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

Alexander Quon · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 7:03 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

The unanimous enactment of the Saskatchewan Party helped get a private members measure from the Opposition passed connected Thursday. 

April volition present beryllium designated arsenic Sikh Heritage Month successful Saskatchewan. 

Regina Pasqua MLA Bhajan Brar introduced the measure astatine the commencement of the period and welcomed its transition connected Thursday.

"It is simply a large time for the Sikh community," said Brar, who is Sikh. 

Tajinder Grewal, MLA for Saskatoon University-Sutherland, said that successful erstwhile years the Sikh assemblage had to inquire the state connected an yearly ground to state April arsenic Sikh Heritage Month. 

The authorities has usually agreed to the request, but the passage of the measure connected Thursday means it volition nary longer beryllium necessary, Grewal said.

"Now it is permanent. Any government, Sask. Party government, NDP government, immoderate authorities has to admit that," Grewal said.

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

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

"Diversity is our strength, and our spot lies successful our unity. So this is simply a large time for Saskatchewan. It's a large time for the Sikh assemblage successful Saskatchewan," Grewal said.

Surprise passage

The Sikh Heritage Month Act was lone scheduled to person 2nd speechmaking connected Thursday, but Premier Scott Moe threw a twist successful the docket by rising during question period.

"The Government of Saskatchewan volition not lone beryllium supporting that backstage members bill, Mr. Speaker, but we're asking for it to determination done each stages and pass today," Moe said.

The authorities rapidly received 2nd and 3rd reading. It volition travel into unit arsenic soon arsenic it receives royal assent.

The determination to rapidly walk the Sikh Heritage Month Act comes arsenic the governing Sask. Party remains nether the microscope for comments by MLA Racquel Hilbert.

During a statement connected the fund past month, the MLA for Humboldt-Watrous was condemning the Saskatchewan NDP, lone for her ire to displacement to national NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

"We did not perceive the Opposition denounce their national person arsenic being a violent successful India and announced the collateral commercialized harm to Western Canada," Hilbert said.

The remark went unnoticed until it was reported connected earlier this month. 

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

The Sask. Party said Hilbert had been removed from her roles with the Treasury Board and the Wanuskewin committee of directors, and her relation arsenic lawman caucus chair. She remains a subordinate of the legislature's lasting committee connected intergovernmental affairs and justice. 

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

Moe has described the comments arsenic inaccurate and highly inappropriate.

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