Madam Speaker, actually, I was first elected back in 1988. I represented Inkster and my colleague, Dr. Gulzar Cheema, represented Kildonan. Dr. Gulzar Cheema kind of baptized me into the Indo-Canadian community, and in particular showed me the different Gurdwaras and Sikhism as a religion and faith, for which I have an immense amount of respect.
Over the years, I have gained friends who have become very close to my family and my children. My feelings toward the Indo-Canadian community are much like my feelings toward other communities. Where I can play a role by being helpful and where I can reflect and try to make a difference, I do that.
When the member asks why the Liberal Party is talking about it now, the incident occurred before John Diefenbaker and Brian Mulroney. If the member wants to play pure politics on this, every political party, whether it is the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party or the Conservative Party, they can all share in the blame. One needs to put things in the proper perspective of time.
Over the last short number of years there has been a request that this particular issue be addressed here in the House of Commons.
I am responding to an opposition motion that was raised in part just a few years back. I think there is merit for it. Some provincial legislatures have now recognized the need for it, but not all of them. Maybe in time other provincial legislatures will do likewise and recognize it. It is just in the last—