15th Anniversary of the First South-Asian Canadians Elected to Parliament
Herb (Harbance) Dhaliwal, was born in the Punjab in 1952. He came to Canada at age six with his family, speaking not a word of English. He grew up in Vancouver and graduated from the University of British Columbia where he was active in student politics. He was elected to the House of Commons in 1993, representing Vancouver South. Some of Mr. Dhaliwal’s accomplishments include:
- Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans;
- Serving on the Steering Committee on Fisheries and Oceans;
- Minister of National Revenue;
- Vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Health and the Task Force on Aquaculture; and
- Vancouver Sun’s listing as one of the hundred most influential British Columbians of the last 100 years.
Mr. Dhaliwal also has the rare distinction of being the first South Asian to hold a Ministerial position anywhere in a Western democracy.
Gurbax Singh Malhi, representing Bramalea-Gore-Malton in Ontario, became the first turbaned Sikh elected to the House of Commons in 1993.
Mr. Malhi’s accomplishments include:
- Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue;
- Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development;
- Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry with Special Emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians;
- Opposition Industry Critic;
- Member of the Standing Committees including Justice, Legal Affairs, and Human Rights; Government Operations; Human Rights and the Status of Persons with Disabilities; Human Resources Development; and
- Awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his commitment and contributions to Canadian society.