Ottawa, December 14, 2022 – In a historic day for political and human rights issues of Tibet, Canada’s parliament today passed a motion in support of the resumption of Sino-Tibetan dialogue with 324 – 0 votes.
The motion was introduced in Parliament by MP Garnett Genuis and received unanimous support from across party lines. Speaking on the motion, MP Genuis stated that Tibetans have an internationally codified right of self-determination. He added that people from all parts of Tibet, not just the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, have the right to choose their leaders and shape their future.
Expressing support for the motion, the government representative in the House MP Rob Oliphant stated that the Government of Canada supports the call for a resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process. MP Oliphant added that the Government of Canada remains deeply committed and concerned about the harsh human rights situation currently affecting Tibetans in Tibet.
In a show of gratitude and celebration, more than 60 Tibetans from Ottawa and Toronto attended the voting of the motion in Parliamentary Gallery. Tibetans were joined by approximately a hundred Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners. Following the historic support for Tibet in the Parliament, the community members marched to the Chinese Embassy along with MP Garnett Genuis, MP Arnold Viersen, and parliamentary staffers.
The day ended with a reception thanking MP Garnett Genuis for his unconditional support and commitment to the cause of promoting human rights for Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hongkongers, and Chinese.