Election 2011 – May 2nd

Election 2011 – May 2nd

The Canada Tibet Committee posed seven questions to each of Canada’s major political parties regarding their Tibet and China policies. Unedited, in alphabetical order and as they were provided to the CTC by the parties themselves, you’ll find their responses below.

We’ve also added to this page a list of all members of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet who are seeking reelection.

* Responses from each political party were returned in English except those of the Bloc Québécois, which were returned in French.

Bloc Québécois

Votre parti appuie-t-il une motion de la Chambre des Communes demandant la liberté d’expression au Tibet et en Chine et démontrant un intérêt particulier envers les arrestations qui ne cessent d’augmenter d’écrivains, musiciens, bloggers et intellectuels tibétains et chinois?

Bloc Québécois s’est toujours porté à la défense des droits fondamentaux des Tibétains. Nous avons fait de nombreuses déclarations à la Chambre des communes qui allaient en ce sens. Nous poursuivrons notre action afin que les droits et libertés fondamentaux des Tibétains soient respectés et nous ne cesseront de faire pression sur le gouvernement fédéral pour qu’il agisse en ce sens.

Si vous étiez élu, quelle serait la politique étrangère de votre parti en matière de relations sino-canadiennes et comment les droits de l’Homme formeraient-ils partie intégrante de votre politique ?

La Chine, comme tous les pays membres de l’ONU, doit respecter la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme ainsi que la Charte de l’ONU. Ces documents explicitent l’obligation de respecter les droits fondamentaux, tels la liberté de religion et d’expression. En ce sens, la Chine a l’obligation de permettre aux Tibétains d’exercer leurs droits tel que stipulé dans ces deux textes.

C’est pourquoi le Bloc Québécois continuera à faire pression sur le gouvernement canadien afin qu’il insiste auprès du gouvernement chinois pour que les violences au Tibet cessent et que les libertés et les droits fondamentaux des Tibétains soient respectés, tel que le stipule la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme des Nations Unies.

Plus de 1,4 million de nomades et fermiers tibétains ont été, contre leur gré, relocalisés dans des regroupements fixes de maisons depuis 2006. Si votre parti est élu au gouvernement, en appellerez-vous au gouvernement chinois pour qu’il cesse d’avoir recours à cette politique coercitive qui expulse les nomades tibétains des hauts pâturages du Plateau tibétain ?

Le Bloc Québécois s’est toujours opposé au déplacement forcé des populations et continuera de le faire.

Si votre parti est élu au gouvernement, appuierez-vous une aide au développement durable du Tibet, respectant la culture tibétaine et favorisant de meilleures politiques et réglementations en matière d’eau, d’énergie et d’utilisation des terres à travers toute la région himalayenne de l’Hindu-Kush y compris la région chinoise ? Appuierez-vous les initiatives de la société civile en faveur des Tibétains du Tibet y compris les populations nomades qui ont été expulsées par la force des hauts pâturages par les autorités chinoises ?

Le Bloc Québécois a toujours défendu le principe que l’aide au développement devait être octroyé en tout respect des populations locales qui la reçoivent. En ce sens, nous croyons que l’aide doit être octroyée en fonction des besoins et des désirs des populations locales.

Sous quelles conditions, le cas échéant, votre parti appuierait-il ou favoriserait-il les compagnies canadiennes au Tibet ?

En termes de commerce et d’investissements internationaux, le Bloc Québécois croit qu’ils doivent servir l’enrichissement mutuel des peuples. C’est la raison pour laquelle le Bloc Québécois a toujours défendu la nécessité d’imposer des normes de responsabilité sociale aux entreprises lorsqu’elles mènent des activités à l’étranger : respect des droits de la personne, du développement durable des populations, etc.

Dans cette optique, le Bloc Québécois a déposé, le 24 septembre 2009, le projet de loi C-438, Loi portant sur les activités à l’étranger des entreprises et entités canadiennes, constituant la Commission de surveillance des activités à l’étranger des entreprises et entités canadiennes et modifiant certaines lois en conséquence. Le projet de loi C-438 du Bloc Québécois visait entre autres la création d’une Commission de surveillance des activités à l’étranger des entreprises et entités canadiennes, qui aurait pour mission de recevoir les plaintes, de mener des enquêtes, d’émettre des recommandations auprès du gouvernement et de rédiger un code canadien concernant la responsabilité des entreprises et entités canadiennes. Cet organisme aurait aussi pour fonction d’informer le ministre des Affaires étrangères des situations justifiant la prise de sanctions. Enfin, notre projet de loi proposait la mise en place de balises pour encadrer les activités des entreprises canadiennes ?uvrant à l’étranger afin qu’elles agissent de façon responsable en matière du respect des droits de la personne et de l’environnement.

La dissolution du Parlement et les élections provoquées par le gouvernement conservateur ont fait en sorte que notre projet de loi n’a pu dépasser le stade de la deuxième lecture.

Si votre parti est élu au gouvernement, de quelle façon votre parti encouragerait-il le dialogue entre le gouvernement tibétain en exil (TGIE) et le gouvernement chinois ?

De plus, nous avons donné notre appui à leur démarche non violente afin que des négociations entre le gouvernement chinois et le peuple tibétain débouchent sur une réelle autonomie du Tibet qui puisse satisfaire les deux parties. Nous appuyons toute initiative qui pourrait conduire à un dénouement pacifique entre le peuple tibétain et le gouvernement chinois, car nous estimons que toute résolution du litige sera impossible dans un contexte où la Chine persiste à recourir à la force envers les Tibétains.

Le Bloc Québécois considère qu’il est temps d’adopter une approche d’ensemble qui considérerait les intérêts de toutes les parties impliquées, plutôt que ceux d’une seule, afin que le Tibet acquière une autonomie réelle au sein de la Chine, ainsi que le demande le Dalaï-lama.

Si votre parti est élu au gouvernement, votre parti accepterait-il de rencontrer régulièrement le gouvernement tibétain en exil (TGIE) en tant que représentant légitime du peuple tibétain ?

Le chef du Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, a rencontré à deux reprises le Dalaï Lama, soit en 2004 et en 2007. Le Bloc Québécois est donc ouvert à de futures rencontres avec le Dalaï Lama.

Vous trouverez plus de détails concernant nos politiques dans la section ｫ plateforme électorale ｻ de notre site web : www.parlonsqc.org

Conservative Party

Thank you very much for your inquiry, on behalf of the Canada Tibet Committee, regarding the policy program the Conservative Party of Canada has put forward for consideration by Canadians. That policy program is contained in our party’s platform, “Here for Canada – Stephen Harper’s Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Economic Growth”. I have attached a copy, in both official languages.

Aspects of our platform address matters raised in your inquiry, including the ‘Defending Religious Freedom’ section on page 40, which reads as follows:

Defending Religious Freedom: Around the world vulnerable religious minorities are subject to persecution, violence, and repression.

Canada has a proud tradition of defending fundamental human rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of conscience; and our Government recognizes that respect for religious pluralism is inextricably linked to democratic development.

But we can and should do more to respond to the plight of those who suffer merely because of their faith. We will:

create a special Office of Religious Freedom in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to monitor religious freedom around the world, to promote religious freedom as a key objective of Canadian foreign policy, and to advance policies and programs that support religious freedom;
continue to ensure that Canada offers its protection to vulnerable religious minorities through our generous refugee resettlement programs; and
ensure that the Canadian International Development Agency works with groups supporting such vulnerable minorities.

Thank you again for your inquiry. Please feel free to share this information and our platform with your members.

Yours Truly,

Fred DeLorey

Director of Communications

For more information: www.conservative.ca

Green Party

Will your party support a House of Commons motion advocating for freedom of expression in Tibet and China addressing particular concern for the increased arrests of Tibetan and Chinese writers, musicians, bloggers, and intellectuals?

The Green Party of Canada would fully support a House of Commons motion advocating for freedom of expression for the people of Tibet and China. Freedom of expression is vital for a functioning society. As one of China’s largest trade partners, the Green Party believes the Canadian government is in a unique position to put pressure on the Chinese government. In particular, the Green Party believes that Chinese and Tibetan citizens who are mobilizing in opposition to repressive Chinese government policies should have the right to do so without fear of reprisal, and the Canadian government should act to protect them. A House of Commons motion would not only need to advocate freedom of expression, but should also pledge to monitor the situation and ensure that reforms are being put into action. Canada has a moral imperative to ensure that its trading partners conduct themselves ethically.

If elected government what would your party’s foreign policy be in relation to China-Canada relations and how would human rights form an integral part of that policy?

If elected, we will ensure that trade relations continued between the nations, but strongly call for China to reform its approach to civil liberties. We would use Canada’s significant influence through trade relations to push reforms in China. In pursuing this goal, the Green Party would advocate for a diplomatic approach, rather than military action or trade sanctions.

Over 1.4 million Tibetan nomads and farmers have been involuntarily relocated into fixed settlement homes since 2006. If your party forms government will you call on the government of China to halt to the coercive policy of removing Tibetan nomads from the high-altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau?

If the Green Party of Canada forms government, we will call on the government of China to halt their coercive and oppressive techniques used on the Tibetan people, including the forced displacement of Tibetan nomads.

Should your party form government will you support environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate development assistance to Tibet while promoting better water, energy and land-use policies and agreements throughout the Hindu-Kush Himalaya region including China; as well as civil society initiatives for the benefit of Tibetans inside Tibet including nomadic peoples who have been forcibly removed from high-altitude grasslands by Chinese authorities?

The Green Party of Canada believes that development assistance must be environmentally sustainable and culturally appropriate. The Green Party asserts that Canada must also provide security for international aid and development groups on the ground as well as assist international aid agencies and local authorities in implementing environmental protection and restoration measures. Local groups are the most informed on what development issues need to be addressed, and Canada must increase its support for these grassroots organizations.

Under what conditions, if any, would your party support or facilitate investment by Canadian companies in Tibet?

The Green Party of Canada would support Canadian corporate investment in Tibet if it is culturally and environmentally sensitive, and supports growth of the Tibetan economy. The Green Party of Canada is, in particular, opposed to the environmentally destructive practices of many Canadian mining companies operating around the world. Green MPs would work hard to introduce legislation to hold Canadian corporations that operate overseas to the same environmental and human rights standards as they are held to in Canada. Additionally, the Green Party of Canada would develop laws similar to the US Alien Tort Claims Act that will allows non-Canadian citizens to sue Canadian corporations for gross violations of human, environmental, and/or labor rights in their own countries.

If elected government, how would your party support the current dialogue between representatives of the Tibet Government-in-Exile and the government of China?

The Green Party believes that too many resources have been focused on defence and military in the last few decades. This has depleted Canada’s once-great role as peacekeeper and diplomat. If elected government, the Green Party of Canada would increase its diplomatic abilities, allowing it a greater role on the world stage. Through this, Canada would be able to mediate and encourage talks between the Tibet Government-in-Exile, and the government of China. Aggressive tactics have proven ineffective, and the Green Party is committed to a new way of approaching international relations. We would act to ensure that Canada would once again be seen as the peacekeeper, and use our economic clout with China to support and facilitate diplomatic talks.

If elected government would your party agree to meet regularly with officials from the Tibet Government-in-Exile as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people?

The Green Party of Canada recognizes the legitimacy of the Tibet Government-in-Exile as the representative of the Tibetan people. Before being involved in federal politics, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May worked with the Canada-Tibet Committee and was honored to have the opportunity to meet with the Dalai-Lama. We believe talks with the Government-in-Exile should be encouraged and happen more frequently so as to open up discussion on Tibet-China relations.

For more information: www.greenparty.ca

Liberal Party

Liberal Party of Canada / Parti liberal du Canada

81 rue Metcalfe Street, Suite 400

Ottawa (Ontario) KIP 6M8

Canada Tibet Committee

300, Leo-Pariseau, Bureau 2250

Montreal, Quebec H2X 4B3

Thank you for your letter of April 5, 2011, containing questions for the Liberal Party of Canada. In response to your survey, we have compiled our answers and views into a single letter reply.

The Liberal Party of Canada has always been a strong advocate for human rights in China and Tibet and we will continue to advocate for the respect of human and civil rights. We strongly encourage the government of China to work with the Tibetan people in a constructive way to resolve the Tibetan situation in a manner that fully respects human rights, international law and Tibet’s cultural identity.

Liberals believe in strong and positive relations between Canada and China and that human rights issues can be most effectively addressed within a constructive relationship. Dialogue, and not confrontation, is the key to resolving the situation in Tibet and neighbouring provinces.

We remain concerned about the condition of human rights for Tibetans on numerous issues, ranging from resource allocation to freedom of expression. We have taken diplomatic opportunities to raise human rights issues with Chinese officials at the highest levels, and have encouraged the Chinese leadership to seek discussions with Tibetan representatives. We would like to see China strengthen its role as an active member of the international community and to improve human rights.

Canada’s own experience has shown that it is possible to respect the desire for cultural and regional identity and self-government within a united country. We continue to encourage the Chinese government to engage with the Tibetan political leadership in a spirit of constructive dialogue.

A Liberal government will pursue Global Network Agreements that will advance human rights by deepening and broadening human interactions and building more mature relationships in which dialogue and problem solving flourish over time.

Alfred Apps

President

Liberal Party of Canada

For more information: www.liberal.ca

New Democrats have put forward a number of motions in Parliament in support of freedom of expression in Tibet and China. On October 29, 2010 New Democrat MP Wayne Marston moved the following motion in the House of Commons:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the government should encourage the Government of China to respect and protect Tibetan culture, language, religion and the region’s environment.“

Peggy Nash our candidate in Parkdale High Park and the former MP for the area was outspoken in her commitment to the Tibetan community. In 2008 she presented the following motion in the House of Commons:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: urge the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the representatives of Tibet’s government in exile, notwithstanding their differences on Tibet’s historical relationship with China, to continue their dialogue in a forward-looking manner that will lead to pragmatic solutions that respect the Chinese constitutional framework, the territorial integrity of China and fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a unified and genuinely autonomous Tibet”.

If elected government what would your party’s foreign policy be in relation to China-Canada relations and how would human rights form an integral part of that policy?

New Democrats are strong believers in the protection of Human Rights and feel this principle should be a priority in foreign relations. Because of this New Democrats have strongly opposed the Harper Conservatives’ free trade agreements with regimes like Columbia which have proven themselves to not respect human rights. As such we would approach relations with China from a perspective that China must improve its human rights record.

Forced removal from ones home lands is a violation of human rights. As stated above we would approach relations with China from a perspective that it must improve its human rights record. An NDP government would discuss these removals with the Chinese government with the aim of preventing them.

We will get Canada on track to fulfilling our longstanding commitment to increase our Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) budget to 0.7 per cent of GDP with an immediate increase of $500 million and further increases each year. We will implement the recommendations of the 2007 National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility to ensure that Canadian companies abide by international human rights law and environmental standards when operating overseas, and develop and enforce sanctions if they do not.

Under what conditions, if any, would your party support or facilitate investment by Canadian companies in Tibet?

New Democrat government will ensure that Canadian companies abide by international human rights law and environmental standards when operating overseas, and develop and enforce sanctions if they do not.

If elected government, how would your party support the current dialogue between representatives of the Tibet Government-in-Exile and the government of China?

New Democrats strongly believe that diplomacy and the rule of international law is the appropriate means to resolve disputes. Because of this, a New Democrat government would support these discussions.

If elected government would your party agree to meet regularly with officials from the Tibet Government-in-Exile as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people?

New Democrats believe in listening to and acting on the concerns of others. As such we would be willing to meet with representatives of the Tibetan people.

For more information: www.ndp.ca

Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT)

The following members of PFT are seeking reelection. The Canada Tibet Committee does not endorse any political party and provides this list solely for your information.

Rob Anders

Claude Bachand

Larry Bagnell

Diane Bourgeois

Gord Brown

Irwin Cotler

Paul Dewar

Sukh Dhaliwal

Ruby Dhalla

Meili Faille

Christiane Gagnon

Cheryl Gallant

Monique Guay

Gerard Kennedy

Jason Kenney

Wayne Marston

Deepak Obhrai

Bev Oda

Bernard Patry

Scott Reid

Lee Richardson

Denise Savoie

Mario Silva

Peter Stoffer

David Sweet

Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac

Robert Vincent

Election 2011 – May 2nd

Bloc Québécois

Conservative Party

Green Party

Liberal Party

NDP

Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT)