Members of the Sikh Motorcycle Club are reflected in a fellow member's sunglasses during the annual Vaisakhi parade in Vancouver on April 16, 2016. But Ford’s decision to exempt Sikh motorcyclists — who had lobbied previous Liberal governments and fought in the courts without success — merited a far more muted announcement last week. Donning a leather vest, the premier was spirited to Brampton for an unannounced photo-op with Sikh motorcyclists, to which only local ethnic media were summoned. Until a few decades ago, motorcycle helmets were voluntary — until governments came to realize that certified head protection was a reasonable infringement on personal freedoms. In any case, Sikh motorcyclists are hardly pleading poverty.

Source: thestar October 17, 2018 21:00 UTC