Ban organ transplant tourism
Petitioners ask Canada to ban organ tourism, criminalize it, urge China to end Falun Gong persecution and prosecute Jiang Zemin. The government responds it prioritizes human rights and has outlawed transplant tourism for Canadians.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would criminalize transplant tourism, reducing demand for organs obtained without consent and deterring Canadians from seeking such transplants.
- It would increase diplomatic pressure on China to stop persecuting Falun Gong, potentially protecting victims and relatives of Canadians.
- Pursuing accountability for Jiang Zemin signals commitment to human-rights enforcement and may deter future abuses.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Enforcement is challenging; criminalizing travel and prosecutions abroad could be hard to implement and resource‑intensive.
- The petition links persecution to large‑scale organ harvesting; critics may consider such claims contested and prefer thorough international investigations first.
- Aggressive measures could harm bilateral cooperation on other priorities; multilateral or targeted measures might be more effective.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas, it has been 17 years since the Chinese communist regime launched a persecution to “eradicate” Falun Gong a spiritual practice centred on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance; Whereas, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been arbitrarily detained, including family members of Canadians. The mass extrajudicial imprisonment, forced labour, torture, rape, and killing along with hate propaganda have been reported by all major human rights organizations; Whereas, an update report released in June 2016 indicates that prisoners of conscience, primarily Falun Gong practitioners, have been killed on demand to fuel a massive state-run transplant industry, supplying most of the organs for an estimated 60,000–100,000 transplants a year in Chinese hospitals since 2000. It could mean that at least hundreds of thousands Falun Gong practitioners have been murdered for their organs over the last 15 years; Whereas, the U.S. House of Representatives and European Parliament passed resolutions in June 2016 and December 2013 respectively condemning and calling for an immediate end to China's systematic and state- sanctioned organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong. In February 2015, Canada's Parliamentary Subcommittee on International Human Rights unanimously passed a similar motion; and Whereas, since May 2015, over 200,000 Chinese citizens have filed criminal complaints against former Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin, who orchestrated the persecution of Falun Gong; Therefore, we, the undersigned, request that the Canadian Parliament and government: Establish measures to stop the Chinese regime's mass murder of innocent people for their organs, including but not limited to introducing Canadian legislation to ban organ tourism and criminalize those involved; Take every opportunity to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong; and Urge the Chinese authorities to bring former leader Jiang Zemin and his cohorts to justice.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Canadian foreign policy and remains a priority in the Government of Canada’s engagement with China. Canada consistently calls on China to respect and uphold the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association, and religion or belief for all individuals. Canada continues to express concern about the intimidation and repression of ethnic and religious minority groups, including Falun Gong practitioners, and raises these issues at appropriate opportunities. Canadian engagement on human rights includes high-level visits, public statements, diplomatic representations on specific cases of concern, both bilaterally and in multilateral forums, as well as interventions and advocacy by the Embassy of Canada in Beijing. Canada remains firmly committed to combating all forms of human trafficking, including those related to organ removal. On December 15, 2022, legislation amending the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act concerning trafficking in human organs received Royal Assent. This law establishes it as a criminal offence for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who travel abroad to receive an organ obtained without the donor’s informed consent. Canada joins jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Belgium, Norway, Spain, South Korea, and Taiwan that have enacted legislation to address forced organ harvesting, organ transplant tourism, and organ trafficking. Furthermore, on January 23, 2024, during the Universal Periodic Review of China at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Canada explicitly referenced Falun Gong practitioners when urging China to end all forms of enforced disappearance. Canada also works closely with other states, including China, to advance international cooperation against human trafficking. The Government of Canada actively promotes the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime’s Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which encourages collaboration to prevent and combat trafficking, including for organ removal. Addressing the illegal organ trade remains a complex challenge that demands sustained global cooperation. Canada actively contributed to the development of the revised World Health Organization Guiding Principles on Human Organ and Tissue Transplantation, which all Member States, including China, adopted in 2010. In advancing these priorities, Canada continues to uphold its core values, including the defence of universal human rights and international norms. This includes using opportunities like the annual International Day of Religious Freedom to emphasize that freedom of religion or belief is essential to peaceful and inclusive societies. Acts of hatred or violence against individuals or communities of faith are unacceptable everywhere. Through Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy, Canada takes concrete measures to counter all forms of hate, including on the basis of religion. This commitment is further reinforced through Canada’s multilateral engagement on human rights. On September 29, 2025, Canada reaffirmed before the United Nations that it remains steadfast in promoting democracy, pluralism, and human rights as central pillars of its foreign policy. In response to increasing unilateralism and global instability, Canada continues to champion international law and multilateral cooperation to safeguard the dignity and rights of individuals worldwide. The Government of Canada continues to seek opportunities to raise concerns about human rights practices directly with Chinese authorities, including at senior levels. Canada also regularly engages with a broad spectrum of civil society organizations, diaspora communities, and faith and belief groups, as well as international partners, to inform its human rights advocacy. The Government remains attentive to issues affecting Falun Gong practitioners and values the expertise and networks of non-governmental human rights advocates. Canada remains open to receiving reports, analysis, and recommendations from domestic and international civil society organizations to reinforce its approach to promoting and protecting human rights in China. Canada continues to call for accountability for human rights violations and supports independent mechanisms that ensure perpetrators are brought to justice in accordance with international law. Rest assured, the promotion, protection and respect of human rights are core priorities in the Government of Canada’s foreign policy. Canada will continue to raise its concerns about the human rights situation in China and with China. Canada will continue to call on China to live up to its international obligations.