Toronto's municipal government holds elections for its officials once every three years, and the campaign for election began in October. Practitioners from Toronto seized this opportunity for promoting Falun Dafa, and they have introduced it to every candidate, and other people, in the city government.
We have met with the several dozen current city councilor and candidates for the next term within the past few weeks to introduce Falun Dafa to them. We have displayed the letters of praise and congratulation for Falun Dafa Week from various levels of government in Canada. They told us that they only knew that Falun Gong was banned and practitioners were being persecuted, and that they didn't know that Falun Dafa was so good and that there were so many practitioners in Toronto. One councilor, after hearing that the Chinese consulate openly harassed practitioners in Toronto, indicated that he would initiate a resolution in the city council to keep the environment of our practice free from harassment. Some councilors said that the city would provide sites for our practice.
One practitioner went to the office of a candidate running for city council to promote Falun Gong. One lady indicated that she would like to learn it. The practitioner then gave her a copy of Falun Gong. She said that after she finished reading it, she would give the book to the councilor candidate to read. The candidate is in fact that lady's husband. Some candidates also introduced Falun Gong to other organizations inside the districts they are running from. During the process of promoting Dafa and telling the truth about it, we did not treat certain candidates differently just because they had little chance of being elected. For example, a candidate running for mayor showed a low rate of support in recent polls. We nonetheless scheduled to see him, and invited him and his staff to our practice site. He and his assistants came to the site at 6:00 in the morning, and learned the exercises for two hours. A reporter from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) in the French broadcasting division interviewed the candidate and practitioners. The candidate was touched by the compassion and serenity displayed by practitioners at the site.
The general election at the national level started earlier this year. Practitioners from Toronto had made appointments with the current senators two days before the election was formally announced. We saw five senators and many candidates for the senate in the week that followed. We have told them the truth about Falun Gong, and we particularly let them know how good Falun Gong is and how many people there are in Toronto who practice it. Many senators have met with us more than one time, and they are very concerned for the practitioners in China. They have indicated that they, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, would talk with Chinese leaders after the election to seek a resolution to the Falun Gong issue. Some senators came to understand more about Falun Gong, and practitioners' unselfishness and contribution to society and the wellbeing of the general public. One senator learned the exercises in his office, and another one wrote a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressing his concern for the practitioners in China. One senator indicated that, if reelected, he would recommend that the Prime Minister invite Falun Gong practitioners in the visit to China next year, so that the practitioners can have a direct dialogue with the Chinese government. One senator introduced a practitioner to his friend and other senators as "my Falun Gong friend." Some senators said to practitioners: "You are marvelous, and we will continue to support you."
The activities of running for public office are under way, and practitioners from Toronto ceaselessly continue their work of introducing Dafa to more candidates, their staff and their families. We were told that practitioners from other major cities in Canada are using the same opportunity to promote and tell the truth about Falun Dafa.
Practitioners from Toronto, Canada
November 8, 2000
Category: April 25 Events
