11 September 2006
Dalai Lama given honorary citizenship in Canada
(GlobeandMail; IHT) During a four-day visit to Canada, the Dalai Lama was given honorary citizenship by the country’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Monte Solberg. It was only the third time the honour has been granted. South African leader Nelson Mandela and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved Jews from extermination during the Second World War have both received the honour. Mr Solberg praised the Dalai Lama for his preaching of peace, practice of kindness and dedication to humanitarian work. Earlier, Jason Kenney, parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, held a private meeting with the Dalai Lama, conveying, he told reporters later, the Prime Minister's personal welcome to Canada. In Vancouver, where he addressed 14,000 people at the GM Place, he also opened the $60-million Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education. Earlier this year, when news about granting him honorary citizenship was first announced, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Ottawa called the Dalai Lama a separatist who should not receive such an honour. This week, the spokesperson said the citizenship and his current visit would harm Canada's image and its relationship with China.