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Hedy Madeleine Fry, PC MP (born August 6, 1941) is a Canadian politician and physician, and is currently the longest-serving female Member of Parliament.[1] A member of the Liberal Party, she has won eleven consecutive elections in the constituency of Vancouver Centre, starting with the 1993 election, when she defeated incumbent Prime Minister Kim Campbell.

Key Information

Early life and career

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Fry was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. She is of Scottish, Spanish, Indian, and Chinese ancestry.[2] After declining an English Literature scholarship to the University of Oxford, Fry earned her equivalent of a BA in Science in one year and then went on to receive her medical training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland.[1] She immigrated to Canada in 1970 and established a practice in Vancouver.

Fry worked at St. Paul's Hospital (Vancouver) for 23 years. She served as president of the British Columbia Federation of Medical Women in 1977, the Vancouver Medical Association from 1988 to 89, and the BC Medical Association from 1990 to 91. In addition, she chaired the Canadian Medical Association's Multiculturalism Committee from 1992 to 1999. She volunteered as a Tawny Owl as a member of the Girl Guides of Canada, leading a Brownie group.[3] Fry was also a host on the nationally televised CBC show Doctor Doctor.

Political career

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Fry sought the Liberal Party nomination for Vancouver Centre in the lead-up to the 1993 federal election, defeating lawyer David Varty and college lecturer John Lang. She was elected to the House of Commons of Canada, defeating Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Kim Campbell. Fry was the fifth person to unseat a sitting prime minister, and the first to do so in their first run for office. Fry has been re-elected in every subsequent election (1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2025).

Chretien and Martin governments

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She served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Health and Welfare from 1993 until 1996 when she was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Status of Women.[4]

In 2002, Fry apologized to the people of Prince George, British Columbia after she said in the House of Commons that “crosses are being burned on lawns as we speak”.[5] Fry did not remain a minister after cabinet was shuffled in 2002.

When Paul Martin became Prime Minister of Canada at the end of 2003, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with special emphasis on Foreign Credentials. After the 2004 election, she was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development with special emphasis on the Internationally Trained Workers Initiative.

In opposition

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In 2006, she defeated high-profile New Democratic Party activist and former MP Svend Robinson and in 2008 she defeated high-profile Conservative Party candidate Lorne Mayencourt. On May 4, 2006, Fry became the 11th person, 3rd woman, and the only Westerner to officially enter the Liberal party leadership race. Fry launched her leadership campaign saying that Canada's diversity is its greatest competitive advantage - "our weapon of mass inclusion" - and called for a "non-ideological" approach to problem solving. She withdrew from the contest on September 25 and announced her support for Bob Rae.

Re-elected in Vancouver Centre for a sixth term in 2008, Fry was appointed the Official Opposition Critic for Canadian Heritage. On November 21, 2008, Liberal leadership candidate Bob Rae announced that Fry would serve as his Campaign Co-Chair in British Columbia.

Fry was re-elected in 2011 by a margin of approximately 2,000 votes.[6] When the Liberals lost power in 2006, Fry was named as Critic for Sport Canada in the Liberal shadow cabinet. In 2011, as the Liberals lost their designation as Official Opposition, Fry was named Liberal Critic for Health.

Trudeau government

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In the 2015 election, Fry won her riding once more, becoming the oldest Canadian MP and the longest serving female MP. She received 56.1% of the vote, the highest popular vote share of her career. During the 42nd Parliament, she was appointed to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, which provides oversight to Canada's security services and requires a Top Secret security clearance.[7]

In the 2019 Election, Fry once again won her riding for a 9th consecutive term.[8] Fry served as a member of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic.[9] Fry was re-elected again in the 2021 Election

Fry heads Canada's delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, and is the Special Representative for gender issues, a role she has held since 2010.

Carney government

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On April 28, 2025, Fry won her riding for the eleventh consecutive term, receiving 55.2% of the vote, the second highest popular vote share of her career.[10]

Family

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Fry has three adult sons and four grandchildren. Her eldest son, Pete Fry, was elected to Vancouver City Council in the 2018 municipal election.

Electoral record

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2025 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 29,855 54.79 +14.12
Conservative Elaine Allan 16,368 30.04 +8.14
New Democratic Avi Lewis 6,807 12.49 –17.83
Green Scott MacDonald 757 1.39 –2.42
People's Christopher Varga 211 0.39 –2.89
Independent Drew William McPherson 63 0.12 N/A
Total valid votes/expense limit 54,061 99.23 — $131,689.42
Total rejected ballots 422 0.77 −0.03
Turnout 54,483 63.52
Eligible voters 85,775
Liberal notional hold Swing +2.99
Source: Elections Canada[11][12][13]
2021 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 20,873 40.44 −1.74 $87,773.26
New Democratic Breen Ouellette 15,869 30.74 +7.00 $80,950.83
Conservative Harry Cockell 11,162 21.62 +2.35 $20,505.00
Green Alaric Paivarinta 2,030 3.93 −8.59 $8,967.42
People's Taylor Singleton-Fookes 1,683 3.27 +1.98 $3,574.44
Total valid votes/expense limit 51,617 99.19 – $119,443.50
Total rejected ballots 422 0.81 +0.16
Turnout 52,039 57.01 −4.04
Eligible voters 91,276
Liberal hold Swing −4.37
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]
2019 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 23,599 42.18 −13.90 $90,613.92
New Democratic Breen Ouellette 13,280 23.74 +3.72 $35,726.92
Conservative David Cavey 10,782 19.27 +2.36 $32,539.03
Green Jesse Brown 7,002 12.52 +6.71 $28,503.30
People's Louise Kierans 724 1.29 – $4,907.84
Libertarian John Clarke 379 0.68 −0.38 $0.00
Independent Lily Bowman 142 0.25 – none listed
Independent Imtiaz Popat 38 0.07 – $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 55,946 99.35
Total rejected ballots 364 0.65 +0.22
Turnout 56,310 61.05 −4.85
Eligible voters 92,243
Liberal hold Swing −8.81
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
2015 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 32,554 56.08 +25.06 $126,090.21
New Democratic Constance Barnes 11,618 20.01 −6.34 $102,184.82
Conservative Elaine Allan 9,818 16.91 −9.14 $84,492.99
Green Lisa Barrett 3,370 5.81 −9.27 $45,728.01
Libertarian John Clarke 614 1.06 +0.53 –
Marxist–Leninist Michael Hill 74 0.13 +0.02 –
Total valid votes/expense limit 58,048 99.58   $224,575.59
Total rejected ballots 247 0.42 –
Turnout 58,295 65.89 –
Eligible voters 88,470
Liberal hold Swing +15.70
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
2011 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hedy Fry 18,260 31.03 −3.47
New Democratic Karen Shillington 15,325 26.04 +4.73
Conservative Jennifer Clarke 15,323 26.04 +0.95
Green Adriane Carr 9,089 15.44 −2.87
Libertarian John Clarke 313 0.53 −0.07
Progressive Canadian Michael Huenefeld 285 0.48 –
Pirate Travis McCrea 192 0.33 –
Marxist–Leninist Michael Hill 62 0.11 −0.05
Total valid votes 58,849 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 134 0.23
Turnout 58,983 59.23
Eligible voters 99,527
Liberal hold Swing −4.10
2008 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 19,506 34.50 −9.37 $80,974
Conservative Lorne Mayencourt 14,188 25.09 +4.73 $91,239
New Democratic Michael Byers 12,047 21.31 −7.34 $85,957
Green Adriane Carr 10,354 18.31 +12.43 $82,713
Libertarian John Clarke 340 0.60 +0.07 $0
Marxist–Leninist Michael Hill 94 0.16
Total valid votes/expense limit 56,529 100.0     $94,404
Liberal hold Swing −7.05
2006 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 25,013 43.80 +3.50 $77,826
New Democratic Svend Robinson 16,374 28.67 −3.62 $84,170
Conservative Tony Fogarassy 11,684 20.46 +1.26 $86,591
Green Jared Evans 3,340 5.84 −0.94 $1,008
Libertarian John Clarke 304 0.53 −0.04
Marijuana HeathCliff Dion Campbell 259 0.45 – $115
Christian Heritage Joe Pal 130 0.22 −0.24 $389
Total valid votes 57,104 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 163 0.28 −0.15
Turnout 57,267 62.06 +0.59
Liberal hold Swing +3.56
2004 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 21,280 40.30 −2.00 $66,619
New Democratic Kennedy Stewart 17,050 32.29 +20.25 $57,675
Conservative Gary Mitchell 10,139 19.20 −18.70 $73,789
Green Robbie Mattu 3,580 6.78 +2.85 $2,440
Libertarian John Clarke 304 0.57 – $60
Christian Heritage Joe Pal 243 0.46 – $389
Canadian Action Alexander Frei 101 0.19 −1.08 $100
Communist Kimball Cariou 96 0.18 +0.01 $389
Total valid votes 52,793 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 226 0.43 −0.05
Turnout 53,019 61.47 0.97
Liberal hold Swing −11.12
Change for the Conservatives is based on the combined totals of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservatives.
2000 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 24,553 42.30 +1.54 $69,017
Alliance John Mortimer 15,176 26.14 +3.56 $68,158
New Democratic Scott Robertson 6,993 12.04 −8.83 $8,841
Progressive Conservative Lee Johnson 6,828 11.76 +2.52 $4,047
Green Jamie Lee Hamilton 2,285 3.93 +0.93 $3,945
Marijuana Marc Emery 1,116 1.92 –
Canadian Action Jeff Jewell 742 1.27 +0.24 $547
Natural Law Valerie Laporte 177 0.30 −0.12 $40
Communist Kimball Cariou 99 0.17 – $189
Marxist–Leninist Joseph Theriault 75 0.12 −0.10 $364
Total valid votes 58,044 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 280 0.48 −0.05
Turnout 58,324 60.50 −4.22
Liberal hold Swing −1.01
Change for the Canadian Alliance is based on the Reform Party.
1997 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Hedy Fry 20,878 40.76 +9.57 $54,905
Reform Richard Farbridge 11,567 22.58 +5.12 $24,846
New Democratic Bill Siksay 10,690 20.87 +5.69 $27,133
Progressive Conservative Victoria Minnes 4,736 9.24 −15.81 $43,121
Green Paul Alexander 1,541 3.00 +2.05 $2,154
Independent Joseph Roberts 728 1.42 – $6,163
Canadian Action Connie Fogal 528 1.03 – $12,986
Natural Law John Cowhig 217 0.42 −0.62
Independent John Clarke 125 0.24 – $2,687
Marxist–Leninist Joseph Theriault 116 0.22 – $559
Independent Elvis Flostrand 92 0.17 – $699
Total valid votes 51,218 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 272 0.53
Turnout 51,490 64.72
Liberal hold Swing +2.22
1993 Canadian federal election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Hedy Fry 19,310 31.19 +8.38
Progressive Conservative Kim Campbell 15,510 25.05 −12.19
Reform Ian Isbister 10,808 17.46 +16.08
New Democratic Betty Baxter 9,397 15.18 −21.63
National Thorsten Ewald 4,949 7.99 –
Natural Law John Cowhig 643 1.04 –
Green Imtiaz Popat 586 0.95 +0.14
Christian Heritage Darren Lowe 242 0.39 –
Libertarian Tunya Audain 220 0.36 +0.11
Independent Brian Godzilla Gnu Salmi 114 0.18 –
Independent Scott Adams 83 0.13 −0.07
Commonwealth of Canada Lucille Boikoff 25 0.04 –
Independent Peter C. Nuthall 24 0.04 –
Total valid votes 61,911 100.0  
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +10.28

References

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Hedy Fry

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from Grokipedia
Hedy Madeleine Fry, PC MP (born August 6, 1941), is a Trinidadian-born Canadian physician and who has served as the Liberal for Centre since , making her the longest-serving female MP in Canadian history. She gained prominence by defeating incumbent in the 1993 federal election, becoming the first rookie candidate to unseat a sitting . Prior to her political career, Fry immigrated to from in 1970, where she practiced at St. Paul's Hospital in for decades and served as president of the Medical Association. In government roles under Prime Ministers and , she acted as to the Minister of Health and for , with responsibilities including drug strategy and initiatives. Fry's tenure has been marked by controversies, including her 2001 parliamentary statement alleging that crosses were being burned on lawns in , as evidence of ongoing , a claim refuted by local RCMP and the city's mayor, prompting her to apologize. She has also faced internal party challenges over nominations but has consistently retained her seat through multiple re-elections.

Early life and education

Upbringing and immigration to Canada

Hedy Fry was born on August 6, 1941, in San Fernando, Trinidad, then a British colony. She grew up in a poor family during the and early , a period marked by post-World War II economic constraints and colonial administration in Trinidad. Her parents, prioritizing over other financial goals such as building a home, made significant sacrifices to support her schooling and eventual pursuit of higher studies abroad. Fry attended San Fernando Government School and St. Joseph's Convent, where she excelled academically and earned an island scholarship. Family influences emphasized diligence and self-improvement amid limited local opportunities in a developing society transitioning toward , with Trinidad gaining in 1962. As an avid reader in her youth, Fry developed interests beyond traditional paths, though and were not initial career focuses. These formative experiences, coupled with in her potential, shaped her drive for professional advancement outside Trinidad's constrained economy and job market for skilled women. Fry immigrated to in 1970, seeking to establish a medical career in a with greater stability and for physicians. She cited attraction to Pierre Trudeau's vision of a as a motivating factor, though this followed her initial move and aligned with 's multicultural policies and economic prospects for immigrants. Settling in Vancouver, British Columbia, Fry adapted to urban life in a diverse coastal city, beginning practice at St. Paul's Hospital and leveraging her qualifications amid 's post-war expansion in healthcare services.

Medical training

Fry completed the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in science in one year prior to entering . She then enrolled at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), where she pursued her . At RCSI, Fry earned her (M.D.) with honours in 1968, including a silver medal in applied . Her credentials include Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Ireland (L.R.C.P.S.I.) and Licentiate in (L.M.), qualifying her for clinical practice. These qualifications provided the foundational expertise in general and necessary for her subsequent specialization in family practice. Following graduation, Fry's training emphasized practical clinical skills, aligning with RCSI's curriculum focused on surgical and medical competencies essential for physicians. This education equipped her with evidence-based approaches to patient management, including diagnostics and preventive health strategies, prior to her relocation and licensure in . No formal residency program details from Ireland or initial Canadian postgraduate training are publicly documented in primary sources, though her immediate entry into practice post-1970 immigration indicates successful credential recognition by Canadian authorities.

Pre-political career

Medical practice

Upon immigrating to in 1970, Hedy Fry established a practice at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver's West End, serving patients in an urban hospital environment characterized by diverse demographics including immigrants and inner-city residents. Her clinical work emphasized comprehensive family care, leveraging her qualifications including a licentiate in (), which supported involvement in alongside . Fry maintained this practice continuously for 23 years until her election to in 1993, during which she handled routine cases such as preventive care, acute illnesses, and maternity services in a high-volume hospital setting. St. Paul's Hospital, affiliated with the , facilitated evidence-based approaches to urban health challenges, including managing communicable diseases and chronic conditions prevalent among low-income and newcomer populations, though specific patient volumes or outcome metrics from her tenure are not publicly detailed in available records. Her hands-on contributions aligned with causal factors in improvement, such as consistent access to reducing emergency admissions, as evidenced by broader hospital data from the era showing St. Paul's role in serving over 100,000 annual outpatient visits by the ; Fry's practice operated within this operational framework prioritizing empirical patient management over specialized interventions.

Community advocacy

Prior to entering electoral politics, Hedy Fry engaged in community advocacy through leadership positions in organizations, leveraging her expertise as a family physician to address disparities observed in her practice. She served as president of the Federation of Medical Women in 1977, advocating for policies informed by clinical data on gender-specific needs, such as improved access to preventive care and addressing barriers faced by patients in underserved communities. This role emphasized evidence-based interventions over ideological approaches, focusing on causal factors like socioeconomic determinants affecting outcomes. Fry also held presidencies in the Vancouver Medical Association and the Medical Association, where she promoted reforms to for marginalized populations, including immigrants in Vancouver's multicultural neighborhoods. Drawing from her two decades of practice at St. Paul's Hospital, she highlighted practical implementations like enhanced programs to mitigate issues such as language barriers and cultural mismatches in medical delivery, prioritizing measurable improvements in patient outcomes over abstract equity narratives. These advocacy efforts revealed limitations of non-legislative channels in resolving entrenched systemic challenges, such as inadequate funding for immigrant health integration, prompting Fry's shift toward political involvement as a means to effect causal policy changes at provincial and federal levels.

Political career

1993 federal election and entry into Parliament

Hedy Fry, a physician with no prior elected experience, was selected as the Liberal Party candidate for the Vancouver Centre riding in the 1993 federal election, challenging incumbent of the Progressive Conservative Party. The riding, encompassing urban with its diverse professional and immigrant demographics, had been held by Conservatives but reflected broader discontent with the nine-year Mulroney government, marked by economic recession, the unpopular Goods and Services Tax, failed constitutional accords like Meech Lake and , and scandals that eroded public trust. This anti-Conservative backlash fueled a Liberal resurgence under leader , who capitalized on voter fatigue with Progressive Conservative policies and the emergence of the Reform Party splitting the right-wing vote. Fry's campaign leveraged her medical expertise to emphasize reforms and addressed urban concerns such as and community services in Centre's dense, cosmopolitan electorate, aligning with the Liberal platform's promise of deficit reduction without deep social cuts. On October 25, 1993, amid a national Liberal landslide that secured 177 seats and 41.3% of the popular vote, Fry defeated Campbell, marking a rare instance of a rookie candidate unseating a sitting and contributing to the Progressive Conservatives' collapse to just two seats nationwide. The victory reflected not personal dominance but the tidal shift against the PCs, as urban ridings like Centre swung decisively toward the Liberals due to demographic preferences for progressive social policies and aversion to Mulroney-era divisiveness. Following the election, Fry's rapid integration into the Chrétien government underscored her caucus ascent; she was appointed to the Minister of Health on November 4, 1993, positioning her to influence policy in her professional domain and signaling Liberal prioritization of experienced advocates in key portfolios. This role highlighted the causal role of the Liberal wave in elevating newcomers like Fry, who benefited from and national momentum rather than isolated riding strengths.

Roles in Chrétien and Martin governments (1993-2006)

Upon her election to Parliament in the 1993 federal election, Fry was appointed to the Minister of Health on November 4, 1993, serving until June 19, 1996. In this role, she contributed to initiatives, including advocacy for stricter tobacco controls; she supported the Tobacco Products Control Act and measures such as increased tobacco taxes directed toward health funding, which anti-smoking groups had long requested to curb consumption and offset over 40,000 annual smoking-related deaths in . These efforts aligned with the Chrétien government's broader push for evidence-based reforms, though implementation faced industry resistance and required balancing fiscal impacts. In July 1996, Fry was elevated to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism (with responsibility for the Status of Women), a position she held until 2002. She oversaw federal programs aimed at promoting multiculturalism through funding for cultural integration and anti-discrimination initiatives, as well as advancing women's equality via policy on pay equity and violence prevention. During this period, her department managed grants and partnerships, but the Liberal government encountered significant scrutiny over the Sponsorship Program, a related advertising scandal involving misallocated public funds totaling hundreds of millions primarily in Quebec to bolster federalist support; while Fry was not personally implicated in the Gomery Inquiry's findings of political interference, she defended the administration's integrity amid widespread allegations of cronyism and waste that eroded public trust. Critics, including opposition parties, highlighted systemic accountability lapses in such programs, contrasting with Fry's emphasis on their intended societal benefits. Under Prime Minister , Fry served as to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with special emphasis on foreign credentials from December 2003 to July 2004. In this capacity, she focused on streamlining credential recognition for immigrants to facilitate labor market integration, addressing barriers that contributed to underemployment among skilled newcomers despite Canada's . Fry consistently supported the Chrétien and Martin governments' firearms control agenda, including the 1995 Firearms Act (Bill C-68), which established the Canadian Firearms Registry aimed at enhancing public safety by tracking and reducing homicide rates through licensing and registration requirements. Proponents, including Fry, cited potential reductions in firearm-related violence, but the program drew empirical criticism for severe cost overruns—escalating from an initial $119 million estimate to over $1 billion by the mid-2000s due to administrative inefficiencies and low compliance rates among long-gun owners—without commensurate evidence of efficacy in Auditor General reports. Fry argued in parliamentary debates that such investments were justified for societal protection, dismissing early low-cost projections as unrealistic while attributing overruns to challenges rather than inherent flaws.

Opposition under Harper (2006-2015)

Following the Liberal Party's defeat in the 2006 federal election, which reduced the party to 103 seats and official opposition status under new leader , Hedy Fry retained her Centre seat with 42.4% of the vote against Conservative candidate Gavin Dew and others. She was re-elected in the 2008 snap election amid further Liberal setbacks, capturing 36.5% in a redistributed riding, and again in despite the party's drop to third place with only 34 seats, winning by a narrow margin of approximately 2,000 votes (30.6% to Conservative Teresa Watkin's 28.6%). These victories in urban Centre contrasted with national trends, reflecting Fry's local incumbency advantage amid broader voter shifts toward the Conservatives under . As a backbench Liberal MP with over a decade of parliamentary experience, Fry assumed the role of health critic, leveraging her medical background to scrutinize Conservative policies on federal-provincial transfers and funding. In August 2011, she publicly urged the Harper government to demonstrate leadership ahead of the 2014 expiry of the 2004 health accord, noting unmet targets for wait times, access, and investments, which she argued risked fragmented provincial systems without renewed federal commitments. Fry also criticized the 2012 federal budget for effectively reducing sector allocations through caps on transfers, describing it as an effort to undermine care delivery. Fry extended her opposition to Harper's environmental and resource management decisions, particularly those impacting coastal . In 2012, she condemned the closure of the Coast Guard base in , arguing in parliamentary debate that it compromised search-and-rescue capabilities and marine safety in a high-traffic urban waterway prone to incidents. She further accused the government of weakening fisheries protections by repealing habitat safeguards under omnibus budget bills, stating that Harper's record demonstrated disregard for 's marine ecosystems despite superficial claims of . Within the Liberal Party, Fry's seniority positioned her amid post-2006 rebuilding efforts, including involvement in leadership transitions. She entered the 2006 leadership contest to succeed but withdrew in September, endorsing for his executive experience before shifting support to Dion upon his December victory, emphasizing party unity against the Conservatives. Under subsequent leaders like and interim figures, Fry contributed to stability as one of the few remaining Chrétien-era MPs, focusing critiques on policy reversals in social and health domains without ascending to higher roles.

Positions in Trudeau government (2015-2025)

Hedy Fry was re-elected as the for Centre in the October 19, 2015, federal election, marking her ninth consecutive term and contributing to the Liberal Party's under . In this period, she served as chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage during the 42nd Parliament (2015–2019), directing inquiries into cultural policy, media concentration, and indigenous language preservation. Her committee oversight extended to evaluating federal support for heritage sectors, emphasizing evidence-based funding allocations amid fiscal constraints. Fry retained her committee chairmanship into the 43rd and 44th Parliaments, focusing on recovery efforts. As a member of the Standing Committee on the in the 43rd Parliament (2021–2022), she participated in assessments of measures, where data indicated Canada's vaccination rollout achieved over 80% adult coverage by mid-2022 but faced initial delays criticized for contributing to rates exceeding 50,000 by October 2025. In heritage proceedings, her committee's June 2022 documented CAD 10.9 billion in lost revenues for and from 2020–2021, advocating for targeted subsidies that supported 1.2 million jobs temporarily but yielded uneven recovery, with sector GDP still 15% below 2019 levels per data as of 2024. responses implemented some recommendations, including extended wage subsidies, though stakeholders reported administrative hurdles limiting efficacy. Throughout the Trudeau era, Fry advocated for gender equity initiatives, including support for the Pay Equity Act (formerly Bill C-3), which took effect on August 31, 2021, requiring federally regulated employers with 10 or more staff to address pay disparities for work of equal value, potentially benefiting 1.5 million workers based on departmental estimates. She also maintained her role as Canada's head of delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, serving as Special Representative on Gender Issues since 2010, influencing international dialogues on women's participation amid domestic policy alignments. In the April 28, 2025, federal election, Fry secured her 11th term in at age 83, defeating challengers in a riding marked by long-standing Liberal loyalty since her 1993 upset victory over . This win affirmed her position as Canada's longest-serving female MP, with 32 years in office by October 2025, and elevated her to Dean of the , a ceremonial role recognizing seniority. Discussions around her candidacy highlighted concerns over her age—nearing 84—versus voter attachment to her advocacy record, with turnout data showing sustained support in urban demographics. By late 2025, her tenure underscored enduring representation for multicultural and health-focused issues, though empirical reviews of Liberal policies noted modest wage gap reductions of 2–3% in federal sectors post-2021 legislation, per Labour Program analyses, amid broader critiques of implementation enforcement.

Controversies and public gaffes

Prince George cross-burning incident (2001)

On March 21, 2001, during a House of Commons debate on funding, Hedy Fry, then for , stated that "crosses are being burned on lawns as we speak" in , implying ongoing Ku Klux Klan-style racial intimidation. She further claimed to possess a letter from the city's mayor corroborating recent cross-burnings, framing the incidents as evidence of requiring federal intervention. The assertion prompted swift refutation from local authorities. The Prince George RCMP detachment reported no records of cross-burnings or related in the city, with detachment commander Staff Sgt. Al French confirming zero such incidents over the prior years. Mayor Dan Rogers denied authoring any letter to Fry about cross-burnings and stated he had never witnessed or been informed of such events, emphasizing the city's lack of organized KKK activity. Local residents and officials, including multiple B.C. mayors, decried the remarks as damaging to Prince George's reputation, with empirical checks by Fry's own officials and hate crime experts yielding no supporting evidence. Fry issued a partial apology the following day, , 2001, admitting she had "misspoken" and retracting the specific reference to Prince George, attributing the error to confusion with reports from another location—possibly , B.C., or even —though she maintained the broader point on racism's persistence. Despite her subsequent efforts to verify via RCMP contacts, no cross-burning incidents materialized, underscoring the claim's basis in unverified rather than documented fact. Opposition parties, including the Canadian Alliance, demanded her resignation, citing the episode as emblematic of unsubstantiated alarmism in political rhetoric. The incident highlighted tensions between advocacy for measures and the need for verifiable evidence, as police logs and local testimonies provided no causal link to the alleged .

Other notable statements and criticisms

In 2000, Fry described the Canadian Alliance party's positions on as "Taliban-like," prompting accusations from opponents that she was engaging in inflammatory to demonize political rivals rather than substantiating policy differences with evidence. Critics, including Alliance leader , argued the remark equated domestic conservatism with Islamist extremism, exacerbating partisan divides without addressing specific platform elements like reforms. Fry defended the statement as a pointed critique of perceived rollbacks on gender equity, aligning with Liberal advocacy for progressive social policies. Fry's rhetoric has repeatedly drawn conservative fire for unsubstantiated exaggerations, such as equating elements of right-wing platforms to extremist ideologies, which media observers have characterized as a pattern of rhetorical excess prioritizing emotional appeals over factual debate. For instance, in April 2025, she publicly likened Conservative leader to , asserting they espoused identical ideologies aimed at undermining democratic norms and equity initiatives. Opponents, including members from rival parties, contended this fostered unnecessary , eroding public discourse, while some Liberal allies praised it as forthright opposition to perceived regressive threats. Supporters within the Liberal Party have attributed Fry's statements to a passionate commitment to multiculturalism and women's issues, viewing criticisms as partisan attacks on her candor rather than substantive flaws. However, recurrent gaffes have fueled broader assessments of diminished credibility, with outlets noting internal party concerns over her unfiltered style potentially alienating moderate voters, though Fry has maintained electoral viability through localized constituent service. These episodes underscore a tension between rhetorical vigor and the demand for evidence-based argumentation in parliamentary debate.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Fry married Peter Fry, a physician who specialized in , prior to immigrating to in 1970. The couple, who later divorced, jointly decided to settle in rather than pursue opportunities in the United States, enabling Fry to establish her medical practice at St. Paul's Hospital while raising their family. This relocation supported her transition from international medical training to a long-term career in Canadian healthcare and community advocacy. The marriage produced three sons, including Pete Fry, who was elected to in 2018 as a member. Public details on Fry's familial relationships remain limited, with no reported involvement of relatives in her political activities or notable personal controversies influencing her public life. Fry has four grandchildren.

Later years and public image

In her later years, Hedy Fry remained active in Canadian politics and international parliamentary work, securing re-election in in the 2025 federal election at age 84 with 55.2% of the vote. This victory extended her tenure as one of Canada's longest-serving MPs, first elected in 1993, amid a riding characterized by strong incumbency advantages that have sustained Liberal dominance in the urban constituency. Fry participated in domestic events, such as reaffirming government support for 2SLGBTQI+ communities on August 26, 2025, alongside other parliamentarians. Fry continued her role as Special Representative on Gender Issues for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a position held since 2010 and reaffirmed in 2025, focusing on gender equality, civil society engagement, and combating gender-based violence across the 57-nation organization. In June 2024, she issued a report on civil society's role amid democratic decline, following meetings with activists in Bucharest, and in March 2025 contributed to discussions on gender parity policies in the OSCE region. Her international engagements underscored a resilience in public service, contrasting with typical MP retirement patterns where many depart after 20-30 years, often in their 60s or 70s, to allow for generational renewal, though no mandatory age limits exist. Fry's public image evolved as that of a trailblazing veteran—Canada's oldest MP in 2025—celebrated for longevity and advocacy on women's issues yet critiqued by opponents for perceived diminished vigor due to age, with calls for retirement to introduce fresher leadership in her . Voter loyalty in Vancouver Centre appeared tied to incumbency benefits, including name recognition from defeating in 1993, rather than broad enthusiasm for extended tenures, as evidenced by her consistent but not overwhelming margins in a competitive urban riding. No disclosures emerged regarding her capacity, but her sustained electoral success and parliamentary participation defied criticisms questioning fitness for office among octogenarian incumbents.

Electoral history

Federal election results


Hedy Fry first secured the Vancouver Centre riding in the federal election on October 25, 1993, defeating Progressive Conservative leader and Prime Minister . She retained the seat in all subsequent federal elections through 2025, achieving her 11th consecutive victory in the April 28, 2025, contest. Fry's victories reflect the riding's dynamics as an urban Liberal stronghold, where NDP challengers have frequently finished second due to progressive voter bases, while Conservative performance has fluctuated with national tides. In the 2004 , Fry garnered 20,951 votes, equating to 30.5% of the total, ahead of NDP candidate Kennedy Stewart. Her 2008 win came by a margin of 5,318 votes over the Conservative candidate, with Fry receiving 19,506 votes. These results, often surpassing national Liberal vote shares, underscore factors such as Fry's incumbency and amid demographic shifts toward denser urban populations.

Legacy and assessments

Key achievements and contributions

Fry achieved a notable electoral milestone in the 1993 federal election by defeating incumbent in the Vancouver Centre riding, marking the first instance of a rookie candidate unseating a sitting Canadian ; she secured 40.1% of the vote against Campbell's 29.7%. This initiated her tenure as a Liberal MP, which extended to 31 years by 2024, establishing her as Canada's longest-serving female parliamentarian and facilitating sustained institutional knowledge in legislative processes. Appointed for Multiculturalism (with responsibility for the Status of Women) in 1996 under Prime Minister , Fry oversaw federal programs advancing policy implementation, including annual reporting on the Canadian Act that funded community projects addressing health, social issues, and women's concerns during her 1996–2002 term; these efforts supported measurable expansions in grants for multicultural initiatives, totaling millions in project funding as documented in government reports from the period. In this role, she represented at international forums, such as the 2000 United Nations +5 Special Session, where she advocated for integrating into national policies, emphasizing technology's role in combating through inclusive strategies targeting male behavior and prevention. As to the Minister of Health and later chair of the Standing Committee on Health (HESA), Fry contributed to health policy discussions, including advocacy for research funding, such as the 2019 federal investment of nearly $23 million in prevention and treatment aligned with her oversight. In 2010, Fry was appointed Special Representative on Gender Issues for the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, producing influential reports that shaped regional diplomacy; notable outputs include the 2021 report highlighting surges in amid the , recommending enhanced legal frameworks, and the 2023–2025 reports on rights, which urged OSCE states to counter threats to gains in through policy protections. These initiatives influenced Canadian positions, as evidenced by her addresses in OSCE sessions integrating perspectives into , such as Ukraine-related gendered impacts.

Criticisms of tenure and effectiveness

Fry's prolonged incumbency of over 32 years as the for Centre has prompted questions about her ongoing effectiveness, with detractors arguing that extended terms in office often lead to diminished dynamism and heightened risks of detachment from evolving local needs. Political opponents, including NDP challenger , have highlighted her failure to vocally address pressing issues like the Gaza conflict despite decades in power, implying a pattern of selective engagement that undermines representational vigor. Concerns over age-related capacity have intensified these critiques, as Fry, at 84 years old—the oldest MP in Canadian history—seeks re-election in , fueling broader debates on whether advanced age correlates with reduced legislative energy and . Right-leaning perspectives emphasize the merits of informal term limits or voluntary exits to combat complacency, positing that long-serving incumbents like Fry may prioritize electoral security over bold advocacy, a causal dynamic observed in analyses of veteran parliamentarians where tenure exceeds three decades. Defenders invoke her accumulated expertise as a counter, yet empirical indicators from Centre, including stagnant progress on entrenched urban challenges amid her representation, suggest limited causal impact from sustained presence alone. Her alignment with Liberal Party policies has also drawn fire for contributing to perceived ineffectiveness in core areas, such as , where support for the expansion—purchased by the federal government for $4.5 billion in 2018 and expanded at additional cost—has been faulted for heightening risks to local coastal areas through increased tanker traffic, eroding credibility on promises without commensurate gains in or economic relief. Fiscal outcomes under Liberal administrations spanning her career further underscore these doubts, with federal debt surpassing $1.2 trillion by 2025 and program delivery shortfalls evident in metrics like unfulfilled targets, where national construction lagged commitments by thousands of units annually despite repeated pledges.

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