The new Indo-Canadian Parliamentarians

Jinny Sims (Joginder Kaur)

Jinny Sims (Joginder Kaur) New Democratic Party (NDP): She beat sitting MP Sukh Dhaliwal in Newton-North Delta.  Jinny Sims has a long and dedicated history as a teacher, counsellor, union leader and as a strong advocate for public education. Born in India, Jinny emigrated to England when she was nine years old. She earned a Bachelor of Education at the University of Victoria in Manchester and moved to Canada in 1975. After years of teaching in the classroom and being actively involved in the BC Teachers’ Federation, she became Federation president in 2004. In 2005, she successfully lead the Federation’s fight against the Campbell government for smaller class sizes and better learning conditions for students. Jinny currently works for the BCTF as Director of Professional and Social Issues. She has been married for 37 years to Stephen Sims, and is the mother of two adult children, Keeran and Michael. Her family has lived in Delta for over 20 years.

Jasbir Sandhu:

Jasbir Sandhu  (New Democratic Party): He beat Conservative candidate Dona Cadman in Surrey North.Jasbir Sandhu has been a Program Manager at the Justice Institute of BC since 1996. He is also the owner of My Village Restaurant in Surrey. Jasbir is a Board Member of the Vancity Community Foundation, which supports affordable housing and homeless shelters. He is also a spokesperson for the Professor Mohan Singh Memorial Foundation, and a volunteer for the United Way. Jasbir has worked as a Business Analyst, a customs officer, a self-employed Building Contractor, a truck driver, taxi driver and factory worker. He has a Masters of Business Administration from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University. Jasbir has lived in North Surrey for 29 years. He is married to Simi and has two children.

Deepak Obhrai:

Deepak Obhrai(Conservative Party ): 
Deepak beat New Democratic Party candidate Al Brown in Calgary East.Deepak is a former entrepreneur and public servant who speaks English, Hindi, Punjabi and Swahili. Deeply involved in the community, Deepak is the past President of the India Canada Association, Monterey Community Association, Hindu Society of Calgary and past Vice-President of the National Indo/Canadian Council. He has been an international election observer. First elected to the House of Commons in 1997, Deepak is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He and his wife, Neena, have three children.

Devinder Shory

Devinder Shory(Conservative Party): He beat Liberal Party candidate Cam Stewart in Calgary Northeast.Devinder earned a BA and a law degree from Punjabi University before coming to Canada. Unable to get his credentials recognized, he drove a cab, opened a small video store and built homes. When Alberta offered him the chance to upgrade his education and get his credentials recognized, he took it, and set up a law practice in Calgary Northeast. His provision of free services to students and seniors was recognized by the Law Society of Alberta. Devinder earned a BA and a law degree from Punjabi University before coming to Canada. Unable to get his credentials recognized, he drove a cab, opened a small video store and built homes. When Alberta offered him the chance to upgrade his education and get his credentials recognized, he took it, and set up a law practice in Calgary Northeast. His provision of free services to students and seniors was recognized by the Law Society of Alberta. He was also active in the India Canada Association and the Northeast Centre for Community Society. He received the outstanding Service Award from the Calgary Filipino community and is a recipient of the Alberta Centennial Medal. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008. He serves on the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. Devinder and his wife, Neetu, have three children..

Tim Uppal (Conservative Party): He beat Independent candidate James Ford in Edmonton-Sherwood.

Tim U

Tim Uppal was elected to the Harper Government in 2008 as Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park. Before being elected, Tim was a Residential Mortgage Manager for TD Canada Trust and later served as a Senior Advisor for the Conservative Party of Canada. Tim and his wife Kiran, a Department of Justice lawyer, are enjoying the gift and responsibilities of raising their 3 year old daughter Kirpa, and baby son Nihal. Tim was born in British Columbia in 1974 and has spent most of his life in Edmonton andSherwood Park. For over a decade, Tim’s passion has been mentoring youth through sport, especially youth at risk. He coached soccer and wrestling, and was involved in the World Masters Games held in Edmonton. For many years, Tim was also the host of a community radio show on CKER FM. Tim has a long history of community involvement, which was recognized when he was named The Outstanding Young Edmontonian for 2005 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and when he was awarded an Alberta Centennial Medallion from the Government of Alberta. Tim sits as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the Standing Committee on Health. In 2010 Prime Minister Harper asked Tim to be the Acting Chair the Health Committee of the House of Commons. In December 2010, Tim’s private member’s bill, An Act to Establish a National HolocaustMonument, was passed through the House of Commons with unanimous all-party support. It received Royal Assent on March 25th 2011, hours before the Opposition forced an election. Tim and his family enjoy living in Sherwood Park, Alberta.


 Nina Grewal(Conservative Party): She beat New Democratic Party candidate Nao Fernando in Fleetwood-Port Kells. Nina was born in Japan and earned Bachelor of History and English Literature degrees from the Punjabi University in Patiala, India.

Nina Grewal

While living in Liberia, where she was a partner in a family business, Nina witnessed the atrocities of war, an experience that left her with a deep appreciation for freedom and democracy. After coming to Canada with her family, Nina worked as a Sales Manager for a company selling Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs). Long involved in federal politics at the riding level, Nina was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004. She has represented the people of Fleetwood—Port Kells ever since. Most recently, she served as a Member on two House of Commons Standing Committees — Citizenship andImmigration, and Status of Women.Nina and her husband, Gurmant, became the first married couple to simultaneously hold elected seats in the House of Commons. She has long contributed to improving Canada though community service and volunteer work.


 Bal Gosal(Conservative Party): He beat Liberal candidate Gurbax S. Malhi in Bramalea–Gore—Maltonc. Bal is the Conservative candidate for Bramalea-Gore-Malton. As a long time resident of the area he takes satisfaction in the many opportunities he has taken to make a positive difference in his community. Bal understands family life in Brampton both as a soccer dad and through his community involvement. He organized a soccer league for children in the area in addition to being a coach. He volunteered with the Brampton YMCA, acting as a director of the Regional Council, and was profoundly involved in the creation of the new Brampton YMCA building.

Bal Gosal

His involvement in his community increased, which better reflected his life philosophy of giving back. His core values included: public safety and so he served as a member of the Peel Regional Police Services Board and Peel Children’s Aid Society; sustainable and accessible healthcare and so he served on various committees and chaired a sub-committee at the William Osler Hospital Foundation; and fostering a strong and economically prosperous region and so he served as a member of the Brampton Board of Trade Marketing Committee. Bal and his wife have lived, raised a family and successfully run their own business in Brampton and he desires to see the region prosper and grow to its full potential. He hopes to achieve this goal by being your member of parliament.


 Parm Gill(Conservative Party): Hebeat Liberal Party candidate Ruby Dhalla in Brampton—Springdale. Parm arrived to Canada at a young age, immediately setting roots in the Greater Toronto Area. He now resides in Brampton with his wife Amarpal, his two sons, Raman and Daman, and his daughter Parmeet. Parm continues to be a successful entrepreneur in the hospitality and manufacturing industries. He is proud to be able to contribute to Brampton’s economy through his businesses and to be part of the numerous job-creators in the city to provide opportunities for the citizens from his community.

Parm Gill

Parm has been involved in politics for many years with the desire to make a change in Canada. In 2006 he began his candidacy in Brampton-Springdale, a community he has deep roots in. He believes that Brampton-Springdale deserves a representative in Ottawa who can and will deliver results that will benefit us all – from making our community safer for our children, lowering taxes for our families, keeping our government accountable and continuing to make our economy one of the strongest and most stable in the world. Parm continues to be one of the hardest working individuals in politics, striving to contribute to a community and a country that is based on crime control, economic strength, equality for all and support for our immigrants. Parm makes it a priority to establish strong ties with all parts of our community through outreach initiatives – striving to be the best representative for the community as a whole and working to resolve the issues that affect each Bramptonian. Parm has been a long time resident of Brampton, he has worked in the community and his children attend school here. He believes he has a strong personal connection and duty to provide the best results for not only his family but for each community member. Parm has been heavily involved in Brampton-Springdale through organizations such as the Peel Regional Police, Malaysian-Singapore Cultural Association and Canadian Eye Sight International. He continues to work on behalf of those who are less fortunate – to provide a lifestyle that all of us deserve. Parm wants to be part of a government that continues to build a stronger, prouder and more prosperous Canada. He has made significant contributions to Brampton through round-tables with our seniors, veterans, immigrants and business owners. Parm is grateful and honoured for the support he has received and hopes for continued support in the next federal election to bring a new voice to Ottawa on behalf of Brampton-Springdale. Parm holds a conception of Canada that is based on providing the best for our citizens. He wants to continue to focus on the economy as we enter our second phase of recovery – to fight for lower taxes for our job-creators and continue to reduce unemployment and increase job growth. Brampton is one of the fastest growing cities in the country and Parm believes, with hard work and dedication, we can continue this trend by providing opportunities and financial security for our residents. The Conservative Party has been highly successful during these fragile economic times and Parm wants to help keep our future bright.

Moga man Gill trumps Ruby Dhalla

Ludhiana: In a closely watched contest in the Canadian federal elections, Conservative candidate Parm Gill has defeated Liberal candidate Ruby Dhalla by 7,000 votes. Gill hails from Puranewala village near Moga. Dhalla, who faced Gill for the Brampton-Springdale seat, saw her campaign dogged by allegations of mistreating her domestic help. The glamorous Dhalla tried to work her Punjab connection and her proximity to the ruling SAD(B) here – even using CM Parkash Singh Badal’s image on her campaign material – to no avail. Gill, it is said, has Canadian PM Stephen Harper’s backing. Gill’s home town Moga is in celebratory mood over his win. Congress MLA Joginderpal Jain, who is a close friend of Gill, says, “He was bound to win. Gill is very committed to his work. He has been supporting the Punjabi community like an MP.” Gyan Singh Khiva a retired government official who, too, is close to Gill said, “I spent the entire night on the Internet following these elections.”