This (non-acceptance of names "Singh" and "Kaur") has been the practice for the last few decades. I had cases going back to the early '90s of people with the name Singh or Kaur being told by CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) in New Delhi to change their surnames, I've had tonnes of cases, not just in my constituency.

This started with the last Conservative Government of Brian Mulroney and continues to date. For the Minister to issue such an erroneous statement is misleading and disrespectful to Canadians from the region of Punjab.

I have seen this kind of letter numerous times and people have been forced to apply for a passport which many times they take a last name which some times reflects the name of their village.

The Majority of people which come from the Punjab have either as their last name and or their middle name "Singh" and "Kaur". It is the usual practice that these folks also introduce themselves in writing their names s/o (which means son of) d/o (which means daughter of) and has worked locally for hundreds of years.

This is also practised in many other cultures.  In my culture (Greek Culture) this is a common practice which your middle name is the name of your father.

Not many years ago I went to get a birth certificate for myself and I found out to my surprise that there was a relative of mine which had the same first and last name also born on the same day and the only think that different was our middle name which was our father's name. 

I can fully understand that this would have been misunderstood and even dismissed in our every Canadian life. However in our places of birth this is a daily occurrence and has proven to work for centuries.

I for one fully support our practices that have worked for hundreds of years and provide challenges for our rich diversity.

I strongly believe that the minister must come clean and not try to hide the challenges that are faced by local Canadian officials in the Punjab as well as other posts.

It is because of these difficulties that local Canadian officials make decisions to try to overcome local challenges. 

Instead of the Minister to try to mislead the Canadian Public and distort the truth and say this is not a common practice the Minister should  simply issue a directive which respects local customs while upholding Canadian diversity with sensitivity to local issues.

Does this practice take place in the office in Chandigarh and New Delhi on a daily occurrence? Yes is does!!!

Does it respect local sensitivities? No it does not!!!

Do local engaged officers and Canadian officials practice this? On a Daily basis!!!

Canada is a country which has welcomed immigrants to its shores for hundreds of years. It was until recently the last 30-40 years that people were not forced to Anglicize their last name.

My grandfather's brother had to change his name to Carson when he immigrated to the USA in the beginning of the last century. To my surprise I found the name of my cousin in the Vietnam Wall "William Carson" after he went missing in the Vietnam War. 

It was not however until last month that this was driven home when a fifth cousin of mine Spiros Karigiannis gave his life for Canada in Afghanistan.

"Please Minister stop insulting the Immigrant Population of Canada and count us as second class citizens. "

The Conservative Government of Stephen Harper has and it will continue to pit one Canadian against another. It will continue to pit one community against another in order to satisfy their Reform Agenda.

Immigrants and their children are here to stay and are as good and equal to the rest of Canadians.

I personally believe in the power and potential of the human race. I am often quoted as saying that R.A.C.E. stands for Respecting our neighbours, Accepting our differences, Celebrating our rich diversity and Embracing our heritage.