OTTAWA – Official Opposition Foreign Affairs Critic Hélène Laverdière (Laurier – Ste-Marie) today condemned the actions of Egypt’s military government towards two independent international development agencies, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), and urged the Canadian government to take immediate action. Egypt’s military rulers have banned American and European employees of the two organizations from leaving the country.

“Canada must raise this issue immediately with Egyptian authorities,” said Laverdière. “NDI and IRI are both excellent examples of organizations that work to support democracy-building in countries in transition.”

Laverdière noted that the crackdown underscores the need for the democratic transition to unfold and for Canada to support the democratic aspirations of Egyptians. “Now is the time for Canada to remember our obligations towards the Egyptian people and to exert diplomatic pressure on Egyptian authorities to uphold the principles of freedom and democracy.”