CTC Impact

Since 1987, the Canada Tibet Committee has been TIBET’S VOICE IN OTTAWA.  The CTC has brought members of the Tibetan community together with their Canadian supporters in order to deliver a common appeal to the Government of Canada.  We have worked with Government and with Parliament, at the community level and at the international level. Here are a few of our achievements –

The CTC established a collaborative relationship with Government officials

Since its establishment as the first Tibet support group in Canada, the CTC has worked to develop and maintain an interactive dialogue with the Government of Canada.  Those efforts have brought about policy change in the areas of economic development, protection of the environment, trade and investment policy, immigration, women’s rights, and in multilateral processes.  The CTC…

  • Secured the first public statement of concern by the Government of Canada about human rights in Tibet in 1989. The statement opened the doors to subsequent public expressions of concern by Canada on behalf of Tibet;
  • Hosted the first visit to Ottawa by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1990 when he was welcomed by the Federal Minister of Multiculturalism, Hon. Gerry Weiner;
  • Created in 1993, a formalized interactive dialogue with the Government of Canada on human rights in China including discussion of Tibet – the dialogue continues today;
  • Obtained logistical, security, and financial support for the Tibetan Women’s Delegation to the UN’s 4th World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995;
  • Arranged the first meeting of a Minister of Foreign Affairs (Hon. Barbara McDougall) with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1993;
  • Arranged the first meeting of a Canadian Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Paul Martin) with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2004;
  • Concluded a successful negotiation in 2011 to secure a new immigration program that will welcome 1000 Tibetans to Canada;
  • Arranged numerous meetings over the years between Government of Canada officials and visiting representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration (government in exile) including Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche in 2006 and Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay in 2013.

The CTC built all-party momentum for Tibet in the Parliament of Canada

The CTC initiated the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) group in 1989.  The PFT now numbers 46 members of parliament and senators from all parties.  The CTC has worked continuously with the PFT to implement successful projects, including –

  • Visits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Ottawa;
  • Parliamentary hearings on the question of Tibet;
  • Annual “Lobby Days” and internship programs on Parliament Hill;
  • MP statements in the House of Commons;
  • Tibetan flag days inside the Senate of Canada;
  • MP representation at rallies, community events, and conferences;
  • MP and Senator participation in the World Parliamentarian’s Convention on Tibet.

And our work has produced results – 

  • Tabling of the Dalai Lama’s Five Point Peace Plan in 1990;
  • Awarding of the John Humphrey Freedom Award to Ven. Palden Gyatso in 1998;
  • Boycott of the Chinese Embassy’s “Peaceful liberation of Tibet” celebration in 1999;
  • Achieving a 2/3 parliamentary majority endorsement of the CTC’s 2004 Tibet-China Negotiations Campaign;
  • Honorary Canadian citizenship to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2006;
  • Unanimous motion in the House of Commons in 2007 calling upon the Government to push China for a meaningful dialogue on Tibet;
  • Hosting of the 2012 World Parliamentarian Convention on Tibet in Ottawa.

The CTC inspired public support through community outreach across Canada

The CTC has been actively engaged at the grassroots level to develop and maintain popular support for Tibet in Canada.  Here are some highlights of the CTC’s community activism over the years – 

  • The 1994 “Walk to Ottawa” which made national headlines when twenty Tibetans and non-Tibetans walked from Montreal to Ottawa to mark the 35th commemoration of the Lhasa Uprising;
  • Annual March 10 rallies in cities across Canada and in the nation’s capital since 1987;
  • Successful national campaigns that brought attention to China’s failed policies including its “Tibet Cultural Week” in Ottawa, the Yamdrok Tso dam construction project, the World Bank resettlement project, and the Tibet railway.  
  • Successful national campaigns in support of political prisoners including the Panchen Lama, Ngawang Choepel, Chadrel Rinpoche, Tenzin Delek Tulku, and others;
  • Successful national campaigns highlighting the negative consequences of corporate activity in Tibet, particularly in the extractive sector;
  • Annual cultural fairs in Canadian cities and regular visual art exhibits, film showings; music and dance performances;
  • A publications series that describes developments in Tibet from a Canadian viewpoint; OpEds in Canadian print media and outreach to the mainstream and alternative media;
  • The Talk Tibet series of web discussions on contemporary issues related to Tibet.

The CTC made a difference at the international level

At the international level, the CTC has been a leader within the international Tibet movement coordinating global activism for Tibet.  The CTC has also participated in intergovernmental processes to raise the profile of Tibet where world leaders meet.  Our efforts brought change – 

  • In 1992, the CTC brought the first local area network connection to Tibetan government offices in Dharamsala;
  • In 1993, the CTC created the first email listserve to coordinate activities of Tibet support groups around the world (TSG-L);
  • In 1994, the CTC established the first and longest-serving electronic Tibet news service in the world – World Tibet News;
  • In 1995, the CTC played a leadership role within the Tibetan Women’s Delegation to the UN 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing;
  • In 1996, the CTC sent delegates to lobby at the UN Habitat II conference in Istanbul;
  • In 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 the CTC sent delegates to civil society events at APEC Leaders Meetings in Manila, Vancouver, Kuala Lumpur and Auckland;
  • From 1993 to 1997, the CTC worked within the UN Commission on Human Rights in an effort to secure a successful China resolution vote;
  • From 1997 to 2007, the CTC worked with like-minded partners around the world to press for transparency and accountability with China’s bilateral human rights dialogues;
  • In 2000, the CTC was a founding member of the International Tibet Network which now boasts membership of 190 organizations from around the world.
  • In 2002, the CTC participated in the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development where it launched a pivotal report “Poverty by Design”;
  • In 2009 and 2013, the CTC contributed written contributions to China’s first and second cycle Universal Periodic Reviews at the Human Rights Council in Geneva;
  • In 2010, the CTC contributed case studies to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food’s research initiative on access to land;

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