Record Indian-origin candidates shine in Canadian federal elections as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh faces crushing defeat

Bardish Chagger (Liberal, Waterloo), who has been an MP since 2015, managed to win once again. Bardish, whose parents trace their roots to Punjab, is the first woman to serve as a member of parliament from Waterloo.

Other prominent winners include Sukh Dhaliwal (Liberal, Surrey–Newton), who has been elected as MP for a record sixth time. Born in Punjab, the 65-year-old engineer-turned-land surveyor previously served as MP for Newton–North Delta (2006–2011) and was re-elected from Surrey–Newton in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021. Known for being easily accessible — he famously shares just one phone number with everyone — Dhaliwal overcame stiff competition, including from Conservative candidate Harjit Singh Gill, a well-known radio broadcaster with roots in a village near Ludhiana.

Parm Bains

Randeep Sarai (Liberal, Surrey Centre), 50, an articulate lawyer and entrepreneur, also retained his seat. Born and raised in Vancouver, Sarai has represented the seat since 2015, which has a significant South Asian population.

Parm Bains (Liberal, Steveston–Richmond East), born in Victoria to a Jat Sikh family from Mahilpur, won his second consecutive election. A former media and public relations officer and instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, he was first elected to Parliament in 2021.

First-time winner Gurbux Saini (Liberal, Fleetwood–Port Kells), who migrated from Punjab in 1970 with just $8, brings a compelling personal story. A former lumber piler who rose to become a plant manager and seven-time city councillor in Williams Lake, Saini campaigned as a voice for inclusivity.

At 25, Sukhman Singh Gill (Conservative, Abbotsford–South Langley) is likely to be the youngest MP in the new House. Raised on a farm near Abbotsford, he defeated strong Independent candidate Mike De Jong. Gill’s family is from Bukanwala village near Moga.

Indian-origin candidates performed strongly in the province of Alberta as well. Jasraj Singh Hallan (Conservative, Calgary East), born in Dubai to Indian parents and raised in Canada, retained his seat. A former builder, Hallan entered Parliament in 2019 and has since been a prominent Conservative voice.

Dalwinder Gill (Conservative, Calgary McKnight), a realtor for 21 years, won his first election by defeating Liberal candidate George Chahal. Gill’s voter outreach through social media played a key role in his campaign.

Gurbux Saini

Amanpreet Singh Gill (Conservative, Calgary Skyview), a businessman known for managing a local gurdwara, also clinched victory despite controversy surrounding his involvement in a gurdwara altercation last year.

Veteran MP Tim Uppal (Conservative, Edmonton Mill Woods), serving since 2008, secured another term. The 50-year-old has held portfolios such as Minister of State for Democratic Reform and Multiculturalism.

In Quebec, Anju Dhillon (Liberal) continued her winning streak. The 54-year-old, the first South Asian woman elected from Quebec in 2015, holds degrees in Political Science and Law and has served as Parliamentary Secretary for the Status of Women.

Ontario also saw several victories for Indian-origin candidates. Ruby Sahota (Liberal, Brampton North), a 54-year-old lawyer and former Minister of Democratic Institutions (2024–2025), retained her seat. First elected in 2015, Sahota was once warmly received by the Badal government during a visit to Punjab.

Iqwinder Gaheer (Liberal, Mississauga–Malton), the youngest MP in 2021, is a Harvard-educated lawyer who migrated from a village near Jalandhar as a child. He managed to retain his seat despite stiff opposition.

Maninder Sidhu (Liberal, Brampton East), a 41-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist, was re-elected after first winning in 2019. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development.

Anju Dhillon

Sonia Sidhu (Liberal, Brampton South), who arrived in Canada at the age of 23, was first elected in 2015. The 57-year-old former diabetes educator has consistently won her seat and served as vice-chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. She is known for her advocacy on women’s rights and health.

In many of the contests, it was Indian versus Indian. Amarjeet Gill (Conservative, Brampton West), a businessman sprung a suitors when he defeated Cabinet minister Kamal Khera.

Amandeep Sohi (Liberal, Brampton Centre) defeated Taran Chahal. Jagsharan Singh Mahal (Conservative, Edmonton West) also scored a big win when he defeated Amarjeet Sohi, the mayor of Edmonton.

Arpan Khanna (Conservative, Oxford), the 34-year-old lawyer whose family hails from Raikot retailed his seat of Oxford.

Harb Gill (Conservative, Windsor West), a retired police officer defeated long-time NDP incumbent Brian Masse.

Shuvaloy Majumdar, (Conservative, Calgary Heritage), a former consultant with roots in West Bengal, managed to retain his seat despite a tough contest. He first won this seat, once held by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, during the bypoll in 2023.