Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty is currently on a trade mission in China. Before leaving, he ignored requests for a meeting with representatives of the Tibetan community in Toronto in order to discuss how he could raise the issue of Tibet with his Chinese counterparts. While Tibetans continue to live under a military lockdown, this is no time for business as usual with China.
TAKE ACTION! Please sign the petition calling on Premier McGuinty to stand for Tibet at this critical time.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is leading a trade mission to China from October 26-31, 2008. Immediately following the trade mission, he will take part in the Canada China Business Council's 30th anniversary events in China from November 1-5, 2008.
Click here to learn more about the visit.
Students for a Free Tibet Canada faxed a letter on October 15 to Premier McGuinty's office requesting a meeting with him before his departure to China. While we received responses from nearly all the Premier's offices in Canada (including British Columbia, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Nunavut), we still have not received a response from Premier McGuinty's office.
We faxed a second letter to the Premier's office on October 21, 2008 highlighting the urgency of this matter to the Tibetan community of Ontario. In the letter we requested him to take three key actions in the lead up to his trip to China.
The second letter can be viewed here: Letter Sent to Premier McGuinty
When we still did not receive a response, SFT organized a protest at Queen's part on October 23 where Tibetan-Canadians attempted to hand deliver the letter to McGuinty at the Provincial parliament. Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale and Randy Hillier, MPP of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, spoke out in support of Tibet and during question period, DiNovo asked if the Premier would be willing to raise the issue of human rights, address the situation inside Tibet and live up to the motion passed by the parliament on April 10, on his visit to China. Deputy Premier Smitherman did not directly answer the question.
View the press release from the protest at Queen's Park: McGuinty Oct24 Release
The province of Ontario holds an important role in shaping Canada's trade relations with China because only Ontario now has two trade offices in China and hence has direct relations with the Chinese government.
Media coverage on April 10th motion by the Ontario Legislative Assembly:
http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/413388
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2008/04/10/ont-china.html
Help put pressure on Premier McGuinty to meet with Tibetan representatives upon his return from China. Download the online petition here:
Please forward the signed petitions to:
Students for a Free Tibet Canada
167 Augusta Avenue
Fax: 416.979.9593
