanitarian situation in South Sudan remains dire,” said Obhrai. “Canada is deeply concerned … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) and Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Meade will travel to Boston, Massachusetts, to attend the North American Foreign Ministers Meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. The ministers will discuss global and regional issues, including security challenges and the competitiveness of North America. The full release is available online. Call 343-203-7700. Foreign Affairs Minister John … Read more

Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom and head of the Canadian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, issued a statement on Canada’s commitment to the Stockholm Declaration. “Today, 70 years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the 31 member and eight observer countries of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), together with our seven permanent international … Read more

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird (Ottawa West-Nepean, Ont.) and US Secretary of State John Kerry held a bilateral meeting on Jan. 24 on the margins of the World Economic Forum. The minister and the secretary had good discussions on a range of topics. They discussed the United States’ re-engagement in Cuba and Kerry thanked Baird for Canada’s assistance in the negotiations. The two … Read more