October 1, 2018 \u2013 Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has reiterated Canada\u2019s support for human rights in Tibet and for \u201csubstantive and meaningful\u201d dialogue between the Government of China and envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. [1]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Minister stopped short of formally endorsing the \u201cmiddle-way approach for genuine autonomy\u201d put forward by the Central Tibetan Administration as its platform for dialogue with China. She did however highlight many priority elements of the platform including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, cultural assimilation and linguistic rights. [2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCanada has unique experience negotiating autonomy arrangements with its provinces and territories and with indigenous communities\u201d, said Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee. \u201cThat experience serves as an interesting template for a new round of Sino-Tibetan talks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In her statement, Minister Freeland also said that Canada is \u201cseriously concerned\u201d about the human rights situation in Tibet which, she added, is \u201cin violation of China\u2019s international obligations and at odds with its constitution\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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[1] The Minister\u2019s statement came in response to an order paper question submitted in June by Member of Parliament Randall Garrison (Vice Chair of the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet<\/em>). The order paper question #1859 can be accessed at https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/DocumentViewer\/en\/42-1\/house\/sitting-319\/order-notice\/page-9<\/a> . Minister Freeland\u2019s response is found at https:\/\/www.ourcommons.ca\/DocumentViewer\/en\/42-1\/house\/sitting-319\/hansard<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n