(Minghui.org) May 13, 2021, was the 22nd World Falun Dafa Day and the 29th anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. Elected officials sent letters and videos to mark the occasion. As of May 13, the Canadian Falun Dafa Association had received over 120 letters, proclamations, and videos.
Elected officials who sent video greetings:Left to right, first row: Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kent, MP Mark Gerretsen, MP Ziad Aboultaif, and MP James CummingLeft to right, second row: MP Tom Kmiec, MP Kerry Diotte, Dominic Cardy, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, Belinda Karahalios, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), and MPP Lindsey Park
Thanking Practitioners for Calling for Freedom
Video greeting from MP Peter Kent
MP Peter Kent said, “Hello and virtual greetings to all on yet another anniversary of World Falun Dafa founding day. As we meet again, unfortunately only on our screens rather than together on the lawn of Parliament or at Toronto City Hall.
“This has been another difficult year for those many millions of Falun Gong adherents who practice the tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance and their meditative exercises under the dark shadow of the China’s communist regime.
“Not only across mainland China, but in Hong Kong, where harassment of the Falun Gong community is escalating as the Communist Party widens its brutal repression of all dissident voices.
“But we also know today that Falun Gong, long a legal entity in Hong Kong, is resisting the regime’s intimidation, an important voice in defense of the democratic principles of free thought, free speech, free assembly, and the rule of law.
“Now most of the 29 years since Mr. Li Hongzhi founded Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) have been extremely difficult and dangerous for practitioners. [They have been subjected to] detention, torture, forced organ harvesting, and murder.
“But on this anniversary, it is an honor to join millions enjoying freedom around the world and offering our support of greetings: Zhen, Shan, Ren [Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance].”
May All Be Inspired by the Teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Video greeting from MP Mark Gerretsen
MP Mark Gerretsen stated in his video greeting, “As Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, I would like to send my very best wishes to the Falun Dafa community as you celebrate World Falun Dafa Day.
“During an exceptionally challenging time in our history, may we all be inspired by the teachings of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. Thank you for your meaningful and positive contributions to communities across Canada and around the globe.”
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Values Shared by Canadians
Video greeting from MP Ziad Aboultaif
MP Ziad Aboultaif said in his video greeting, “Canadians have always been proud of our firm commitment to human rights and freedom of belief. Despite the challenges that they have faced over the years, practitioners of Falun Dafa have remained committed to their principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. These are values that are shared by all Canadians, and we stand with you as you stand up to tyranny and suppression.”
Video greeting from MP James Cumming
MP James Cumming said in his greeting, “Falun Dafa community promotes the practice of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I stand with you in emphasizing the importance of these universal human values and their benefit to individual practitioners and to the world.”
We Will Remember the Principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance
Video greeting from MP Tom Kmiec
MP Tom Kmiec said in his greeting, “May 13 marks the day where we can add our voices and pay homage to Falun Dafa and Falun Gong practitioners all across Canada for the many contributions you and everyone have made to make Canada a better place.
“On May 13, we get to remember those three basic teachings that Falun Dafa practitioners implement throughout their lives in their communities: Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Video greeting from MP Kerry Diotte
Safeguarding Religious Belief Is The Right of Every Citizen
Video greeting from Minister Dominic Cardy of New Brunswick
Dominic Cardy is Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development of New Brunswick Province.
He said, “Standing up for religious freedom, for tolerance, for the right of every citizen of this planet to be able to express their religious points of view, to be able to express themselves as human beings, is something that is very important to me.
“I will always be there to stand up for the rights of any religious tradition to be able to practice fully and fairly in the context of a free and open society."
Thanks to the Falun Dafa Community
Video greeting from Belinda Karahalios, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) of Ontario
MPP Belinda Karahalios said in her video greeting, “Learning about the persecution of Falun Gong is quite often shocking for most people in Canada. It was so recent, it was so harsh. The horrors that occurred to innocent Falun Gong practitioners under the Chinese Communist Party regime.
“Freedom of religion, religious liberty, is a fundamental principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest beliefs in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”
“So in commemoration of the 29th anniversary of Falun Dafa Day, I am grateful for the contributions of the Falun Dafa community and join you in honoring the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Falun Dafa's Principles Benefit All Canadians
Video greeting from MPP Lindsey Park
MPP Lindsey Park said, in part, "This Falun Dafa Day, let us all be reminded of Canada's commitment to human rights, freedom of conscience, and upholding the rule of law."
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, Forbearance and includes five gentle exercises, and experienced improved health and wellbeing.
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.
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