Sir,

We have chosen to live here in Canada, because we as Sikhs believe strongly in the teachings of our Gurus who have always emphasized that all people are equal. This basic in alienable right is about to be taken away from us. When I think of the agencies under gone in the history of Sikhs to achieve individual rights as a safeguard against a collective majority, social group or government, | find it truly appalling that once again I am standing before the same issue, here in Canada. In my opinion, this is what the Oc.26 “referendum” is all about. As a Sikh and as a Canadian,  I  ask you to give this a very serious thought and make the correct choice.

The Canada Clause as stated in the Charlotte town Consensus |Report will create a hierarchy among Canadian citizens. Just like India’s caste system a person will fall into a group where value of his or her Canadian citizenship will be judged differently depending on their racial background. In other words the Canada Clause provides a frame work within which the courts will be required to interpret the Charter of Rights and freedoms. In the case of the Sikhs, their demands for the preservation of the five Kakars could be legally denied by the counts by applying group rights over individual rights.

As Sikh Canadians, we cannot give our Support to a Constitution that will exclude the inalienable rights of all Canadians to equality.

The Constitutional package fails to recognize and to protect equality rights of racial and ethnic minorities.

The legitimate demands of over 9 million citizens can be achieved, at no cost to anyone, by shielding Section 15 (Equality Clause) so that it cannot be overridden by any clause in the Constitution, including Section 33 (Notwithstanding clause).

Section 27 (Multicultural Clause) must be strengthened so that the Charter will be in- in a manner consistent not only with the preservation of the multicultural heritage of Canadians but also with the preservation and protection of racial and ethnic equality of all Canadians. It must include the commitment of all Governments to ensure this equality.

I ask you to consider those facts. Remember the caste system in India. How is the hierarchy of groups in Canada going to differ from the Indian castes? If Canada agrees to setting up inequality, I do not need to tell you where Sikhs will fall. Without a doubt, blacks, Sikhs and other visible minorities will become the Sudras of Canada.

Thank you for listening to my opinions. Please discuss it with your families and friends. Announce it in your Gurdwaras. Today we are equal citizens, only because the Charter of Rights safeguards that assumption. Let us not allow Canada to take a step backwards and permit the Charter to be lost to us forever, Remember that guru Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life to safeguard the individual night of a Brahmin to wear a janneu (sacred thread).

Vote No in this “referendum” and keep the individual rights and freedoms of all Canadians intact across Canada,

More Information on this subject is available from: Canada for all Canadians, 25 Monweal Rd., Ottawa Ontario KIL 6E8, Tel.(613) 746-7666, Fax (613) 746-1791.

Bir Singh Basarke Nepean, Ont.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 30, 1992