Turbaned Sikh motorcyclists in the Ontario state of Canada will not need helmets announced the provincial government in response to a bill introduced by the young and dynamic newly elected MPP Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria.  Instead of passing the new legislation, the government has however chosen to provide the exemption through a regulation announced by it.

After British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta, the province of Ontario becomes the fourth province in Canada to exempt turbaned Sikhs from motorcycle helmet
requirements.

The World Sikh Organisation has welcomed the development. It was the WSO which intervened in 2010 in the R. V. Badesha case where Baljinder Singh Badesha challenged Ontario’s motorcycling helmet requirements for Sikhs.  Though Mr. Badesha’s appeal was unsuccessful, the court said in its decision that nothing precluded the government from voluntarily providing turbaned Sikh riders with the exemption.

WSO President Mukhbir Singh said today, “we welcome today’s announcement by the Ontario government. The helmet exemption for Sikh motorcyclists in Ontario has been a long time coming.” He further said, “There has been no impact on road safety due to the exemptions for Sikh riders in British Columbia, Manitoba and Alberta.  Any increased safety risk by declining to wear a helmet is borne directly by the individual making the choice to do so. While not everyone may agree with the decision to wear a turban instead of a helmet, giving Sikhs the right to make that decision reflects the importance of freedom of religion and choice to us as a society”

Conservative Party premier Doug Ford in a media statement has said, “The safety of our roads will always remain a priority, but our government also believes that individuals have personal accountability and responsibility with respect to their own well-being.”

The Sikh Motorcycle club of Ontario has welcomed the decision and has said that “now we can ride with pride.”

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Toronto, 12 October 2018