Gurbax Malhi

[Royal Canadian Legion, June 15th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the ban on religious headgear in some Legions across Canada is a divisive action.

On behalf of all Canadians who believe in equality I want to thank my hon colleague from Calgary Southeast who cancelled her Legion membership over this issue.

I hope that all members who are Legion members also make their views known.

Understanding each other's religions and cultures is the only way to put an end to intolerance.

Some members of this House have offered to invite me to speak at Legion halls in their ridings. I would offer all members my assistance in this regard to talk to them about the significance of the turban.

Together we can put an end to intolerance.

[Petitions, June 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is one which opposes same sex benefits.

[Petitions, June 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my next petition requests the government to prohibit assisted suicide.

[Petitions, June 13th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am presenting three petitions on behalf of some of my constituents.

One calls upon the government to amend the Criminal Code to protect unborn children.

[Immigration, June 3rd, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Yesterday the minister released a report on business immigration. Could the minister advise the House what benefit initiative the minister has proposed for business immigration to Canada?

[Petitions, June 1st, 1994]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am tabling today a petition which calls upon the government to ban the importation, distribution, manufacture and sale of killer cards in Canada.

[Royal Canadian Legion, June 1st, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday Royal Canadian Legion members voted against allowing turbaned Sikh veterans and Jewish veterans to enter legion halls. I applaud the resignation of Dominion Command Chairman Robert Ford over the issue.

Turbans are not hats; they are very important religious symbols of the Sikh faith. Sikh soldiers fought and died wearing their turbans. Therefore Sikh veterans and Jewish veterans should be allowed equal access to Canadian legion halls to honour their fallen comrades.

Yesterday was a sad day for religious tolerance and racial understanding in Canada.

[Impaired Driving, May 24th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, drunk driving continues to be a problem throughout Canada. Every year in Canada over 45 per cent of all traffic collisions involve alcohol.

I am told that every 20 minutes in Canada someone falls victim to a drunk driver and every four hours someone is killed as a result of drunk driving. In 1991 over 31,000 Ontario drivers were charged with impaired driving offences. That is one person every 17 minutes.

The Peel regional police through a program called Operation Lookout call upon all Ontarians to report drunk drivers. All provinces should follow this example.

Everyone has a stake in keeping our roads safe and free of impaired drivers. By reporting a drunk driver you could save the life of someone you know, even a family member.

[Transport, May 5th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, high licensing fees for taxis and limos at Pearson airport are forcing operators on to the unemployment lines.

Each year rising insurance rates, gas prices, vehicle maintenance and licence fees along with poor business have made it impossible for operators and their families to survive.

It is like the tobacco smuggling problem. High licensing fees are driving legal operators out of business and have opened a window of opportunity for non-licensed operators to illegally scoop fares.

I call upon the Minister of Transport to direct the airport authority to lower its licence fees. Lower fees would ease the financial pressures on the operators and put an end to illegal fare scooping.

[Crime, April 29th, 1994]

Mr. Speaker, crime in our society is a very serious matter and is becoming more of a problem every day.

In 1992, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics reported 3,270,000 criminal incidents, 87 per cent of which were Criminal Code incidents.

Violent crime has been steadily on the rise every year since 1977 at an average yearly rate of 5 per cent. Youth crime has become a major concern for many Canadians. In 1992, 135,348 youths aged between 12 and 17 were charged under the Criminal Code. Fifteen per cent of these incidents were violent crimes.

Canadians want decisive action to curb the increase in crime-