Thank you, Madam Chair.
As I did earlier, I will now read out amendment CPC‑24, beginning with the French version.
Je propose que le projet de loi S‑245 soit modifié par adjonction, après la ligne 19, page 1, du nouvel article suivant:
1.4 L'article 24 de la Loi est modifié par adjonction de ce qui suit: Respect des jours fériés et des jours d'importance pour la promotion de l'identité multiculturelle du Canada 24.1(10) Les cérémonies de citoyenneté ne peuvent avoir lieu le jour de Bandi Chhor Divas.
On Bandi Chhor Divas, Sikhs commemorate Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji for standing up for the freedom and human rights of others at the cost of his own, celebrating his release and that of the 52 others he ushered to freedom. Together we admire his inspiring endurance and compassion, and honour the message of hope that he brought to all those suffering oppression.
I think it's important that we ensure that citizenship ceremonies are not held on that day so that Sikhs across the country who are eligible to take an oath of citizenship do not have to choose between taking the oath of citizenship and commemorating this great guru.