44th Parl. 1st Sess.
September 19, 2023 10:00AM
- Sep/19/23 10:13:36 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, my thoughts and prayers go out to the soul of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, his family and his loved ones.
I rise today to present a petition brought forward by the leadership and sangat of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey-Delta, following the tragic killing of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The petition calls upon the government to address concerns related to India's alleged involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil, while ensuring the safety of all Canadians.
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- Sep/19/23 2:50:50 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I commend the Minister of Labour for his leadership during the longshore workers strike in British Columbia. Workers in Surrey—Newton and across the country have been loud and clear that they support legislation to ban the use of replacement workers. This morning, workers gathered on Parliament Hill to call for legislation as soon as possible.
Can the minister tell us if and when this government will prohibit the use of replacement workers in federally regulated industries?
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- Sep/19/23 7:42:44 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's passionate speech; she is known for her passion toward human rights.
If we talk about India, even today we are getting news from Manipur that Christian women are being gang-raped in public. Holy Bibles are being burnt. When this is happening there, would the member think that we still need to have free trade talks when human rights are at risk?
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- Sep/19/23 7:57:15 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, these credible allegations of a link between the Government of India and the killing of my constituent, Mr. Nijjar, are immensely troubling. It is a substantial attack directly on Canadians and Canadian values, with a specific focus on Sikh Canadians.
Can the member speak to the importance of all Canadians coming together to denounce this and affirm shared Canadian values?
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- Sep/19/23 8:38:40 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, on June 18, a respected community leader from my riding of Surrey—Newton was brutally killed at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Surrey—Delta in my constituency.
I want to extend my thoughts and prayers for the soul of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar to his family, friends and loved ones.
The tragic assassination of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar has shaken the entire community. Every Canadian deserves to feel safe. Canada is a country of diversity, peace and inclusion. We cannot and will not tolerate hate and violence.
Over the past several months, the leadership and congregation of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara and members from the community at large have expressed concerns pertaining to the involvement of the Government of India in the killing of Mr. Nijjar. Shortly after Mr. Nijjar's killing, the former minister of public safety and member for Eglinton—Lawrence, met with the leadership of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara and the B.C. Gurdwaras Council to listen to their concerns. I want to commend the gurdwara leadership for the advocacy and professionalism that they showed while the meeting with the former minister was in progress.
I have listened to the concerns of many Canadians who are scared and worried about their safety and well-being. It has been heartbreaking to hear the stories from people on how the murder of Mr. Nijjar has impacted their lives.
Following the killing, I sponsored an electronic petition that called upon the government to address concerns related to India's alleged involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil and to ensure the safety of all Canadians. Earlier today, I had the opportunity to present the petition in this chamber. Along with all the signatories and a countless number of community members, I anxiously await the government's response in the coming weeks.
I want to thank and commend the Prime Minister for showing strong leadership in bringing this matter before Parliament and standing up for all Canadians. I commend him for not only stating it here in Parliament but also, in fact, bringing it face to face with Prime Minister Modi during the G20 summit. The Prime Minister's address to Parliament and to all Canadians did bring a sense of relief for the Sikh diaspora; unfortunately, it has also brought back trauma that many Sikhs have felt over the past several decades. Since 1984, democratic and human rights have been violated in order to label and discredit the Sikh community across the globe, including right here in Canada. Many Sikhs have lost their lives in India and throughout the world.
As the Prime Minister mentioned yesterday, our top priorities are that law enforcement and security agencies ensure the continued safety of all Canadians and that all steps are taken to hold the offenders to account. We must continue to highlight the importance of unity during these challenging times. It is crucial that we come together to condemn this heinous crime, support the grieving family and stand up for the principles of the rule of law.
Canada is built on the values of justice, fairness and inclusivity. Let us uphold these values and ensure that they prevail in the face of adversity. The truth surrounding Mr. Nijjar's assassination must come to light. We must uncover all the facts.
I want to state that the Sikh community will continue to fearlessly advocate against abuses of human rights; it will not be intimidated or frightened by the actions of any foreign government. Constituents can rest assured that I will continue to bring the voices of my constituents to Ottawa.
Let us remain calm and steadfast in our commitment to democratic principles and our adherence to the rule of law. This is who we are and what we do as Canadians.
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- Sep/19/23 8:44:41 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, when it comes to the safety and security of Canadians, as I mentioned in my speech, the Prime Minister personally assured me yesterday and has assured the House that we will do everything to make sure that every Canadian, irrespective of their background, feels safe. The government will take every step, moving forward, to protect their safety and security.
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- Sep/19/23 8:45:56 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, the member is concerned about how we can all work together. Personally, I would love to see that. As members of Parliament, in 338 constituencies, we should be able to reach out to the Sikh diaspora and other diasporas that feel intimidated or at risk from foreign interference.
We have to go to them and bring that voice back to the minister and the government about what can be done. It can only be done collectively, as a team, not just by one party.
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- Sep/19/23 8:47:34 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, I just want to thank the hon. member and her family, who have been involved in Sikh diaspora issues for many years.
It is very important that we stand up for human rights, not only in Canada but also around the globe. Any person who tries to raise their voice, whether it is a minister in this cabinet, the leader of the NDP or myself previously, can have consequences for raising those issues. The consequence for me was that I was refused a visa to travel to India. This is how the Government of India intimidates people and our Parliament, let alone the public.
We all have to come together, whether as Conservative, Liberal, Bloc, Green or independent members, to condemn that so-called democracy and stand for the rights of Canadians.
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- Sep/19/23 9:26:24 p.m.
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Mr. Chair, because the hon. member is a deputy whip, I want her to explain why, if every party had the same number of spots to speak today on this debate, some parties are not speaking. Is it their will or that of others?
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- Sep/19/23 9:44:45 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the member mentioned in his speech that the Conservatives are not speaking in the House today and that their leader is backtracking from the statement he made yesterday in the House. I just want to find out from the hon. member if the Conservatives got a call from Prime Minister Modi or former prime minister Stephen Harper to not speak on this topic and to backtrack from the statement that the Leader of the Opposition made yesterday in the House.
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- Sep/19/23 9:58:31 p.m.
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Madam Chair, after 1984, when the Golden Temple was demolished by a military attack in India, there was a genocide of Sikhs in Delhi. After that, emotions were very high in the community across the globe when he was growing up. In fact, one casualty was here at home. I am speaking of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, whose own maternal uncle, her mom's brother, was brutally killed just because he was restless and emotional. Many people among his own constituents face the same consequences.
Could the minister comment on that?
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- Sep/19/23 10:18:10 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the hon. leader of the NDP mentioned the intimidation by the Indian government when someone speaks out against human rights violations. I can say that he has faced many challenges.
I will give a personal example. When I presented a petition on genocide in 2010, I was denied a visa to India for three years. I want to know from the leader if he is aware of many situations like this of oppression and intimidation, including of himself.
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