(Minghui.org) In response to the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) escalating transnational repression in Canada and its globally targeting of Falun Dafa, on May 5, 2026, more Canadian MPs came to Parliament Hill to support practitioners and join them in celebrating World Falun Dafa Day. In the face of continuous, escalating threats, coercion, and acts to undermine Shen Yun Performing Arts, more and more MPs have spoken out publicly to condemn the CCP’s transnational repression, and called on the government to take more powerful measures.
The CCP’s transnational repression has been escalating during the past two years, and has included fake news, using the courts to attack Falun Dafa, and bomb threats that target Shen Yun and Falun Dafa, in a global, coordinated campaign. In Canada, CCP agents have sent more than 20 bomb threats during the past two years, and more than 270 threats were sent worldwide. In March 2026, bomb threats that were traced to the CCP forced Toronto’s Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts to cancel six Shen Yun performances.
Parliamentarians Condemn CCP’s Transnational Repression and Bomb Threats
“I came to the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Toronto, and as I was coming up the elevator from the parking lot I saw that the building was being evacuated because of a bomb threat,” said MP Roman Baber during his speech given at Falun Dafa Day celebrations on Parliament Hill. He was referring to his experience on March 29, 2026. That day, the theater canceled all six Shen Yun shows due to bomb threats.
MP Roman Baber joined practitioners in celebrating Falun Dafa Day at Parliament Hill on May 5, 2026.
“How is this acceptable that we have a situation in downtown Toronto where we have to be afraid to go see a theatrical and music and dance performance!” he said. “This has to be condemned in the strongest terms and it has to be acted on by way of law enforcement and justice enforcement.” He also mentioned that on Monday May 4, it was reported on Canada’s Global News that the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver tried to pressure the city’s officials to cancel Shen Yun performances over there but the theater refused.
Baber said in his speech that he wondered why Beijing is so afraid of Falun Dafa, “What are they scared of? People exercising an ancient form of faith, of people meditating and calling for love and harmony with other people... What is it that the regime in Beijing is scared of so much? It’s scared of our unity, it’s scared of our moral clarity.
“We should not be afraid, we should not be afraid in our democracy to preserve our Canadian democracy from foreign interference or from foreign threats.”
MP James Bezan said, “We see transnational repression, and that was carried out so effectively on April 1 of this year in Toronto, when Shen Yun wanted to just carry on with a beautiful cultural dance, showcasing Chinese culture, showcasing the love and inspiration of Falun Dafa, and because of one person calling in, you know, a prank phone call was able to get the shows canceled in Toronto.”
James Bezan spoke during Falun Dafa Day celebrations at Parliament Hill on May 5.
MP Garnett Genuis, who has seen Shen Yun on many occasions, noted that efforts by the CCP to undermine Shen Yun have been continuous. He called Shen Yun, “A simple and yet beautiful artistic display celebrating traditional Chinese values and ideas. I’ve seen this show in a number of places. I’ve always appreciated the opportunity to see it, and yet the CCP wants to deprive Canadians of the opportunity to see this beautiful show.”
MP Garnett Genuis was one of 19 MPs who joined practitioners in celebrating Falun Dafa Day at Parliament Hill on May 5, 2026.
MP Dan Muys said, “It’s an honor to be here and to stand with you in the values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. I’ve also had the honor of seeing Shen Yun in Toronto and other places. Beautiful performances, dance, music, color.” He condemned the CCP’s suppression of Shen Yun, “The cancellation of shows across the country that took place, the threats that took place against the show in Toronto, in particular the bomb threat, we can’t stand for that here in Canada.”
MP Yvan Baker said, “Recently, we’ve seen threats against Shen Yun performances, and not only the performers but also the audiences who plan to attend those performances. That is—it’s unacceptable, it’s a crime in Canada, and it has to stop. And we have to work—keep working to make sure that those threats stop.”
Yvan Baker attended Falun Dafa Day celebrations at Parliament Hill on May 5.
He said, “For their beliefs, Falun Dafa practitioners continue to be the victims of persecution. And as elected officials, and I think indeed as Canadians, it’s important that we stand for those rights and stand up in defense of those rights and fundamental freedoms.”
At the Falun Dafa Day flag raising ceremony held on April 30 this year in front of the Amherstburg government building, Mayor Michael Prue revealed that he received threats from the Chinese Consulate in Toronto last year for supporting the spiritual practice. He called the police and handed over the threatening letters to them. He said he will continue to support Falun Dafa, “Perhaps I will receive another letter but this is not important.”
MPs Call for Laws to Stop CCP’s Transnational Repression
MP James Bezan called on all Canadians “to stand firm, that we must stop transnational repression, and that’s why I’m calling on the government to swiftly pass my private member’s bill, Bill C2, 19 the Sergei Magnitsky International anti- corruption and Human Rights Act. It will provide meaningful support to police, to municipalities, to community organizations, to the government itself, to ensure that we have our front lines hardened to fight foreign interference and combat transnational repression. It would put an end to Chinese police stations in Canada once and for all, and it will ensure that those corrupt foreign officials who are carrying out and perpetrating transnational repression right here in Canada are held to account, as well as those back in China who have been able to enrich themselves through illicit means, like the grotesque organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners.”
Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman said that laws like the Magnitsky Act “actually sanction those from the communist regime in Beijing who are a threat to our democracy and who are a threat to our way of life here in Canada.” She assured practitioners, “You have a voice in me in Parliament, you have a voice in me in action, you have a voice in me to stand up to the bullies who try to shut down things like Shen Yun.”
MPs Look Forward to Shen Yun’s Return to Toronto
As a result of joint efforts by many parties, Shen Yun’s presenter in Toronto announced on May 4 that the group will return to the city’s Four Seasons Center for Performing Arts on June 25–28 this year. Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman said, “I’m very happy to see it return to Toronto in the next month, and I will see you all there.”
MP Brock also said, “I’m looking forward to celebrating Shen Yun when it comes back to Toronto. I will always stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”
MP Dan Muys told practitioners during the event on Parliament Hill, “It’s incredible news that it is now back in Toronto, and I hope that I can join you in Toronto for that performance at the end of June because we’ve got to celebrate that.
MP Costas Menegakis said, “I am especially delighted to hear that Shen Yun is coming back to Toronto despite efforts by some to cancel it—the people’s voice was heard and it is coming back!”
Copyright © 1999-2026 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
Category: Dafa Day Recognition
