The Office of Tibet-DC conducted a three-day official visit to Ottawa from 14-16 June to meet with the Canadian parliamentarians and government officials to seek their assistance in resolving the Sino-Tibetan conflict and programmatic support to the Central Tibetan Administration. Representative Namgyal Choedup from the Office of Tibet was joined by Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC), who coordinated the three-day official engagements in Ottawa.
On the first day of the visit, Representative Choedup had the honour of addressing the caucus of the Bloc Quebecois chaired by the party’s Leader, Yves-Francois Blanchett. In his address, Representative Choedup discussed the current situation in Tibet, elaborating on the vision and goals of the Central Tibetan Administration. Following the caucus address, Leader Blanchett graciously hosted a parliamentary luncheon attended by MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe and CTC director Sherap Therchin. MP Brunelle-Duceppe, also vice-chair of the sub-committee on international human rights briefed about the sub-committee’s upcoming report on the human rights of Tibetans and the Chinese residential boarding school system.
Leader Blanchett expressed unwavering support for the preservation and promotion of Tibetan identity and conveyed his personal regards to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A long-time supporter and friend of Tibet, MP Julie Vignola and MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe also expressed their continued support for the resolution of the Sino-Tibetan conflict, further solidifying the commitment of the Bloc Quebecois.
Representative Choedup held meetings with Parliamentary Friends of Tibet Chair MP Arif Virani, Vice-Chair MP Garnett Genuis, and Vice-Chair James Maloney to discuss necessary follow-up actions regarding the significant motion on the Sino-Tibetan dialogue and Canada’s commitment to strengthening institutional support to the Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan exile community in India and Nepal.
Furthermore, Representative Choedup met senior officials from Global Affairs Canada, providing them with briefings on the current plans and strategies of the Central Tibetan Administration. Topics covered included the CTA’s vision paper, updates on matters relating to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and succession, among others.
The visit also involved a meeting with Tibetan youth interning for the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet and members of the Tibetan community in Ottawa. As part of the annual internship program by the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, six Tibetan youth are currently interning with MPs from various political parties.
Click the link to view the Canada’s sub-committee on international human rights report on the human rights of Tibetans and the Chinese residential boarding school system.
L-R: Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchett, Rep. Namgyal Choedup, Sherap Therchin, and MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe.
Rep. Choedup with MP Arif Virani.
With MP Garnett Genius.
Rep. Choedup offering scarf to MP James Maloney.
