Mr. Speaker, this year, Sikhs across Canada and around the globe are celebrating the 550th gurpurab of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji walked over 25,000 kilometres across the globe to promote social equality, fight against discrimination and help the less fortunate. He delivered his message through action and verse, treated everyone as one and believed in the equality of all.
Since 1947, millions of Sikhs were unable to visit his final home in Kartarpur, only to stare at it from across the border. However, their prayers did not go unanswered. This year Pakistan and India agreed to build a corridor from the India side of Punjab to the Pakistan side of Punjab for pilgrims to visit Guru Nanak's final home in Kartarpur, Pakistan. This corridor has now become a symbol of global co-operation and peace.
Canada has the second-largest community of Sikhs in the world, and it is truly an honour for me to rise in the House to speak on this very special event.