New Canadian PM is a Friend of Tibet

By Mary Trewartha / October 24, 2015;

Mr Justin Trudeau, the new Prime Minister of Canada

His Holiness has written to the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Justin Trudeau, to congratulate him on his Liberal Party’s victory in the Canadian national elections on October 19 in which he ousted the Conservative Party who have governed for nine years. Mr Trudeau won on a promise of change and to pull out of the bombing mission against Islamic State, although they will maintain humanitarian aid, as well as delivering on pledges to tackle climate change.

His Holiness said that he has been touched over many years by the affection and friendship shown to him by Canadians from all walks of life and that Canada has extended a warm welcome to Tibetan refugees for resettlement on humanitarian grounds since the early 1970s. He said this was a generous gesture and he is pleased to see that by and large they are contributing to the enrichment of Canadian life.

In the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people congratulated the new Prime Minister of Canada and Tibetan PM said, “I am grateful for the people and Government of Canada for their support to the Tibetan people by facilitating the immigration of up to 1000 Tibetans living in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. I look forward to your continued support on the issue of Tibet so as to resolve the critical situation prevailing inside Tibet.”

Speaker Penpa Tsering also said “On behalf of all the Tibetan people, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile wishes to congratulate you and your party for the victory in the recent election…We also express our sincere gratitude to the government and the people of Canada for their support towards Tibetan people”. He continued, “We hope you will continue to play a pro-active role in reducing the current grave situation inside Tibet and in finding a lasting solution to the issue of Tibet based on the mutually beneficial Middle Way Approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Administration-in-Exile.”