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Alberta Sikhs want exemption from bike helmet law
By DAWN WALTON
Tuesday, August 27, 2002 – Page A6
CALGARY -- Some Sikhs in Alberta are planning legal action unless the provincial government exempts turban-wearing children from its bicycle-helmet law.
Happy Mann, a spokesman from Calgary's Sikh community, said that without an amendment to recently introduced helmet regulations his members will have no choice but to file a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission or launch a constitutional challenge.
"This is discrimination," Mr. Mann said. "The turban is part of our religious identity and the turban has been considered part of religious dress. We cannot compromise the turban at any cost."
The helmet law, which came into effect May 1, saddles parents with a $50 fine if their child, aged 15 years or younger, is caught riding a bike without a helmet. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds riding without protective headgear will be issued a fine themselves.
But turban-wearing children say they cannot fit a helmet over their religious headdress. Religious leaders have advised Sikhs to ban their children from bike riding until the issue is settled.
Karnvir Singh, 13, used to ride his bike every nice day. But the Calgary teen hasn't ridden all summer.
"I'm just afraid to get a ticket," he said.
A helmet doesn't fit over his turban, something he believes should never be covered with additional headgear anyway because it holds deep religious significance. He misses riding to his friends' homes and getting the exercise.
"We want to give our kids back their childhood," Mr. Mann said.
About 60,000 Sikhs live in Alberta.
Tory MLA Yvonne Fritz introduced the law last year as a private member's bill. She saw it as a proactive safety measure in a province where bicycling tops the list of recreational activities that cause major trauma. At the time, she said no concerns about discrimination were raised about her proposal.
Once it passed into law, however, the Sikh lobbying effort went into high gear.
Since then, Transportation Minister Ed Stelmach and Ms. Fritz have met with Sikh representatives. Ms. Fritz wrote to helmet manufacturers to find out whether headgear could be modified to fit around turbans. Her office has yet to hear back.
In the meantime, Sikh representatives have rejected that proposal, worried that odd-looking helmets would subject their children to taunts. They have written to Mr. Stelmach to try to persuade the government to exempt turban-wearing children from the law.
"We are very much concerned about our kids' safety as well," Mr. Mann said, "but sometimes [we] have to make individual choices."
A turban offers similar protection in case of a fall, he added.
An official with Mr. Stelmach's office said the minister is on holiday and has yet to read the letter proposing an exemption.
Rules aimed at safety concerns or at upholding tradition have fallen to religious rights before.
Restrictions on wearing turbans in the RCMP and Legion halls have been eased. In 1996, British Columbia amended its bicycle-helmet law to exempt Sikhs who wear turbans after members of the Sikh community there lobbied for the change. Three years later, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled that a provincial law that forced motorcyclists to wear helmets discriminated against turban-wearing Sikhs.
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What do you think of this? I'm not sure where I stand just yet. I can see the whole RCMP thing (for those of you who don't know, our national police force, the RCMP, has a hat as part of its uniform. Sikhs successfully lobbied to allow the wearing of their religious turbans instead of the cap), but helmet laws are in place for public safety......
Alberta Sikhs want exemption from bike helmet law
By DAWN WALTON
Tuesday, August 27, 2002 – Page A6
CALGARY -- Some Sikhs in Alberta are planning legal action unless the provincial government exempts turban-wearing children from its bicycle-helmet law.
Happy Mann, a spokesman from Calgary's Sikh community, said that without an amendment to recently introduced helmet regulations his members will have no choice but to file a complaint with the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission or launch a constitutional challenge.
"This is discrimination," Mr. Mann said. "The turban is part of our religious identity and the turban has been considered part of religious dress. We cannot compromise the turban at any cost."
The helmet law, which came into effect May 1, saddles parents with a $50 fine if their child, aged 15 years or younger, is caught riding a bike without a helmet. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds riding without protective headgear will be issued a fine themselves.
But turban-wearing children say they cannot fit a helmet over their religious headdress. Religious leaders have advised Sikhs to ban their children from bike riding until the issue is settled.
Karnvir Singh, 13, used to ride his bike every nice day. But the Calgary teen hasn't ridden all summer.
"I'm just afraid to get a ticket," he said.
A helmet doesn't fit over his turban, something he believes should never be covered with additional headgear anyway because it holds deep religious significance. He misses riding to his friends' homes and getting the exercise.
"We want to give our kids back their childhood," Mr. Mann said.
About 60,000 Sikhs live in Alberta.
Tory MLA Yvonne Fritz introduced the law last year as a private member's bill. She saw it as a proactive safety measure in a province where bicycling tops the list of recreational activities that cause major trauma. At the time, she said no concerns about discrimination were raised about her proposal.
Once it passed into law, however, the Sikh lobbying effort went into high gear.
Since then, Transportation Minister Ed Stelmach and Ms. Fritz have met with Sikh representatives. Ms. Fritz wrote to helmet manufacturers to find out whether headgear could be modified to fit around turbans. Her office has yet to hear back.
In the meantime, Sikh representatives have rejected that proposal, worried that odd-looking helmets would subject their children to taunts. They have written to Mr. Stelmach to try to persuade the government to exempt turban-wearing children from the law.
"We are very much concerned about our kids' safety as well," Mr. Mann said, "but sometimes [we] have to make individual choices."
A turban offers similar protection in case of a fall, he added.
An official with Mr. Stelmach's office said the minister is on holiday and has yet to read the letter proposing an exemption.
Rules aimed at safety concerns or at upholding tradition have fallen to religious rights before.
Restrictions on wearing turbans in the RCMP and Legion halls have been eased. In 1996, British Columbia amended its bicycle-helmet law to exempt Sikhs who wear turbans after members of the Sikh community there lobbied for the change. Three years later, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruled that a provincial law that forced motorcyclists to wear helmets discriminated against turban-wearing Sikhs.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What do you think of this? I'm not sure where I stand just yet. I can see the whole RCMP thing (for those of you who don't know, our national police force, the RCMP, has a hat as part of its uniform. Sikhs successfully lobbied to allow the wearing of their religious turbans instead of the cap), but helmet laws are in place for public safety......
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