The motion to declare His Holiness the Dalai Lama an Honorary Citizen of Canada was unanimously approved this afternoon in the House of Commons.
Below is the motion that was put forward by David Sweet, M.P.(Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale)
“That whereas Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet, has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize as one of the world’s leading champions of peace and non-violence; and
Whereas His Holiness the Dalai Lama will visit Canada from September 9th to the 11th; and
Whereas this House has previously acknowledged historic visits to Canada by other leading champions of human dignity, such as Raoul Wallenberg and Nelson Mandela, by adopting motions granting them ‘Honourary Canadian Citizenship’;
Therefore, this House resolves to bestow the title ‘Honourary Canadian Citizen’ on His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet.”
The Dalai Lama is the third non-Canadian to receive this honor, the other two being Raoul Wallenberg in 1985 and Nelson Mandela in 2001.
For more information, please contact Peggy Nash, M.P. (Parkdale-High Park), Vice-Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Tibet: nashp0@parl.gc.ca or (613) 291-4586.
