John Lennard for YLC President

  

For those of you unfamiliar with the case, here is a short run down: In November 2001, Gurbaj - a 12 year old student in Montreal - was playing in the school yard when he accidentally dropped his kirpan, a ceremonial dagger worn at all times by some religious Sikhs. The incident prompted a school board tribunal to declare that kirpans be considered weapons, and that they be banned from schools. Viewing this ruling as an infringement of his freedom of religion, Gurbaj, his family and his community appealed the decision all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. The Court ultimately held that the prohibition violated Gurbaj's rights under s. 2(a) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Gurbaj was kind enough to show me around his Gurdwara, or temple, in west-end Montreal. What a stunning sight! I am always amazed at the extent to which Gurdwaras serve as community centres for the Sikh community. Open 24 hours per day, the entire community participates in the life of the Gurdwara. The main hall is used for prayer and reflection. A constant flow of people enter the hall to pay their respects to the Guru Granth Sahib (holy scripture) and to make an offering of money for the Gurdwara's upkeep. Once you exit the hall and go downstairs, you enter the Langar (free kitchen) where vegetarian food is always in plentiful supply. Women and men can be seen chopping vegetables, cooking meals and washing dishes. Everyone - Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike - sit on the ground as equals and enjoy their meals. Nearby, children take Punjabi lessons and karate classes. Books, CDs and videos are available for sale or borrowing at the library. Upstairs, there are prayer rooms for special occasions such as weddings and funerals, as well as small apartments for individuals and families with no homes of their own. You see, unlike many of us in Canada, the Sikh community actually takes care of its most vulnerable members. Everyone always has a home in the Gurdwara, and nobody is ever left behind.

I am convinced that we can all learn a great deal from the Sikh community. The values of fraternity, self-sufficiency, sharing, tolerance and interdependence are cornerstones of the Sikh philosophy, and ought to be the foundations of Canadian society as well. Liberals should proudly and actively promote these values.

Meeting with Gurbaj, listening to his story and visiting with his community reaffirmed my commitment to creating a commission, a Party and a country that is open, tolerant and accepting of everyone. As President of the Young Liberals of Canada, I will personally commit to meeting with as many cultural, ethnic and religious groups as I possibly can. Because building a stronger, more representative and more inclusive commission starts with each of us standing shoulder to shoulder with our fellow Canadians.