Honourable senators, today, October 1, marks the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. While this day is celebrated with grand displays and military might and pageantry in Beijing, I’m here not to celebrate but to stand in solidarity with those whose voices have been silenced, whose freedoms have been stripped away and whose dignity has been denied. We must remember, especially on the day when the PRC distracts from its record of repression with grand displays of patriotism, the ongoing human rights abuses committed by the Chinese Communist Party.

At the same time, we should also honour the contributions of Chinese Canadians who, in their fight for justice and freedom, have shown us the strength of resilience, the power of community and the hope for a brighter future despite current circumstances. We must continue to distinguish the Chinese people from the party and fight for justice.

In recent years, the world has witnessed the escalating repression inflicted by the regime in Beijing. In mainland China, dissidents who once bravely spoke out, like those in the Tiananmen Square protests, continue to face imprisonment, surveillance and harsh repression for challenging the Chinese Communist Party’s authority.

In Hong Kong, the national security law has crushed civil liberties, silenced journalists and dismantled democracy. Many have been exiled or imprisoned, but their fight for freedom endures.

Meanwhile, in Xinjiang, over a million Muslim Uighurs and ethnic minorities are held in re-education camps — sites of forced labour and cultural genocide. In Tibet, decades of suppression have sought to erase Tibetan culture and religion, with strict controls over religious practices and severe crackdowns on any form of dissent.

The Chinese Communist Party continues to be belligerent toward Taiwan and other neighbours in the Asia-Pacific, flexing their tyrannical reflexes. Canada must uphold its commitment to human rights using tools like the Magnitsky Act to sanction those responsible for Beijing’s repression. Canada must stand with international allies and hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable.

On this day, as the Chinese Communist Party celebrates its power, we stand united in opposition to tyranny and for the Chinese people’s right to live freely and without fear. Let today remind us that the fight for human rights endures, and we honour the courage of those who resist. To the people of China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan and others, you are not forgotten. Canada will continue to raise its voice for a world where everyone enjoys fundamental rights.

Thank you, colleagues.