Punjabis 'Colonising' Canada — Increasing Influence of Punjabi Community in the Parliament in Ottawa

At a time when international relations are increasingly shaped by diaspora diplomacy, the Punjabi community's growing political capital in Canada opens exciting new avenues for investment, trade, and

Apr 30, 2025

Increasing Influence of Punjabi Community in the Canadian Parliament

The 2025 Canadian federal election, with results declared by late evening on April 28, has marked a watershed moment for the Punjabi diaspora, with a record 22 Members of Parliament of Punjabi origin elected to the House of Commons. This represents not only the highest number in Canadian history but also a powerful signal of the growing political maturity and mobilization of the Punjabi-Canadian community.

With the Liberal Party securing a lead under incoming Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives forming the Official Opposition, the results reflect a dynamic political realignment shaped by global pressures and domestic concerns. Among the 22 Punjabi-origin MPs, 13 were elected on Liberal tickets and 9 on Conservative tickets, reflecting a broadening base of influence across party lines and regions-from the Greater Toronto Area to Calgary, Surrey, and beyond.

Their electoral success underscores the deepening integration of Punjabis into Canada’s political mainstream, as well as the community’s increasing resonance with Canadian voters beyond its own ethnic confines.

A Rising Political Bloc

This year’s success builds on a steady upward trajectory. From 18 elected in 2021 to 20 in 2019, the Punjabi representation in Parliament has now crossed a symbolic threshold-asserting not just presence but influence. Veterans like Anita Anand, Ruby Sahota, Sonia Sidhu, and Tim Uppal return with significant experience, while newcomers like Dalwinder Gill, Sukhman Singh Gill, and Gurbax Saini bring fresh energy and local credibility to their ridings.

Their victories span key urban battlegrounds, including Brampton, Calgary, Edmonton, and Surrey-demonstrating not only demographic strength but also organizational depth. In many of these ridings, Punjabi candidates went head-to-head with each other, often splitting Liberal and Conservative votes, yet still dominating the electoral narrative.

Prominent Losers and a Changing Landscape - Jagmeet Singh (NDP) Falls

The rise of some was also marked by the fall of others. The most symbolic of these was Jagmeet Singh, outgoing leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), who failed to retain his Burnaby Central seat. His defeat-after years of trying to expand the NDP’s national presence-marks both a generational shift and an ideological turning point in Punjabi-Canadian politics, while also reflecting a broader retreat of progressive momentum. The moment was made more poignant on a personal level, as Singh and his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, had welcomed their first child, a daughter named Anhad, in January 2022-signalling the close of one public chapter and the quiet beginning of a more private one.

Other notable defeats include Liberal minister Kamal Khera, unseated by a Conservative challenger in Brampton West, and George Chahal, who lost in Calgary McKnight following boundary realignments. Contrary to earlier reports, Sonia Sidhu retained her seat in Brampton South for the Liberals. These results suggest that while the Punjabi community’s presence in Parliament is expanding, its political loyalties are increasingly fluid, and its votes can no longer be taken for granted.

The Quiet Absence of Harjit Singh Sajjan

Conspicuously missing from this election cycle was Harjit Singh Sajjan, former Defence Minister and one of the most recognized Punjabi faces in Canadian politics. Whether by choice or circumstance, his absence marks the end of a significant chapter in Indo-Canadian political representation. Yet, his legacy, along with those of fellow trailblazers, has clearly paved the way for the new generation of Punjabi leaders now populating Ottawa.

From Representation to Responsibility

What makes this moment remarkable is not just the numerical strength of Punjabi MPs, but the variety of their backgrounds-lawyers, entrepreneurs, academics, community organizers, and even farmers. This diversity speaks to a more robust and dynamic political class, one capable of engaging across a range of policy areas from trade and infrastructure to immigration and multicultural affairs.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how many among these 22 MPs-especially the women-will find berths in the cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Carney. With portfolios yet to be announced, eyes will be on senior figures like Anita Anand, Bardish Chagger, Ruby Sahota, and Sonia Sidhu, all of whom bring deep legislative experience and leadership credentials.

While the primary focus of this analysis is on the Indian-origin Punjabi community-by far the largest bloc among these MPs-it must also be acknowledged that the broader South Asian footprint continues to expand. Several members of Pakistani Punjabi origin and other Indian communities also made significant electoral gains, further enriching the Canadian Parliament’s multicultural character.

A Bridge Between Nations

Looking ahead, this rising political cohort is well-placed to play a critical bridging role between Canada and India. As tensions between the two nations ease following a change in leadership in Ottawa, Punjabi MPs can serve as informal diplomats-facilitating not only official channels but also people-to-people interaction.

Whether through community dialogue, business delegations, educational initiatives, or cultural exchange, these elected representatives can help rebuild trust and deepen ties. Their dual familiarity with both Indian and Canadian contexts allows them to function as connectors-capable of translating the concerns of one into the priorities of the other.

At a time when international relations are increasingly shaped by diaspora diplomacy, the Punjabi community's growing political capital in Canada opens exciting new avenues for investment, trade, and academic cooperation. It is a moment of possibility-and a reminder that representation, when paired with vision, can transform not just politics, but partnership between nations.

Liberal Party (13 MPs)

Ruby Sahota – Brampton North
Fourth-term MP. Former Chief Government Whip and Minister. Lawyer by training; active in women’s and multicultural advocacy.
Maninder Sidhu – Brampton East
Third-term MP. Entrepreneur and founder of The Kindness Movement Charity. Focused on education and international development.
Amandeep Sohi – Brampton Centre
First-time MP. Limited background details available; emerged as a grassroots community choice.
Sonia Sidhu – Brampton South
Fourth-term MP. Healthcare professional for nearly two decades before politics; champion for diabetes research, mental health, and affordable childcare.
Anita Anand – Oakville East
Re-elected. Former Defence and Treasury Board Minister. Academic and legal scholar with a University of Toronto background.
Bardish Chagger – Waterloo
Fourth-term MP. Former Minister for Diversity, House Leader, and Small Business. Strong community credentials in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Anju Dhillon – Dorval–Lachine
Re-elected. Among the early Punjabi women in federal politics. Legal and advocacy background.
Sukh Dhaliwal – Surrey Newton
Re-elected. Veteran MP and businessman. Known for strong links with both Indian and Canadian diaspora groups.
Iqwinder Singh Gaheer – Mississauga–Malton
Second-term MP. Harvard Law graduate; legal professional with a business background from Schulich School of Business.
Randeep Sarai – Surrey Centre
Fourth-term MP. Lawyer, entrepreneur, and Chair of the Justice Committee. Longstanding civic involvement.
Gurbax Saini – Fleetwood–Port Kells
First-time MP. Background yet to be fully detailed; described as a rising Liberal face in British Columbia.
Param Bains – Richmond East–Steveston
First-time MP. New entrant to federal politics with a focus on youth engagement.
Harb Gill – Windsor West
First-time MP. Local economic campaigner with a focus on jobs and manufacturing revival.

Conservative Party (9 MPs)

Amarjeet Gill – Brampton West
First-time MP. Defeated sitting minister Kamal Khera. Known for grassroots organizing.
Jasraj Singh Hallan – Calgary East
Re-elected. Advocate for affordable housing. Prominent voice on economic policy within the party.
Dalwinder Gill – Calgary McKnight
First-time MP. Veteran realtor and community activist. Known for neighborhood-level engagement.
Amanpreet Gill – Calgary Skyview
First-time MP. Background not publicly documented at the time of election.
Arpan Khanna – Oxford
Second-term MP. First elected in a 2023 by-election. Focused on youth participation and infrastructure.
Tim Uppal – Edmonton Gateway
Re-elected. Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party. Former Harper cabinet minister. MBA holder from Ivey.
Parm Gill – Milton East
Returned to federal Parliament after serving provincially. Former Ontario minister. Experienced legislator.
Sukhman Singh Gill – Abbotsford South–Langley
First-time MP. Farmer and agriculture advocate. Strong rural base and ties to Moga, Punjab.
Jagsharan Singh Mahal – Edmonton Southeast
First-time MP. Defeated former mayor Amarjeet Sohi. Known for education and interfaith outreach.

Correction Note

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Sonia Sidhu (Liberal) was unseated in Brampton South. In fact, Sonia Sidhu retained her seat, winning re-election as the Liberal MP for Brampton South. Sukhdeep Kang (Conservative) was not elected. The profiles and analysis above have been updated to reflect this correction.

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