Election watch – Mississauga Streetsville-“A Liberal government will restore respect to immigrants and treat all citizens as equal”

Gagan Sikand has lived and volunteered in Mississauga-Streetsville for over twenty fice years.  He has given my time and energy to a number of causes.  Over the years, he has served as a basketball coach, mentor to young people, and a volunteer with the Eden Community and Seva Food Banks.
“I am not a career politician.  I am a neighbour and small business owner who has lived in Mississauga-Streetsville most of my life, and I care deeply about the future of this community.  I have been a dedicated volunteer and built a successful business, and I want to ensure my neighbours are able to succeed just as I have.  That is my experience and motivation,’ highlights Liberal Candidate from Mississauga Streetsville Gagan Sikand in an exclusive interview with The Weekly Asian Connections and respond to the questions not only in a timely manner but in a lively style too.

1. What are the top three core issues of your riding that you would like to address?

• Economy
• Jobs
• Transit

1. One important issue that Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau  should address
   during campaign that you think can give Liberals a competitive advantage?
2. The Liberal Party is the only party that is focusing on the middle class and getting our economy moving.Our historic $125 billion infrastructure investments and income tax cuts for those earning between $44,000 and $90,000 will create the quality jobs we need and putting more money in the pockets of families will allow them to stimulate the economy – because we know that when the middle class does well, the economy does well. The Harper government has mismanaged our economy for a decade and the NDP are making promises they can’t keep – or will take many years to even come to pass. The liberals have a solid plan and track record of managing the economy and supporting average Canadians. That what differentiates us and that’s what Justin Trudeau is talking about on the campaign trail.
3. What would you do to make Canada better for Immigrants?

CA.anada  is a country of immigrants and Liberals have always welcomed and respected immigrants. But over the last nine years, things have changed . We have a mean-spirited government that divides Canadians, calling some “old stock” and bringing forward  bill C-24 which allows for citizenship of some Canadians to be revoked – creating a two tier citizenship system and making dual citizens or naturalized Canadians into second class citizens.  They’ve virtually ended  the family reunification program by capping it at 5000 meaning many immigrants will never be able to have their parents or children’s grandparents  join them.  Their attempts to ban the wearing of the niqab at citizenship ceremonies and many other similarly petty measures are reprehensible. This is not the Canada we know. A Liberal government will repeal bill C-24 ,restore respect to immigrants and treat all citizens as equal.  We’ll focus on helping them succeed and get ahead – not on treating them as second class citizens.