OTTAWA,CANADA: How did the first three Indo-Canadian MPs fare in the first 100 days? Actually there were 90 sittings since Parliament was recalled on January 17, 1994, following the October 1993 federal general election which swept the Liberal Party to power. The three MPs are Jag Bhaduria, Harbance Singh Dhaliwal and Gurbax Singh Malbi. The last two are Sikhs and businessmen and all three were bom in India. Two of them, Bhaduria and Malhi, represent Metro Toronto constituencies, while Dhaliwal represents Vancouver South, British Columbia. All three Indo-Canadian MPs were elected on Liberal Party ticket The first to take the tumble was: Jag Bhaduria when it was discovered he had written threatening letters to his former employer and had doctored his bio-data, The charges forced him to withdraw from the Liberal Party caucus within the first few weeks of the new Parliamentary session and he now sits as an Independent Liberal, The fall from grace has left Bhaduria lonely and bitter and almost totally ignored by his former Liberal colleagues in the Commons, There seems to be very little empathy for Bhaduria among the Liberal caucus and even less likelihood of his return, After all, the Liberals with 177 seats in the 295seat House of Commons have a comfortable lead and can afford to sacrifice one Bhaduria.

Perhaps it has gone unnoticed that the Reform Party, which hounded Bhaduria, and during the fast days of Sean the after Dhaliwal, chars for not suspending all fie buneserks on becoming Parliamentary Secretary, have not confronted Newfoundland Liberal MP Jean Payne, who a few days ago declared personal bankruptcy and owes taxes to the federal government and money to the provincial government to the tune of over $300,000.00, The Reform Party was adamant for days calling on the voters of Bhaduria’s constituency of Markham to initiate a recall procedure to force his resignation. Maybe the Reform Party was being overzealous in its pursuit of the matter which would have meant a gain of a scat bringing them closer to becoming the official opposition, The Reform now holds 52 seats compared to 54 of the official opposition Bloc Quebecois party.

In terms of appointments, Dhaliwal fared best of the three with an appointment as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. This involves representing the Minister in various duties, being responsible, along with the Minister, of the day to day running of the respective Department and often answering questions in the House of Commons and behalf of the Minister, Dhaliwal, being from the west coast complements well Minister Brian Tobin from Newfoundland. Apart from being Parliamentary Secretary, Dhaliwal is also a member of the Fisheries and Oceans Standing Committees of the House of Commons.

Malhi is member of the influential Procedure and House Affairs Committee of the House of Commons. This committee is responsible for the day-to-day operation ‘of the Commons from Private Members bills to the service in the cafeterias.

Jag Bhaduria is not a full member of any standing committee of the Commons but docs attend meetings as an associate of is allowed to ask questions, only if and when there is consensus.

Not being a member of any recognized party in the Commons also hinders Bhaduria’s frequency to speak in Parliament, He has spoken in the House of Commons nine times compared with 35 times for Dhaliwal and 23 for Malhi Even when Bhaduria had an opportunity to speak in the House in the midst of the Royal Canadian Legion turban issue, he spoke about the heroic feats of one of his constituents on D-Day.

In his statements in Parliament, Dhaliwal has shied away from speaking about issues affecting the Sikhs or India, though he has spoken on the situation in the Middle East.

In his 23 statements in Parliament, Malhi has shown great diversity of areas he has addressed. Some of the statements Malhi has made have touched on Guru Gobind Singh’s binhday, electoral boundaries, national debt, immigration, human rights, Pearson Airport, multiculturalism, the Royal Canadian Legion decision barring weaning of headgear, and child support payments, The articulate, affable, curves” cent and always smartly: Dhaliwal has gained recognition as a Canadian parliamentarian with s bright political future.

Gurbax Singh Malhi, the first turbaned Sikh Member of Canadian Parliament is planning a private visit to India and Pakistan this month. However, during the course of the visit Malhi plans to meet with Canadian High Commission offal’s to discuss issues relating to immigration, trade, and the prospects of opening of a visa office in the Punjab. Malhi said that the visit will also allow him to observe firsthand the situation in Punjab.

Similarly in Pakistan, Malhi plans to meet with government and Canadian High Commission Officials and visit the Sikh holy shrines.

Courtesy of:

Bhupinder Singh Liddar

Article extracted from this publication >> July 8, 1994