End Falun Gong persecution
Petitioners ask Canada to call on China to end Falun Gong persecution, sanction CCP perpetrators, and strengthen protections against transnational repression. The government responds that it has raised concerns and imposed targeted sanctions.
Why we would sign this petition
- Increases Canadian diplomatic pressure on China to stop human-rights abuses targeting Falun Gong, raising the issue’s international profile.
- Pursuing sanctions and accountability could deter officials and proxies from conducting transnational repression and signal consequences for abuses.
- Strengthened protections in Canada would help safeguard Falun Gong practitioners from harassment, threats and foreign interference.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Stronger public condemnation and sanctions may further strain diplomatic ties with China and complicate cooperation on other policy issues.
- Sanctions and public pressure may have limited effect on changing China’s behaviour, making measures largely symbolic.
- Implementing enhanced protections and enforcement may require significant resources, involve legal complexity, and raise trade-offs with privacy or civil-liberties.
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 AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA We, the undersigned residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to urge the Government of Canada to call for the end of the persecution of Falun Gong in China and to take stronger measures to combat the Chinese Communist Party's transnational repression in Canada. WHEREAS: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has engaged in a 26-year campaign of eradication against Falun Gong practitioners, who follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance; Falun Gong practitioners in China have suffered severe human rights abuses, including mass arbitrary detention, torture, killing, and forced organ harvesting on a large scale; In Canada, Falun Gong adherents have been subjected to transnational repression and foreign interference by the CCP, including harassment, surveillance, intimidation, disinformation, and other forms of sabotage; Recent incidents include bomb and shooting threats targeting Shen Yun, a classical Chinese dance and music performance presented globally by the Falun Gong community that showcases the traditional China before communism and also exposes the CCP's atrocities; The G7 leaders have condemned transnational repression as a serious threat to fundamental rights and freedoms, nationals security, and state sovereignty. THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to proactively deploy all possible avenues to: 1. Publicly call on the Chinese regime to end its persecution of Falun Gong in China and transnational repression abroad; 2. Continue to impose sanctions on and pursue accountability for CCP officials and proxies responsible for these human rights violations; 3. Take stronger measures to protect the Falun Gong community targeted by foreign repression.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant The promotion and protection of human rights is a core element of Canadian foreign policy. Canada consistently calls on China to respect, protect, and promote freedom of expression, assembly, association, and religion or belief – obligations that all States must fulfill. Canada has publicly voiced concern about the intimidation and repression of, inter alia, religious groups in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, and raises its concerns privately with relevant Chinese authorities whenever possible. During the Universal Periodic Review process, Canada provides targeted recommendations to states to address Freedom of Religion or Belief concerns, including restrictions on religious practice. During the 2024 Universal Periodic Review of China at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Canada made specific reference to Falun Gong practitioners when calling on China to end all forms of enforced disappearances. On December 10, 2024, Canada invoked the Special Economic Measures Act to impose sanctions on eight current and former People’s Republic of China officials for their respective roles in grave human rights violations, including those committed against Falun Gong practitioners. Most recently, in January 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs raised the situation of human rights in China directly with her Chinese counterpart. Global Affairs Canada is aware of the very troubling bombing and mass shooting threats that targeted Shen Yun dance performances across Canada. Officials from Global Affairs Canada contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Public Safety Canada immediately upon learning of these threats and were alerted that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police had already been notified and that an investigation was already underway. Canada will never tolerate acts of foreign interference or transnational repression against its citizens or those in Canada. Canada made countering transnational repression a priority during its G7 Presidency in 2025 and did so to raise awareness of these malign tactics and to advance a coordinated international response. Transnational repression – which is the use of threats, intimidation, or coercion by a state or its proxies against individuals or communities beyond its borders to coerce and ultimately silence political opposition abroad – is often employed against groups such as Falun Gong practitioners. At the June 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Leaders issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over acts of transnational repression committed by authoritarian states or their proxies. As part of its commitment to counter transnational repression, Canada continues to engage with, support and protect vulnerable communities, including Falun Gong practitioners, to defend Canadian sovereignty and uphold the universality of human rights including freedom of religion or belief. The Government of Canada shares the concern of all parliamentarians regarding human rights violations that restrict freedom of religion or belief. Canada will always support the rights of Canadians to express themselves freely and peacefully and continues to work internationally, including at the United Nations, to ensure that these universal rights are protected everywhere.