Ontario's South Asian community raises concerns about Diwali and Election Day overlap
Ontario’s South Asian population is raising concerns regarding the overlap of Diwali and Election Day, saying it could cause issues for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains trying to make it to the polls.
“Diwali is a festival of happiness,” Amandeep Kaur who has been busy preparing sweets at Prem Sweets in Brampton for the festival, told CTV News Toronto. The holiday is one of the most important south Asian religious and cultural celebrations on the calendar.
“People wear new clothes, go to the temples. This year, [after COVID-19 restrictions] they will be sharing their happiness with relatives, by hugging them, by taking the blessings," Kaur said.
But also this year, the ‘Festival of Lights’ falls on municipal election day in Ontario.
“A lot of people who would typically vote after work also would be participating in Diwali celebrations, which tend to be in the evening,” Ryan Singh, chair of the Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association, said.
“So people will probably prioritize being with their families and loved ones, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic rather than voting.”
Singh said with the province being so diverse, the conflict should have been addressed.
The association sent a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs asking for alternative dates, after the 2007 provincial election was moved for another religious observance.
“It’s systemic racism that there’s a solution the government can fix,” he said.
“We thought the government should be proactive at looking at an alternative, extending the voting period, having it the day after or the week after. Unfortunately I didn’t hear a response.”
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, the province said advance voting can begin 30 days before election day and the municipal elections act sets the date as the fourth Monday in October.
Ashwani Aggarwal is the founder of My Indians in Canada Association, which helps people with everything from housing, jobs and personal support. He is Hindu, concerned about Brampton issues and is voting Monday.
He said coordinating time to celebrate and vote will be challenging for some; however, he doesn’t believe the conflict is a big problem.
“There are so many places we can go and vote, it’s a minute walk or a minute drive,” he said.
Aggarwal said he’d like to see Diwali recognized as a holiday. New York City recently made it an official school holiday.
But for him, the political process is too important to miss.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.