(Minghui.org) In response to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) escalating transnational repression, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) recently issued a statement that “Canada will never tolerate acts of foreign interference or transnational repression against its citizens or those in Canada.” The GAC also said that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is investigating the threats.

The statement, signed on behalf of Foreign Minister Anita Anand by Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant, was issued on May 8 and is available on the House of Commons website.

Grace Wollensak, coordinator of the Falun Dafa Association of Canada, said there have been more than 30 false threats of bombings and other violence against Shen Yun since 2024. Furthermore, these threats targeted politicians who support Falun Gong and even the Canadian Prime Minister and Parliament Hill.

“Since last November, nearly 20 Members of Parliament have read out a petition signed by more than 3,000 Canadian citizens (or residents) in Parliament, demanding that the Canadian government take action to stop the CCP’s interference and transnational persecution of Falun Gong practitioners as well as Shen Yun in Canada,” Wollensak remarked. “Since January of this year, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has responded to the petition and published it on the Parliament website.”

According to the petition, venues hosting Shen Yun performances in Canada and around the world have recently received bomb and shooting threats linked to the CCP. It states that practitioners in Canada “have been subjected to transnational repression and foreign interference by the CCP, including harassment, surveillance, intimidation, disinformation, and other forms of sabotage.” The petition thus calls on the federal government to take stronger measures to protect the Falun Gong community in Canada.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC) is one of the core departments of the Canadian federal government. Its predecessor was the Department of Foreign Affairs and the current head is Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

Response from the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) on the interference targeting Shen Yun in Canada. (Screenshot of GAC website)

GAC: Not Tolerating Foreign Interference

“Transnational repression – which is the use of threats, intimidation, or coercion by a state or its proxies against individuals or communities beyond its borders to coerce and ultimately silence political opposition abroad – is often employed against groups such as Falun Gong practitioners,” stated the GAC response.

“Global Affairs Canada is aware of the very troubling bombing and mass shooting threats that targeted Shen Yun dance performances across Canada,” the response continued. “Officials from Global Affairs Canada contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Public Safety Canada immediately upon learning of these threats and were alerted that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had already been notified and that an investigation was already underway.”

At the June 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, leaders issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over acts of transnational repression committed by authoritarian states or their proxies. “As part of its commitment to counter transnational repression, Canada continues to engage with, support and protect vulnerable communities, including Falun Gong practitioners, to defend Canadian sovereignty and uphold the universality of human rights including freedom of religion or belief,” said the GAC response.

For example, Canada invoked the Special Economic Measures Act to impose sanctions on eight current and former People’s Republic of China officials in December 2024 for their respective roles in grave human rights violations, including those committed against Falun Gong practitioners.

“Most recently, in January 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the situation of human rights in China directly with her Chinese counterpart,” the response continued.

“The Government of Canada shares the concern of all parliamentarians regarding human rights violations that restrict freedom of religion or belief. Canada will always support the rights of Canadians to express themselves freely and peacefully and continues to work internationally, including at the United Nations, to ensure that these universal rights are protected everywhere,” concluded the GAC response.

Expelling the CCP Officials Involved in Transnational Repression

In late March, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto canceled several scheduled performances after receiving a bomb threat email from a Chinese account. Following continued efforts by the local Shen Yun presenter, the theater decided to reschedule the performances for the end of June.

The same account also sent bomb threat emails to a theater in Vancouver where Shen Yun planned to perform. After the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) confirmed the threat was not credible, the Queen Elizabeth Centre Theatre chose to proceed with the performances from April 8 to 12 as scheduled.

In early April 2026, officials from the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver had met with staff from the Vancouver Civic Theatres (VCT) and demanded the cancellation of Shen Yun performances in the city.

Joel Chipkar, a spokesperson with the Falun Dafa Association in Canada, has called on Canadian officials to publicly condemn the CCP’s transnational repression against Shen Yun and Falun Gong in Canada, and to declare the Chinese Consulate officials responsible for the interference efforts in Vancouver as persona non grata and have them expelled.

Nineteen Canadian MPs from across party lines gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 5 to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. Conservative MP James Bezan said the Chinese Consulate officials involved in the interference attempt should be expelled from Canada for engaging in foreign intimidation and transnational repression.

“It’s abuse of authority as well as the license that’s given to them as a diplomat,” he remarked. “Let’s make sure that they’re all held to account for creating these crimes against the people of Canada.”

Conservative MP Dan Muys said Canada can’t tolerate acts of interference such as the hoax bomb threats that initially led to the cancellation of Shen Yun shows in Toronto. “It’s incredible news that it [the show] is now back in Toronto, and I hope that I can join you in Toronto for that performance at the end of June, because we’ve got to celebrate that,” he added.

Conservative MP and Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman also stated that Canada will not tolerate such acts of transnational repression. No foreign government, foreign embassy, or foreign ambassador can tell Canada how to conduct its affairs, she explained.