Kirpan appeal 'racist'

The decision by the Quebec government to appeal a Superior Court ruling allowing kirpans in schools is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers' money and a blatant attempt to win votes, critics of the move said yesterday.

"Paul Bégin is not the minister of justice of all Quebecers," said Manjit Singh, Sikh chaplain at McGill University and director of the Canadian Sikh Council in Ottawa. "It's obvious the Parti Québecois is on the skids and wants to hang on to votes, so it is pandering to the needs of parents."

Sadeqa Siddiqui, co-ordinator of the South Asia Women's Community Centre, said she was surprised by the government's decision, which will end up throwing 12-year-old Gurbaj Singh back into the centre of an emotionally charged debate. In November, Gurbaj was barred from school for wearing a kirpan. The issue seemed to be settled when Quebec Superior Court ruled in the boy's favour May 17.

A spokesman for Bégin wouldn't comment on the fact that kirpans, the ceremonial sword worn by baptized Sikhs, aren't banned from schools in any other province nor has there ever been a case of a student being injured by one.

"It is before the courts and I can only repeat what (Bégin) said and that is there is zero tolerance for weapons in schools," Claude Potvin said yesterday.

But others think the government is potentially doing more damage than any weapon.

"I don't know who they want to please but this is really a racist move from the Quebec government," Siddiqui said. "How can we have a liberal, open education system if people are worried about how they will be accepted?"

In 1990, the Peel Board of Education lost its attempt before the Ontario Human Rights Commission to have the kirpan banned in schools. The ruling said "the policy cannot be justified as a bona fide requirement of the Board of Education to ensure that safety in the schools is maintained."

- Sue Montgomery's E-mail address is smontgomery@thegazette.southam.ca.