Canada: Elected Officials Celebrate 29th Anniversary of the Public Introduction of Falun Dafa

(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, was the 22^nd World Falun Dafa Day and the 29^th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Elected officials sent proclamations, letters, and videos to honor the occasion. In all, the Falun Dafa Association of Canada received 137 forms of recognition, including proclamations, letters, videos, flag raisings, and light displays.

The elected officials hailed from all ten of Canada’s provinces, including the mayors of six capital cities or city councils (Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Victoria, and Ottawa) and two governors.

Nearly 100 Members of the Canadian Parliament and Members of the Provincial Parliament of the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, Green Party, and Blue Party sent letters or videos. They commended the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and recognized Falun Dafa practitioners’ contributions to society. They also condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) persecution of the practice.

Two Members of Parliament (MPs), One Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), and Three Mayors

Six elected officials who sent letters to mark Falun Dafa DayLeft to right, first row: MP Robert B.Oliphant, MP Richard Martel, and Mayor Aldo DiCarlo of the Town of Amherstburg.Left to right, second row: Mayor Mike Savage of the City of Halifax, Nova Scotia; MPP Sara Singh of Ontario; and Mayor Steve Lussier of the City of Sherbrooke

“Please Accept My Best Wishes”

Letter from MP Robert B. Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

MP Robert B. Oliphant wrote, “The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canadian foreign policy and will continue to play a fundamental role in the Government of Canada’s engagement with China.”

Support for Falun Gong Practitioners’ Efforts to End the Persecution

Letter from MP Richard Martel of Quebec

MP Richard Martel wrote, “I declare that I fully support your call to stop the persecution of Falun Gong in China. You work hard to promote universal values, such as tolerance, conscience, and religious freedom. I greet you on this, which is very important.”

May Proclaimed “Falun Dafa Month”

Proclamation from Mayor Aldo DiCarlo of the Town of Amherstburg, Quebec

Mayor Aldo DiCarlo of the Town of Amherstburg, Quebec, proclaimed May 2021 “Falun Dafa Month” in the town and urged all citizens to open their hearts to celebrate it and all civic, social organizations, and business establishments to give this celebration the greatest possible support.

Proclamation from Mayor Mike Savage of Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mayor Mike Savage of Halifax proclaimed May 13, 2021, “Falun Dafa Day,” honoring Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

This Is an Opportunity to Recognize the Teachings of Falun Dafa

Letter from MPP Sara Singh of Ontario

MPP Sara Singh of Ontario wrote, “Through the promotion of the universal principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance, this traditional Chinese practice has attracted a loyal following around the world. As the member of Provincial Parliament in Brampton Centre and Deputy Leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party, I am proud to salute the Falun Dafa Association of Canada for their diligent effort to share this beneficial practice with Canadians.”

Handwritten Letter from Mayor Steve Lussier of the City of Sherbrooke

Mayor Steve Lussier of the City of Sherbrooke sent a handwritten letter. He wrote: “Allow me to congratulate the 22nd World Falun Dafa Day.

“May you be accompanied by our best blessings on this special day and in your activities.”

Background: What Is Falun Dafa?

Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the practice, which is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance and includes five gentle exercises, and experienced improved health and well-being.

Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.

There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.

Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.