Sikyong Penpa Tsering Meets with Canadian MPs James Maloney, Karim Bardeesy, and Former Minister Arif Virani in Toronto

Toronto: Sikyong Penpa Tsering met with Canadian MPs James Maloney and Karim Bardeesy, as well as former Minister and MP Arif Virani, on 13 May 2025 during his visit to Toronto.

The meeting, held at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre, was also attended by Representative Namgyal Choedup and Sherap Therchin, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee.

Sikyong extended his congratulations to MPs Maloney and Bardeesy on their recent election victories and expressed his heartfelt appreciation to former Minister and MP Arif Virani for his enduring support and leadership on the Tibetan cause in Canada.

During the discussion, Sikyong provided an update on the Central Tibetan Administration’s ongoing efforts to advance the Tibetan movement and shared details about the year-long official celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, designated as the Year of Compassion. Sikyong implored the Canadian leaders to join in the celebration and to help amplify His Holiness’ universal messages of non-violence, Social, Emotional and Ethical (SEE) Learning/secular ethics, and interfaith harmony.

Sikyong also underscored the importance of continued Canadian parliamentary representation at the World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet.

On 14 May 2025, Sikyong Penpa Tsering met with the leader of Bloc Quebecois Yves-Francois Blanchet and MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe in Montreal. Sikyong congratulated them on their re-election and expressed gratitude for their support in the passage of motion in the Canadian parliament supporting the right for self-determination of the Tibetan people. Leader Blanchet expressed continued support for the just cause of Tibetan people. Representative Namgyal Choedup and Canada Tibet Committee’s Executive Director Sherap Therchin joined the meeting along with Tibetan community leaders of Montreal.