Close X
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
ADVT 
National

40 Indian-Origin Candidates In Fray In Canada's Federal Election

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Oct, 2015 01:32 PM
    Forty Indo-Canadians are in the fray in Monday's election to the 338-member parliament on Monday.
     
    There were eight Indo-Canadian MPs in the outgoing 308-member House of Commons. But this could go up this time as the three main parties - the Tories, Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party - have fielded 40 Indo-Canadians, including all the incumbents.
     
    Among the incumbents is the longest-serving Indo-Canadian MP Deepak Obhrai, who is also parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs.
     
    Also in the fray are the outgoing minister of state for sports Bal Gosal and the minister of state for multiculturalism Tim Uppal.
     
    Interestingly, there is a direct fight between Indo-Canadian candidates in as many as 10 constituencies. 
     
    The direct fights are taking places in constituencies - or ridings as they are called - with huge Indo-Canadian population such as Brampton, Surrey, Calgary and Edmonton.
     
    Apart from the 40 Indo-Canadians fielded by the three main parties, a couple of Indo-Canadians are in the fray as independents.
     
    After the longest ever election campaign of 11 weeks in Canadian history, Monday's vote will elect 338 members to the House of Commons - up from 308 in 2011 as 30 more constituencies have been added this time.
     
     
    Numbering about 1.2 million, Indo-Canadians make up more than three percent of Canada's population of about 35 million and have become a significant political force.
     
    Canada elected its first Indian-origin MP in 1993 when turbaned Sikh Gurbax Malhi won from the Toronto-area.
     
    Malhi's election opened the gates for other Indo-Canadians. In fact, current parliamentary secretary Obhrai, first elected in 1997, is seeking his seventh term in the Canadian parliament from Calgary. 
     
    Canada also has the distinction of appointing an Indian-origin person as a full-fledged cabinet minister anywhere in the Western world when Herb Dhaliwal became the federal revenue minister in 1997.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion
    No matter to the Jays, who learned Saturday morning they were indeed playoff-bound. In their minds, there is more work to do so it was perhaps fitting that the celebrations will wait. 

    Blue Jays Clinch First Post-season Berth Since 1993 Amid Confusion

    Toronto 18 Terror Plotter Zakaria Amara's Citizenship Revoked By Federal Government

    Toronto 18 Terror Plotter Zakaria Amara's Citizenship Revoked By Federal Government
    A member of the so-called Toronto 18, Zakaria Amara was sentenced in 2010 to life in prison with no chance of parole until 2016 after admitting his role in the plan aimed in part at forcing Canadian soldiers to leave Afghanistan.

    Toronto 18 Terror Plotter Zakaria Amara's Citizenship Revoked By Federal Government

    One Winning Ticket Sold In Brampton, Ont., For $60 Million Lotto Max Jackpot

    One Winning Ticket Sold In Brampton, Ont., For $60 Million Lotto Max Jackpot
    The grand prize is the largest in Lotto Max history and lottery officials say the winning ticket was sold in Brampton, Ont.

    One Winning Ticket Sold In Brampton, Ont., For $60 Million Lotto Max Jackpot

    Why Cheap Pills From Canada Have Become Political Issue In U.S. Again

    Why Cheap Pills From Canada Have Become Political Issue In U.S. Again
    A dermatologist prescribes what used to be a cheap generic drug. Then comes the shock at the pharmacy when it turns out a little tube of Clobetasol cream now costs $300.

    Why Cheap Pills From Canada Have Become Political Issue In U.S. Again

    No Injuries After Buffalo Airways Cargo Plane Crashes In Northwest Territories

    No Injuries After Buffalo Airways Cargo Plane Crashes In Northwest Territories
    No one was injured when a cargo plane made emergency landing northwest of Yellowknife.

    No Injuries After Buffalo Airways Cargo Plane Crashes In Northwest Territories

    Alleged Killer of 3 Ex-Girlfriends Basil Borutski's Refusal To Sign Probation Order Was A 'Message'

    Alleged Killer of 3 Ex-Girlfriends Basil Borutski's Refusal To Sign Probation Order Was A 'Message'
    Amanda Dale, executive director of the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic, said Basil Borutski's decision should have been cause for concern.

    Alleged Killer of 3 Ex-Girlfriends Basil Borutski's Refusal To Sign Probation Order Was A 'Message'