MP Alexis Brunnelle-Duceppe, member of Bloc Quebecois, Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec, introducing the motion.
Dharamshala: On 10 June 2024, the Canadian House of Common unanimously passed a motion supporting Tibet’s right to self-determination, asserting that Tibetans, as a people and a nation, possess this fundamental right. The motion called out China’s systematic cultural assimilation of Tibetans and affirmed Tibetan people’s rights to freely choose their economic, social, cultural, and religious policies without interference from external powers including selection of the reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The motion was sponsored by the Bloc Quebecois and introduced in the House by MP Alexis Brunnelle-Duceppe, member of Bloc Quebecois, Lac Saint-Jean, Quebec.
The Tibetan political leader, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, posted on his official X (formerly called Twitter) platform, “Canada’s unanimous passage of motion reaffirming Tibetan self-determination sends a strong message to Tibetans in Tibet that their resilience is not forgotten. Thank you MP Alexis Brunnelle-Duceppe @BlocQuebecois for your leadership & all the political parties for their support.
The motion not only underscores the growing support for Tibet within the international community but also issues vital deterrence against China’s ongoing systemic cultural assimilation in Tibet & interference in the selection of the reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”
During his nearly three-week official visit to North America in April, Sikyong Penpa Tsering engaged in discussions with Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of the Bloc Québécois, and MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, focusing on issues pertaining to the Tibet-China conflict and the Tibetan community’s endeavours to protect their cultural heritage. This notable accomplishment comes after a series of meetings by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Representative Dr. Namgyal Choedup, and the Canada Tibet Committee, with leaders of the Bloc Québécois in Montreal, Ottawa, and Washington DC.
Text of the Motion
The motion passed by the House reads as follows:
That this House recognises:
- That China is carrying out a policy of systemic cultural assimilation against Tibetans;
- That Tibetans, as a people and a nation, can claim the right to self-determination;
- As such, they are empowered to freely choose their economic, social, cultural, and religious policies without interference from any external power;
- That this empowerment prohibits China from interfering in the choice of the next Tibetan spiritual leader, the eventual successor of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
