Deepak Obhrai

The Honourable
Deepak Obhrai
PC MP
Official Opposition Critic for International Development
Assumed office
20 November 2015
Leader Rona Ambrose
Preceded by Hélène Laverdière
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Calgary Forest Lawn
Calgary East (1997-2015)
Assumed office
June 2, 1997
Preceded by Alex Kindy
Personal details
Born (1950-07-05) July 5, 1950
Oldeani, Tanzania
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Neena Obhrai
Residence Calgary
Profession dry cleaner, businessman
Religion Hindu
Website www.deepakobhrai.com

Deepak Obhrai, PC, MP (born July 5, 1950 in Oldeani, Tanganyika, now Tanzania) is a Canadian politician, representing the riding of Calgary Forest Lawn for the Conservative Party of Canada. He formerly served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.[1] He, along with Gerry Ritz and Jason Kenney are currently the longest continuously-serving Conservative MPs.

He was first elected in 1997 for the Reform Party of Canada, and was re-elected when the Reform Party became the Canadian Alliance in 2000. In 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011 he was elected as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He was also one of four Alliance MPs who agreed to sit with the Progressive Conservative caucus after the December 9, 2003 creation of the merged Conservative Party. The Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance parliamentary caucuses were not officially merged until a few weeks later.

As an opposition member he served as the Opposition critic for International Cooperation, Multiculturalism, International Trade and of CIDA.

On September 19, 2013, Obhrai was appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada by Governor General of Canada David Johnston on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

In September 2014, Obhrai received the Pride of India Award from the Indo-American Friends Group of Washington DC and the Indo-American Business Chamber in a dinner ceremony held on Capitol Hill for his contributions towards strengthening Canada’s political, social and cultural relations with India and for his role in increasing Indian diaspora participation in pluralistic political activity.[2]

Controversy

Obhrai attracted local and national criticism during the 2011 Canadian Federal Election for refusing to appear in an all-candidates debate in his riding, citing that he "does not wish to debate a Liberal from Toronto," a reference to Calgary East Liberal candidate Josipa Petrunic, who is in fact a born and raised Calgarian.[3][4] The controversy was accentuated by the fact that Obhrai himself has not lived in the riding since winning the then Reform party nomination in 1997, as his primary residence is actually in the federal riding of Calgary Northeast.[5]

Obhrai has gained notoriety in the Conservative caucus for his eccentricity.[6] Following his victory in the 2011 Election, he discovered that as a result of Gurbax Singh Malhi's defeat in Bramalea—Gore—Malton, he was now the longest serving remaining member of parliament who was of South Asian and/or African ancestry.[6] To this effect, he penned a letter to the editor to the Calgary Herald in which he boasted about being the "most senior South Asian and African member of Parliament", despite having never held office in India or Africa. Obhrai went on to proclaim that: "In my birth country, Tanzania, I would henceforth be referred to by the respectful title of Mzee. In South Asia, I would receive the title of Pradhaan. This means I have now reached the ranks of respected elders.".[7] To wind it up, Obhrai gleefully exclaimed that, despite his senior status, "I still look young!".[7]

Electoral results

Canadian federal election, 2015: Calgary Forest Lawn
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeDeepak Obhrai 19,694 47.98 –15.37 –
LiberalCam Stewart 14,762 35.96 +18.50 –
New DemocraticAdbou Souraya 4,006 9.76 –3.39 –
GreenJudson Hansell 1,229 2.99 –2.31 –
LibertarianMatt Badura 832 2.03 – –
CommunistJason Devine 390 0.95 – –
Democratic AdvancementMax Veress 134 0.33 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 41,047100.00 $206,437.77
Total rejected ballots 3450.83–
Turnout 41,39255.47–
Eligible voters 74,620
Conservative hold Swing –16.93
Source: Elections Canada[8][9]


Canadian federal election, 2011: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeDeepak Obhrai 23,372 67.43% +0.96%
New DemocraticAl Brown 4,894 14.12% +2.37%
LiberalJosipa Petrunic 4,102 11.83% +1.68%
GreenScott Milton 2,047 5.91% -4.70%
CommunistJason Devine 246 0.71% -0.30%
Total valid votes/Expense limit 34,661 100.00%
Total rejected ballots –––
Turnout – %–


Canadian federal election, 2008: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeDeepak Obhrai 21,311 66.47% -0.63% $77,330
New DemocraticIan Vaughan 3,768 11.75% +0.88% $831
GreenNathan Coates 3,403 10.61% +3.20% $2,722
LiberalBernie Kennedy 3,255 10.15% -2.95% $6,934
CommunistJason Devine 323 1.01% +0.41% $417
Total valid votes/Expense limit 32,060 100.00% $83,826
Total rejected ballots ––
Turnout – %
Conservative hold Swing -0.8


Canadian federal election, 2006: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeDeepak Obhrai 26,766 67.10% +5.99% $79,928
LiberalDobie To 5,410 13.56% -7.71%
New DemocraticPatrick Arnell 4,338 10.87% +1.01% $2,762
GreenJ. Mark Taylor 2,955 7.41% +0.36% $1,910
CommunistJason Devine 239 0.60% -0.08% $279
Canadian ActionGhazanfar Khan 183 0.46% – $99
Total valid votes 39,890100.00%
Total rejected ballots 1810.45%
Turnout 40,07150.45%


Canadian federal election, 2004: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeDeepak Obhrai 21,897 61.11% -9.61% $55,864
LiberalJames Maxim 7,621 21.27% +0.81% $50,725
New DemocraticElizabeth Thomas 3,535 9.86% +5.55% $5,211
GreenDean Kenneth Christie 2,529 7.05% – $1,526
CommunistJason Devine 245 0.68% +0.14% $750
Total valid votes 35,827100.00%
Total rejected ballots 2070.57%
Turnout 36,03447.79%


Note: Conservative vote is compared to total of Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative vote in 2000.

Canadian federal election, 2000: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
AllianceDeepak Obhrai 18,141 54.25% +9.27% $50,082
LiberalDoug Perras 6,843 20.46% -2.34% $13,817
Progressive ConservativeRoger Richard 5,510 16.47% -8.15% $26,576
New DemocraticKaie Jones 1,444 4.31% -2.18% $4,528
MarijuanaGrant Adam Krieger 1,222 3.65% – $1,331
CommunistJason Devine 152 0.54% – $415
Natural LawNeeraj Varma 124 0.37% -0.73%
Total valid votes 33,436100.00%
Total rejected ballots 1180.35%
Turnout 33,55448.19%


Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to Reform vote in 1997.

Canadian federal election, 1997: Calgary East
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ReformDeepak Obhrai 13,348 44.98% – $47,624
Progressive ConservativeRoger Richard 7,306 24.62% -34.23% $40,312
LiberalNagah Hage 6,766 22.80% -0.77% $20,633
New DemocraticKaie Jones 1,926 6.49% -7.19% $6,993
Natural LawSanto Esposito 329 1.10% –
Total valid votes 29,675100.00%
Total rejected ballots 1750.59%
Turnout 29,85047.88%

References

  1. ↑ Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Website.
  2. ↑ http://www.voiceonline.com/deepak-obhrai-awarded-pride-of-india-award-for-fostering-indo-canadian-relations/
  3. ↑ Obhrai criticized as Tory incumbents avoid Calgary election debates.
  4. ↑ Cone of silence tightens on Tories
  5. ↑ Whitepages
  6. 1 2 Deepak Obhrai, the peacock of South Asian MPs
  7. 1 2 Deepak the elder
  8. ↑ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Calgary Forest Lawn (Validated results)". Elections Canada. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates

External links

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