April to be permanently recognized as Sikh Heritage Month in Sask., after Opposition member's bill passes

The unanimous support of the Saskatchewan Party helped get a private members bill from the Opposition passed on Thursday. 

April will now be designated as Sikh Heritage Month in Saskatchewan. 

Regina Pasqua MLA Bhajan Brar introduced the bill at the start of the month and welcomed its passage on Thursday.

"It is a great day for the Sikh community," said Brar, who is Sikh. 

Tajinder Grewal, MLA for Saskatoon University-Sutherland, said that in previous years the Sikh community had to ask the province on an annual basis to declare April as Sikh Heritage Month. 

The government has normally agreed to the request, but the passage of the bill on Thursday means it will no longer be necessary, Grewal said.

"Now it is permanent. Any government, Sask. Party government, NDP government, any government has to recognize that," Grewal said.

April is important for Sikhs, as the festival of Vaisakh is celebrated during the month. 

Grewal pointed to Saskatchewan's motto — From Many Peoples, Strength — as motivation for the legislation.

"Diversity is our strength, and our strength lies in our unity. So this is a great day for Saskatchewan. It's a great day for the Sikh community in Saskatchewan," Grewal said.

Surprise passage

The Sikh Heritage Month Act was only scheduled to receive second reading on Thursday, but Premier Scott Moe threw a twist in the agenda by rising during question period.

"The Government of Saskatchewan will not only be supporting that private members bill, Mr. Speaker, but we're asking for it to move through all stages and pass today," Moe said.

The legislation quickly received second and third reading. It will come into force as soon as it receives royal assent.

The move to quickly pass the Sikh Heritage Month Act comes as the governing Sask. Party remains under the microscope for comments by MLA Racquel Hilbert.

During a debate on the budget last month, the MLA for Humboldt-Watrous was condemning the Saskatchewan NDP, only for her ire to shift to federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

"We did not hear the Opposition denounce their federal leader as being a terrorist in India and announced the collateral trade damage to Western Canada," Hilbert said.

The comment went unnoticed until it was reported on earlier this month. 

Hilbert apologized and withdrew her comments, but was subsequently stripped of most of her MLA duties. 

The Sask. Party said Hilbert had been removed from her roles with the Treasury Board and the Wanuskewin board of directors, and her role as deputy caucus chair. She remains a member of the legislature's standing committee on intergovernmental affairs and justice. 

So far, Moe has rejected calls from the Saskatchewan NDP for Hilbert to be removed from the Sask. Party caucus. 

Moe has described the comments as inaccurate and highly inappropriate.

Grewal has called the comments hurtful to the Sikh community. He continues to call for Hilberts removal from the government caucus.