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Quebec House bans ‘kirpan’ on assembly premises Toronto, February 10 The National Assembly of Quebec voted 113-0 yesterday to adopt a motion tabled by the opposition Parti Quebecois (PQ), barring “kirpan” from the legislative building, drawing criticism from the Sikh community. It supported the decision by security officers, who denied entry to four Sikhs who had come to the assembly last month for a parliamentary hearing during which Reacting to the development in the Quebec National Assembly, the World Sikh Organisation’s (WSO’s) Canada chapter has expressed disappointment over the assembly decision. “The World Sikh Organisation of Canada is disappointed that the Quebec National Assembly has voted unanimously in favour of a PQ motion to support the decision to bar “kirpan”. We’re disappointed that the wearing of “kirpan”, which is a human rights issue, has been politicised,” it said in a statement. The vote “represents a turn away from the values of tolerance and multiculturalism”, said Balpreet Singh, WSO legal counsel. The four Sikhs, who were opposing the Bill 94 banning “niqab” in Quebec, had been last month invited to appear before a legislative committee debating the issue of reasonable accommodation of religious minorities.But the group never got through the metal detectors at the entrance of the assembly building as the head of security ruled the “kirpans” they carried were potential weapons. In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled that “kirpan” that Sikhs wrap in fabric under their clothing was not a weapon, but a religious symbol, like a crucifix. Louise Beaudoin, Parti Quebecois member for Montreal’s Rosemont riding who presented the motion requesting the government to prevent Sikhs from carrying their ceremonial daggers into the assembly building, told reporters she did so because provincial Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil remained neutral on the “kirpan” ban. Beaudoin said she wanted to know where Weil stands on the issue of security versus religious freedom. She said the Sikhs should have been ready to make an accommodation by checking their kirpans with the assembly security agencies. “Frankly, they could have made an effort to respect our institutions and our values,” she said. Beaudoin said multiculturalism was a Canadian value, not a Quebec value. Weil said assembly constables were acting within their jurisdiction in asking the four Sikhs last month to check their “kirpans”. “We are all agreed,” the minister said. “We support the decision that was taken in January.” While the PQ wants the government to adopt a law banning all “ostentatious” religious signs, ending the “case-by-case” process of granting “reasonable accommodations” for religious differences, Weil said her Bill 94, dealing solely with Islamic face coverings, such as “niqab” or “burqa”, was “common sense”. She noted that opinion polls showed 95 per cent support in Quebec and 80 per cent in the rest of Canada for her position. Carole Poirier, PQ legislator for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, said banning the “kirpan” was justified by the May 8, 1984, shooting spree, when Cpl Denis Lortie, armed with two machine guns, burst into the assembly building, killing three persons and wounding 13 others. — PTI
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