When can society restrict religious freedom? This is a question usually surrounding issues like abortion and gay marriage. But another issue is when should personal and public safety be more important than religious rights? Canada has a situation with the Sikh community dealing with Kirpan and Turban.
On August 9th some of the Punjabi community leading journalists held a roundtable talk with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to discuss various issues, such as when Ontario Sikhs will get exempt from Helmet?
In response, Premier Ford said “before the Christmas Ontario province will become the 4th in Canada that will allow motorcyclists who self-identify as religious Sikhs to wear their turban instead of a motorcycle helmet.
Premier Doug Ford said that he would also pass the law for the exemption by September 2018 or the close to the Christmas.
In Sikhism, a turban is worn over long hair to represent a person’s obedience to, belief their guru, and is considered extremely important. A helmet often can’t be made to fit over a turban, many countries – including India and Nepal – have allowed exemptions for Sikh motorcyclists to wear a turban instead of a helmet as other riders would be required to wear for.
Private member bills which would exempt Sikh motorcyclists were introduced in Ontario by former NDP deputy leader Jagmeet Singh in 2013 and 2016, but the rules in the province haven’t changed.
Remember 2014 Sikhs demand was declined by Premier Kathleen Wynne she said, “After careful deliberation, we have determined that we will not grant this type of exemption as it would pose a road safety risk,” it will be struggled with striking the right balance between public safety and religious accommodation.
Also, she said, “Ultimately, the safety of Ontarians is my utmost priority, and I cannot justify setting that concern aside on this issue.”
In Ontario, the helmet law as it applies to Sikhs was first challenged in 2008, when the Ontario Human Rights Commission took up the cause of Baljinder Badesha, who was fighting a $110 ticket he received a few years prior for refusing to wear his motorcycle helmet.
Ontario Court Justice James Blacklock, however, ruled against Badesha and the OHRC, issuing a 35-page decision. In it, he writes an exemption would render the helmet law unwieldy since anyone violating it could simply claim they were devout.
Also, during these discussions, Mr. Ford said that till now we are working on the speed of power to fulfill our election commitments. Those promises not yet been fulfilled are being worked very seriously. When he was asked about the Auto insurance rates, he said that this year, the bill will be introduced to eliminate the postal code discrimination for auto insurance.
"We are currently talking to all insurance companies. Either they will automatically end the postal code discrimination, but like Hydro One, we have to take strong steps. While defending some parts of Brampton, Mississauga, and Toronto, he said that where auto insurance has crossed the boundaries and we remember our promise. We will handle this at all times.
Also, he was asked about Affordable Housing, he said that it is a big problem in front of us. He said we have thousands of houses which are vacant due to lack of repair. These homes are worth more than million dollars near Lake Shore. He said that by selling such two or three hundred homes, a large complex could be developed for those who find fordable housing.
He said there are many such families in Toronto that are awaiting immigration for a decade and they become the biggest burden for taxpayers. Ford government on the While talking about the carbon tax, he said, “it’s waste of ordinary people's hard-earned money. Saskatchewan's premiere is already with us. Alberta to Jason Kenny will also go with us and we will fight this battle together.
