Conservative parliamentarians celebrate Diwali festival with Canadian Tamils

[ Monday, 12 November 2012, 01:14.12 PM GMT +05:30 ]

Diwali, the festival of lights has become very popular among several communities in Canada for whom lights and firecrackers have become the means for inter-community bonding.

For many individuals, the festival is a chance to reconnect with family and friends and find new ways to push for a better year in prosperity and health. To further enlighten the multicultural Canadian spirit, last night the Ontario PCs held a Diwali celebration and a symbolic diya lighting with members of the province’s gurdwaras (Sikh temples), mandirs (Hindu temples), Tamil and South Asian communities, PC Leader Tim Hudak informed. “Diwali is an opportunity to gather with family and friends in faith and prayer,” said Hudak. “This is a time to exchange gifts and sweets and to light diyas in celebration of the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and light over darkness.” Hudak introduced several PC Caucus members and candidates at the celebration, and lauded the South Asian community for their extraordinary contributions to the province. “Through our mutual values, the South Asian community and conservatives across our great province share common bonds,” Hudak stated. “We believe in strong families, not strong government. We know Ontario has been built by the hard work of its entrepreneurs, not by government red tape and regulation”. “I want to say to all your families, happy Diwali,” Hudak concluded. Ontario PC leaders including Christine Elliott, Burlington MPP Jane McKenna, Cambridge MPP Rob Leone, Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones, Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh, York MPP Julia Munro, Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Todd Smith and Barrie MPP Rod Jackson also attended the celebrations. PC candidates including Pam Hundal for Brampton-Springdale, Harjit Jaswal for Bramalea-Gore-Malton, Shan Thayaparan for Markham Unionville, Nina Tangri for Mississauga Streetsville, Vic Gupta for Richmond Hill, Zoran Churchin for Mississauga East-Cooksville, Amarjeet Gill for Brampton Mississauga South and Randeep Sandhu for Brampton West were also present.