AMRITSAR: FlyAmritsar Initiative has expressed gratitude to Canadian Member of Parliament Brad Vis (representing constituency of Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon in British Columbia) and Shadow Minister of Pacific Economic Development for tabling a petition in the Canadian parliament requesting the Government for proactively advocating about direct flights between Vancouver/Toronto to Amritsar in India.
In a joint statement, Anantdeep Singh Dhillon (Canada), Convener North America and Sameep Singh Gumtala (USA) Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, informed that the petition was submitted to the Parliament of Canada by Mohit Dhanju (Surrey, BC), spokesperson for the FlyAmritar Initiative campaign in Canada and it was sponsored by MP Brad Vis, has received an overwhelming response with 14160 online signatures and thousands others signed the paper petition within a short span of 30 days (Jan 12 - Feb 11, 2022).
Speaking in the floor of Canadian Parliament during the current house session, MP Vis said, “Canada, British Columbia and Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon are home to a vibrant community of more than 1 million Punjabi Canadians. Each year, many travel to the Punjab region to visit family, friends, and religious landmarks like the Golden Temple. But right now, they must fly into Delhi and make the long journey by train, bus or other means. Canadians are asking for direct flight service from Vancouver or Toronto to Amritsar, Punjab, which will cut travel times drastically.”
MP Vis further added, “This is good for our economy, and it makes good economic sense. I am pleased today, Mr. Speaker, to table the Petition e-3771, signed by more than 14000 Canadians, calling on the Government of Canada to work with airlines and India’s High Commission to initiate this direct flight service as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, we can get this done, and petitioners from across Canada, look forward, in good faith, towards the Government’s response.”
Considering this, FlyAmritsar Initiative calls for a joint effort towards this important cause and requests Canadian parliamentarians across party lines to take up this flights issue as a bipartisan collective campaign and help make this air link possible. We have been constantly writing letters, giving presentations to various airlines including Air Canada, Air India government authorities in Canada & India, as well as apprising MP’s regarding this important demand of the community for the last many years, said Mr. Dhillon.
In a statement from Amritsar, Manmohan Singh Brar, patron of Amritsar Vikas Manch, also part of lobbying efforts about direct flights for the last many years, welcomed the tabling of petition in Canada’s House of Commons and hailed efforts for taking up the issue of long pending demand of direct flights. “It is time now for MPs of Punjabi origin to come forward and work proactively on this effort”, said Mr. Brar.