When six car loads of prominent figures in the local Tibetan community headed to Ottawa they had a clear purpose in mind - to ask the Canadian government to put pressure on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet.
"Basically the purpose was to make more evident the situation in Tibet and to request the Canadian government to work for the release of political prisoners in Tibet," said Kunga Tsering, a Parkdale resident who made the trek. "We want the Canadian government to intervene in negotiations between the representative of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government and possibly act as an observer."
The trip to Ottawa was organized by the Canadian Tibetan Joint Action Committee in cooperation with Dermod Travis, former director of the Canada Tibet Committee.
About 35 Tibetans from Toronto, Montreal and Calgary did a full day of campaigning on March 9, meeting with more than 30 Members of Parliament.
"They were very friendly, very supportive and the reactions from them was very good," Tsering said. "Out of the 30 members about three or four have spoken in the parliament and given statements of support."
Gerard Kennedy, MP for Parkdale/High Park, was one such member. In his address to the House of Commons, Kennedy urged members to ask themselves urgent questions.
"If not by peaceful measures of the Dalai Lama, then how?" he asked. "If not now, when the expectations of responsible global leadership fall to China, then when? And if not a leadership role for Canada, then who?"
Kennedy said Canada's relations with China should work toward a purpose of engaging them.
"It is very concerning Canada is quiet and not creative in looking for our contribution," Kennedy said. "Exploring that is something a lot of people in Parliament would like to see Canada do."
Kennedy also took time to meet with what he called the "number two official" at the Chinese Embassy. In the exchange, he said he repeated much of what he had said in public while being aware China has definite views on how they would like other governments to stay away from this issue.
"I did not get, nor do I expect, an official response to that (meeting)," Kennedy said. "It is easy to say things but trying to find a way to get some kind of consensus...that's the practical path I would like to see explored. I believe in positive engagement with China."
Following the day of lobbying, on March 10 about 450 people, including 120 from Toronto, rallied on Parliament Hill.
"All the political party leaders and their representatives have addressed the rally," said Tsering. "We were allowed in the speaker's gallery during question period, for about an hour. That was a very unique experience."
He said lobbyists are meeting on Saturday, March 21 to share feedback about the trip and build a strategy to continue to make a consistent effort in lobbying.