On November 22, 2023, the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Canada organized a reception in Ottawa to honour Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the democratically elected leader of the Tibetan government in exile. This notable event, supported by the Office of Tibet, Washington DC, and the Canada Tibet Committee, was attended by 26 Members of Parliament, including four Ministers: The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, The Honourable Kamal Khera, Minister of Seniors, The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of International Development, and The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, along with other distinguished MPs like James Maloney, Garnett Genuis, Rob Oliphant, Julie Vignola, Sameer Zuberi and Yvan Baker.
During the reception, The Honourable Arif Virani delivered an introductory speech. He introduced Sikyong Penpa Tsering and highlighted the democratic nature of the Tibetan government in exile. Minister Virani emphasized the human rights situation in Tibet and articulated Canada’s firm support for these rights, including the linguistic and cultural rights of the Tibetan people, and the inclusion of Tibet in the Government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. This inclusion signals Canada’s strategic and humanitarian interest in the regions controlled by China, aligning with broader international human rights efforts.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, in his address, expressed sincere gratitude towards Minister Virani and the attending MPs for their unwavering support. He provided an update on the health of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and discussed the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as an exemplary democratic institution. Sikyong Tsering highlighted the non-partisan support for Tibet in Canada and other countries, reflecting the global backing for Tibetan autonomy. A significant portion of his speech was dedicated to addressing the concerns surrounding China’s claims on the succession of the next Dalai Lama. He urged for international support to prevent Chinese interference in the identification of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Emphasizing the universal message of His Holiness, Sikyong Tsering spoke about the CTA’s pursuit of genuine autonomy through the Middle Way Approach, which aims for meaningful autonomy within China while recognizing Tibet’s historical status as an independent state.
The event effectively highlighted the strong support for the Tibetan cause within the Canadian political sphere. The speeches by The Honourable Arif Virani and Sikyong Penpa Tsering underscored the ongoing concerns regarding human rights in Tibet, the significance of the CTA as a democratic institution, and the need for international support to uphold the rights and autonomy of the Tibetan people. The reception reinforced Canada’s commitment to human rights and strategic interests in the Indo Pacific region, particularly in supporting the Tibetan government in exile and its efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Tibet issue.
Special thanks to the Honourable MP James Maloney and his office for organizing the event, to the Ottawa Tibetan Community Association for providing delicious Tibetan momos and snacks, to the members of Canadian Tibetan Association of Ontario, Tibetan Women Association of Ontario and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress Toronto for attending the event from Toronto.
List of MPs who attended the event:
- Minister Gary Anandasangaree
- Minister Kamal Khera
- Minister Arif Virani
- Minister Dominic LeBlanc
- Speaker Greg Fergus
- MP James Maloney
- MP Garnett Genuis
- MP Julie Vignola
- MP Sameer Zuberi
- MP Rob Oliphant
- MP Yvan Baker
- MP Francesco Sorbara
- MP Brendan Hanley
- MP Jaime Battiste
- MP Paul Chiang
- MP Ryan Turnbull
- MP Parm Bains
- MP Fayçal El-Khoury
- MP Joël Lightbound
- MP Judy Sgro
- MP John Williams
- MP Kody Blois
- MP David McGuinty
- MP Adam van Koeverden
- MP Brenda Shanahan
- MP Bryan May