(Minghui.org) “Falun Dafa is good!” said Scott Reid, Member of Parliament (MP) and Official Opposition Critic for Democratic Institutions, on May 3, 2023, at a celebration on Parliament Hill to commemorate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction. 

Falun Dafa practitioners celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction on May 3, before World Falun Dafa Day. Tom Kmiec MP (fourth from left), Arnold Viersen MP (middle), and Marc Dalton MP (fourth from the right) and practitioners celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction. Ted Falk MP (second from left), Garnett Genuis MP (third from left), Colin Carrie MP (fourth from the left), Pierre Paul-Hus MP (fifth from the left) and Falun Dafa practitioners take part in the celebration ceremony.

Fourteen MPs and an MP’s representative participated in the celebration. MPs celebrating Falun Dafa Day included Judy Sgro, Garnett Genuis, Scott Reid, James Bezan, Ted Falk, Marilyn Gladu, Tom Kmiec, Richard Martel, Colin Carrie, Arnold Viersen, Pierre Paul-Hus, Marc Dalton, Rachel Bendayan and Dan Muys. Michael Cooper MP sent a representative.

Members of Parliament commended Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance for making Canada and the world a better place, not only for the physical and mental health of individuals, but also by maintaining world peace. They also spoke highly of the strength, tenacity, patience and compassion shown by practitioners during the persecution, and said that they would stand with them to safeguard the freedom to believe in Falun Dafa.

Official Opposition Critic for Democratic Institutions: “Falun Dafa Is Good!”

Scott Reid MP, Official Opposition Critic for Democratic Institutions, has been a friend of Falun Dafa practitioners since he was first elected. The first issue he raised in Parliament in 2001 was the persecution of practitioners in China.

Scott Reid MP, Official Opposition Critic for Democratic Institutions, addressed the celebration at Parliament Hill on May 3, 2023.

“Falun Dafa is good,” said Scott Reid MP. “How can we not be inspired by the courage of Falun Dafa practitioners in China facing persecution? How can we not be inspired by the ongoing good work that is done both in China and across the world by practitioners, and leading people of all backgrounds to a better life? They offer the very best in Chinese tradition and Chinese culture to the entire world.” 

You Bring Change to the World

Judy Sgro MP, Co-Chair of the Falun Gong Parliamentary Friendship Group, on behalf of Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal Party Caucus, encouraged all Falun Dafa practitioners who participated in the event. She said, “Please continue with your message about peace, and tranquility that needs to happen and this is the result of Falun Dafa.”

Judy Sgro MP, Co-Chair of the Falun Gong Parliamentary Friendship Group, spoke during the celebration on May 3.

MP Sgro said, “Falun Dafa, it promotes kindness, it promotes kindness to each other. And that’s the message that the world needs.

“We know the unfair persecution and the jails and the organ harvesting continue to happen. Those are things that have to end.” 

She said that Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the principles of every Falun Dafa practitioner. Canada needs to promote Falun Dafa, and the whole world needs to promote it to strive for more peace.

She said that the persecution of Falun Dafa in China is ongoing. Practitioners are persecuted and imprisoned unfairly and their organs are harvested while they are alive. This is still happening. The persecution must end.

It rained in Ottawa that day, but it stopped after the festivities started. MP Sgro said humorously, “I know it’s cold and you’re wet. I’ve kept the rain off for a few minutes. I hope we can keep it off for the rest of the afternoon.”

She concluded by saying, “Please keep up what you believe in, because you are making a difference in the whole world. Not just in Canada, not just in Ottawa or Toronto, but the entire world.” 

Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is the Foundation of Values

James Bezan MP expressed his pleasure at joining practitioners’ activities again to celebrate the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance.

James Bezan addressed the celebration at Parliament Hill on May 3.

James Bezan MP said, “The work that you continue to practice here in Canada closely aligns with all of our values as Canadians. That’s why we’ve always been so excited to have Falun Dafa practitioners call Canada home and to share your faith, your discipline and your passion for Falun Dafa with the rest of us here in Canada.

“Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for calling Canada home. And thank you for making us a better country because you are with us today,” he said.

Ted Falk MP spoke during the ceremony at Parliament Hill on May 3.

Ted Falk MP said in his speech, “Falun Gong shares some very similar values to those of my own faith, that being Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance, and living in peace with one another. These are not only a hallmark of our two diverse belief systems, but also the bedrock values of a Canadian society. Values and rights that are too important to sacrifice on the altar of political correctness.”

Richard Martel MP spoke during the ceremony at Parliament Hill on May 3.

May 2-8 is Mental Health Week in Canada. Richard Martel MP said that Falun Dafa is rooted in the values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, and encourages and helps to improve mental health. 

“I salute your efforts to advance the universal and very important values of tolerance, freedom of conscience and religion. These values are ideals for Canada, and I thank you for bringing this contribution to our country for a society more peaceful and tolerant,” he said. 

Colin Carrie MP addressed the celebrations at Parliament Hill on May 3.

Colin Carrie MP said that in today’s world where spiritual beliefs have become more important, Falun Dafa should be especially appreciated. He said, “It’s nice to see people who are involved in improvement and wellness and health, to acknowledge the importance of the meditation and the spirituality that each and every one of you espouse. 

“Now more than ever, I humbly stand here and thank you for your courage. And your example,” he said. “As was said, Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance. These are virtues and values that all of us here in Canada hold dear to our hearts, and for you to continue to promote it, especially now with the political challenges we’re facing. I admire each and every one of you. So thank you for being here. Thank you for educating the members of parliament that will be coming here today.”

When Colin Carrie became an MP in 2004, one of his first meetings was to meet Falun Gong practitioners. “You have been the advocates for the importance of the practice that you all hold so dearly. So thank you very much. Keep up with everything you do. God bless you!” 

Falun Dafa Flag Will Fly in Hamilton

Over the next weeks in May, Falun Dafa Day celebrations will take place in several Canadian cities, including flag raising ceremonies in some cities. On May 11, the flag of Falun Dafa will be raised in front of Hamilton City Hall for the first time.

Dan Muys MP speaks during the celebration at Parliament Hill on May 3.

Dan Muys MP for Flamborough-Glanbrook addressed the ceremony and said, “It’s an honor to be here from Hamilton, Ontario. The letters HAMILTON that are outside City Hall are going to be lit up in blue, and yellow and purple in recognition as well. So that'll be a great sight to see.”

He said that it was a great honor to support practitioners, “I support your right to practice in Canada. I know that this is not the case in some countries in the world, and of course we will fight for it all over the world.”

He added, “And because frankly the values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Tolerance which are evident throughout and I’ve known that for many years, as I’ve been introduced to and talked to many practitioners. I’ve always supported Canadian practitioners and the great work that you’re doing. So thank you for being here. I’m glad the rain held off this afternoon. It’s an honor to be here. Thank you.”

On May 3, 2023, hundreds of practitioners from eastern Canada gathered in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the capital, to celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction.

Practitioners celebrated the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s introduction to the world with a parade consisting of the Tian Guo Land Marching Band, and singing and dance performances. During the Falun Dafa Day celebration, Canadian political leaders at all levels once again issued congratulatory letters and proclamations.

Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?

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 who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have 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, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.

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.

Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years, though due to the difficulty in getting information out of China, the actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners 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 China’s organ transplant industry.