I agree with Mr. Shakya that Canada is a fortress. I have tried on three separate occasions to get visas for Tibetans to allow them to participate in cultural preservation work with regards to Tibetan arts. None of these applications have been successful despite repeated applications and providing all the legal, tax, bank, and other documents that Mr. Shakya's applicants were asked to provide. After speaking with a local Conservative MP's office on the last attempt I was told that it was very difficult to get visas now and that basically only advocacy from their office would help ensure that the visa was granted.

Canada believes in the preservation of culture and prides itself on being multicultural but does not allow traditional artisans to visit from other countries to assist in the training of younger generations. This is completely disrespectful to the values of Canadians and the spirit of international cooperation on which Canada prides itself.

The fact that an international conference on Tibet has excluded Tibetans by virtue of Canada's immigration policies should be a cause for great embarrassment to the Canadian Government. I hope that by the Straight's coverage of this issue it will shed light on this flawed system.

Canadian immigration policies are unnecessarily rigid and discriminatory. There is no basis for these denials and there seems to be little interest in responding to or addressing concerns. The advice to provide more documents is a stalling tactic and does not bring about a different result.

I find it very interesting that the United States has a dramatically different response to visa applications for Tibetans. They make it a point to open the door repeatedly, knowing that by doing so they are helping to spread and preserve the Tibetan culture.

Canada has the 3rd largest exile Tibetan population next to the US and India. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an honorary Canadian citizen. There are a growing number of western students following Tibetan Buddhism and we want to bring spiritual teachers, artisans and many others here on visits to help support our personal spiritual growth and the development of our study centres. The immigration policies of the current government are infringing on the religious and personal freedoms of Canadian citizens.

It is interesting that Mr. Kenney's office will not comment on the issue of visas for Tibetans given that he was the key parliamentary representative visible during His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Parliament Hill in 2007.

I wish Mr. Shakya great success with this very important conference and hope that his message regarding the unnecessary exclusion of native Tibetans from this conference rings out loud and clear in the halls of Parliament.

The Federal government worries about angering China because of the fear that the flow of very high quality goods from China may be affected

It is absolutely sad that Canada would not practice its values. There are millions of Chinese people allowed every year into Canada where as there is less than 20 thousand Tibetans inside Canada. Chinese people have their own country but Tibetans don't and it is our fundamental right and duty to help the ones in need. The influence of Tibetan culture only helps the society become more positive and compassionate but who cares about these things when you have billions of dollars worth of unethical and immoral business dealings with China.
As a Canadian I am ashamed to know that our government is also scared of the Chinese government. Money does seem to take precedence in even matters of human rights and genuine aid.
I urge everyone to raise this issue and support the Tibetan people and help bring about justice. Never think that a small group of people can't change the world, in fact it is only those groups that have.
FREE TIBET!

CANADA SUCKS

Very well written and explained, Jodi. I agree with Crandall; Canadian govt has sold out to Chinese $$$ interests. China is aware of the 3rd largest Tibetan population, and is buying them off. Just like Taiwan, its cheaper.....and more efficient from Chinese Govt point of view....to buy all their banks and businesses than it is to go to war with them. So, they are buying the country. Canada was cheaper....easier. They asked for it, being extremely naive. So, the new strategy of China Inc, is working.....throw around money, and get a lot of it back eventually. War and propaganda is expensive, and a one way street....money goes out. THis way, they get what they want (an end to Tibetan culture/peoples/resistance) and money comes back. From their point of view, and cultural humor, this is very very clever. The question is, when are Western peoples going to wake up to the fact that they are all going to be similarly assimilated? Do the math. Where does 1/4 of the world's population go when they feel too constrained??? ;-)

As a Canadian currently living in China I can assure people who think that China is some sort of Orwellian hell-hole that they have no clue what they’re talking about.

There are very few things you can’t do here compared to Canada and, in reality , the rules are often better defined as guidelines. So what can’t you do in China? Disseminate information or opinions that the country needs a revolution because the government has too much control. What can’t you do in Canada? Say anything politically incorrect or risk ending up in some human rights commission star chamber.

China isn’t perfect but neither is Canada. The truth, as difficult as some will find it to believe, is that the Chinese actually have more independence when it comes to Big Brother. Sure, certain things are monitored here . Now look around in Canada and say with a straight face that the Canadian government isn’t monitoring you too. Get real.