About CTC

Alarmed by continuing human rights violations and lack of democratic freedom in Tibet, the Canada Tibet Committee (CTC) was founded in 1987 as an independent non-governmental organization (NGO) of Tibetans and non-Tibetans living in Canada. The CTC seeks to end the ongoing destruction of the Tibetan culture, alleviate the suffering of the Tibetan people, and restore Tibet to its status as an independent state within the family of nations.

The Committee is committed to the principle of non-violence and recognizes the Tibetan Government-in-Exile as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people.

The CTC offers concerned Canadians an opportunity to work with their Tibetan friends to promote public awareness. Our founding members laid out basic principles which form the framework for the organization today. These principles include: the commitment to non-violence, a spirit of volunteerism, the inclusion of Tibetans in the decision-making process and the goal of Tibetan independence.

The CTC presents a unified voice for the Tibetan movement in Canada with the federal and provincial governments. Working relationships have developed with officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, CIDA, the Department of Immigration, and Heritage Canada. The CTC participates annually in government consultations on human rights and facilitates meetings between Tibetan representatives visiting Canada and government officials.

At the Parliamentary level, we initiated Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) in 1989. The PFT now numbers some 30 members of Parliament and senators from all parties. The PFT issued the invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his first Ottawa visit in 1990, facilitated two parliamentary hearings on Tibet, and has hosted several receptions and events in Ottawa. PFT members speak at Tibet rallies and participate in letter-writing campaigns. PFT member Senator Consiglio Di Nino sits on the World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet. The CTC also works in partnership with other Canadian NGOs who share common goals, including human rights, health, women's, indigenous and environmental organizations.

Internationally, the CTC participates in activities coordinated by the Canadian Network for International Human Rights (NIHR) and the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN). As a member of the NIHR, the CTC receives information regarding the activities of the United Nations, the OECD, the World Trade Organization and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. We participate in joint NIHR programs such as urgent actions, letter campaigns, public statements and preparatory work for United Nations' conferences and government consultations.

The CTC administers World Tibet News, a global electronic communication system designed to serve the Tibet support community. It also publishes the "Canada Tibet Newsletter", distributed across the country and to Canadian MPs twice a year.

There are five branches of the CTC across Canada. Branches organize rallies, lecture series, film festivals, cultural events and more. The goal of our grassroots activities is to develop a base of support at the community level which in turn supports national and international campaigns.

As the CTC enters our twenty-sixth year of activities, projects are pursued by a young and dynamic membership. With their efforts and with the compassion and guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet will once again become a "zone of peace", an independent state valuing universal responsibility welcomed into the international community of nations.

The CTC is funded entirely by private donations, special events and our membership campaign.