(Minghui.org) May 13, 2024 is the 25th World Falun Dafa Day and the 32nd anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Several Members of Parliament (MP) commended Master Li and Falun Dafa practitioners for their contributions to Canada, as well as practitioners’ perseverance in their belief while facing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 25-year-long persecution. The MPs also expressed their continued support of the spiritual practice.
Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Defense: Thanking Master Li for His Resilience and Contribution
James Bezan MP
James Bezan, vice chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense and senior Conservative MP, wished Master Li a happy birthday. He said, “Thank him for his amazing work and for his resilience.” He said Master Li remained resilient despite the CCP’s attacks.
He told practitioners, “Stay strong. Your values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance all mount up to a peaceful existence and one that we all should emulate. And by doing that, you know, mainland China would be much better off if they embraced it as well. And definitely, it’s making us stronger here in Canada. So thank you, to all of you as our ongoing practitioners on World Falun Dafa Day.
“We celebrate Falun Dafa Day, but also make sure that public awareness of what’s happening to Falun Dafa practitioners here in Canada and around the world,” he said. “And so every chance that we get together and talk about the challenges that Falun Dafa practitioners are facing, as well as raising awareness of what the Communist Party in Beijing is doing, both in China and around the world, is something that we have to continue to talk about. And this is a great opportunity to do that. I’m very proud to be able to participate and support everyone on Falun Dafa Day.”
Kevin Lamoureux MP
Kevin Lamoureux MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, provided strong support and gave a big push for the S-223 bill passed to prevent forced organ harvesting. He said Falun Dafa Day celebrations raised awareness of the spiritual practice and drew attention to the issue of forced organ harvesting.
“This is an important opportunity in Canada,” he said. “You raise the profile of an issue that many people around the world are concerned about, and it provides an opportunity here in Canada to raise the profile of a very important issue. For me personally, it’s about organ transplants. I know in the past I here in Ottawa have tabled petitions related to it, as many parliamentarians have.”
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Extends Best Wishes to Master and Practitioners
Melissa Lantsman MP
Melissa Lantsman MP, deputy leader of the Opposition, said, “Best wishes to Master Li, best wishes to the entire movement of truth, compassion, forbearance and the values that we all hold dear in all of the countries that you practice but especially in Canada. You are always welcome here and we will continue to fight against the repression. Next, the practitioners face the intimidation that they face here and you will always have friends in the Conservative Party.”
Caucus Chair: Master Li Brings Millions of People to Pursue Peace
Scott Reid MP
Nearly two decades ago, Conservative Caucus Chair Scott Reid nominated Master Li as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. He recalled during an interview, “I was impressed by his example leading a movement of millions of people worldwide that is utterly dedicated to pursuing peace and in response to persecution peacefully that is an extraordinary accomplishment with very few parallels worldwide. So, what I thought then, that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize continues to be something that I still believe in.”
He continued, “We are celebrating them with anything to say to the people around the world: I think you’re an example to millions of people who are not Falun Dafa practitioners, but who can see what you’re doing and will be inspired by it. That’s very valuable. So that’s one thing I’d like to say. And the second thing I’d like to say is the way in which Dafa represents the traditional values of China which are so important, not just for that country, but to the world is something that for which we all have found a great deal of gratitude.”
He said, “There’s a long history of governments trying to persecute people based on their beliefs. It always fails and when the beliefs are so deeply rooted in the values of the country, there’s just no way that the persecution can succeed. So in the end, Falun Dafa is a thing that it’s here to stay. It is going to make a positive contribution for many, many years to come. I am confident of this.”
Vice Chair of Canada-China Legislative Association Extends Best Wishes to Master Li
Michael Cooper MP
Michael Cooper MP, vice chair of Canada-China Legislative Association, said during a recent interview, “Around the world Falun Dafa is a movement for good. Falun Dafa practitioners stand behind the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. And it is those principles that are principles for good that are at the very antithesis of the communist regime in Beijing. It is why they are lined out for practitioners who are being persecuted because they dare stand up for those principles against a brutal and evil regime.”
“I do extend good wishes and it’s really been an amazing movement. That has had such an impact spreading both principles and bringing people together. And so I think today that the fact that we have such a strong showing here, so many Falun Dafa practitioners, and many other parliamentarians who come to shoulder support is a testament to that.”
Dan Muys MP
Dan Muys MP thanked the founder of Falun Dafa and honored Falun Dafa Day. He said he wanted to send this message to everyone around the world - in Canada we have freedom of belief, but that is not the case in other parts of the world. We pay special attention to those peace advocates who uphold Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and their voices should not be suppressed.
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are Our Common Values
Yvan Baker MP
Yvan Baker MP, member of the panel of chairs for the legislative committees, said, “The principles that you hold dear, Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, are our principles that I think we all share. And so, and I also wanted to say that we truly value the contributions that the practitioners of Falun Dafa make to their communities, make to my community and Etobicoke center, and make to our country. People all over the world pay attention. What I would say is to send my good wishes to everyone.
“Practitioners are persecuted by the communist government in China. And so I think as members of parliament, it’s important as many members of parliament who believe in these values, it’s important that we advocate for those whose rights are being violated and who are facing persecution. And I’ll continue to do that.
“The Canadian government has raised on many occasions concerns about the violation of human rights by the communist government of a variety of people in China, and will continue to do so with every opportunity. As a member of parliament, I will continue to advocate that we do that and we have to keep doing that until practitioners’ problems have been told their rights are upheld and until the prosecution stops.”
Colin Carrie MP
Colin Carrie MP thanked practitioners for the messages and their support to democracy, human rights, and citizens’ freedom. He thanked the founder of Falun Dafa for spreading Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance across the world.
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