Gurbax Singh Malhi

The Honourable
Gurbax Singh Malhi
ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ
P.C.
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Bramalea—Gore—Malton
In office
1993–2011
Preceded by Harry Chadwick
Succeeded by Bal Gosal
Personal details
Born ( 1949-10-12) October 12, 1949
Chugha Kalan, India
Political party Liberal Party of Canada
Spouse(s) Devinder Malhi
Children Harinder Malhi
Gurinder Malhi
Residence Brampton, Ontario
Profession Realtor
Website gurbaxsinghmalhi.liberal.ca

Gurbax Singh Malhi (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੱਲ੍ਹੀ) PC, (born October 12, 1949) is an Indian Canadian politician. He was the first ever turbaned politician to be elected anywhere in the western world.[1] A Liberal, he was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Bramalea—Gore—Malton in 1993, and served as its representative in the House of Commons for 18 consecutive years. In the 2011 election, he was defeated by Conservative candidate Bal Gosal.

Member of Parliament

Malhi was first elected to the House of Commons in the federal election of 1993, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent Harry Chadwick and Reformer Darlene Florence in Bramalea-Gore-Malton. Prior to 1993, Canadian law prohibited members of Parliament from wearing headgear of any sort in the House of Commons. Malhi's insistence on wearing a turban caused the law to be changed shortly after the election.

Malhi was re-elected in the 1997 election over Reform candidate Darlene Florence and Progressive Conservative candidate Beryl Ford. He was re-elected with the greatest majority of his career in the 2000 federal election over Canadian Alliance candidate Gurdish Mangat and Progressive Conservative candidate Danny Varaich. He was re-elected again with a significant plurality over Conservative Raminder Singh Gill in the 2004 election, despite the fact that his riding was a key Conservative target. In the 2006 federal election, Malhi was elected over Conservative candidate John Sprovieri and New Democrat candidate Cesar Martello. Malhi was elected for the sixth time in the 2008 election over Conservative candidate Stella Ambler and New Democrat candidate Jash Puniya.

In 2002, he became the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for his commitment and contributions to Canadian society. In 2003, he was appointed for life to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Gurbax Singh Malhi served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour from 2001 to 2003. From 2003 to 2004, Malhi served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry with special emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians. In 2004 he was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and he served in this capacity until 2005. In 2005, Gurbax Singh Malhi also acted as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal. From 2005 to 2006, he also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue.

Malhi sat on, and has served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament. He has also served as member of the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations and the Standing Committees on: Industry, Science and Technology; Citizenship and Immigration; Industry; Justice and Human Rights; Government Operations; Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities; Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities; Procedure and House Affairs.

He has also served as a member of the following subcommittees: Human Rights and International Development of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Business of Supply of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs; Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament; Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Malhi was the member of the following Parliamentary Associations: Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association, Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, Canada-China Legislative Association, Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Association, and the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. He has been a member of the following Friendship groups: Canada-Germany, Canada-Israel, and Canada-Italy. Malhi is also the founder of the Canada-South Asian Friendship Group.

During the 2014 Ontario general election, he campaigned for his daughter Harinder Malhi, who contested and won the seat for Brampton—Springdale for the Ontario Liberal Party, becoming a Member of Provincial Parliament in the 41st Legislative Assembly of Ontario.[2]

Electoral record

Bramalea—Gore—Malton

Canadian federal election, 2011
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
ConservativeBaljit (Bal) Gosal 19,907 34.44% -2.68% –
New DemocraticJagmeet Singh Dhaliwal 19,368 33.51% +24.49% –
LiberalGurbax Singh Malhi 16,402 29.40% -15.65% –
GreenJohn Moulton 1,748 3.02% -2.14% –
Marxist–LeninistFrank Chilelli 371 0.64% +0.02%
Total valid votes 57,796100.00%–
Total rejected ballots –––
Turnout ––––

Source: Elections Canada

Canadian federal election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalGurbax Malhi 22,214 45.0% -5.7% $85,496
ConservativeStella Ambler 18,350 37.2% +4.6% $91,704
New DemocraticJash Puniya 5,935 12.0% -0.8% $21,613
GreenMark Pajot 2,545 5.2% +1.8% $869
Marxist–LeninistFrank Chilelli 309 0.6% +0.1%
Total valid votes/Expense limit 29,353 100.0% $97,671
Canadian federal election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGurbax Malhi 25,349 50.7% +1.2%
ConservativeJohn Sprovieri 16,310 32.6% +2.0%
New DemocraticCesar Martello 6,400 12.8% -2.1%
GreenErnst Braendli 1,721 3.4% -1.1%
Marxist–LeninistFrank Chilelli 233 0.5% -0.1%
Total valid votes 50,013100.0%
Canadian federal election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGurbax Malhi 20,394 49.5% -7.5%
ConservativeRaminder Gill 12,594 30.6% -3.9%
New DemocraticFernando Miranda 6,113 14.95% 10.0%
GreenSharleen McDowall 1,832 4.5%
Marxist–LeninistFrank Chilelli 237 0.6% -0.1%
Total valid votes 41,170100.0%

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

Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale

Canadian federal election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGurbax Malhi 21,917 57.1% +10.7%
AllianceGurdish Mangat 7,214 18.8% -2.5%
Progressive ConservativeDanny Varaich 6,019 15.7% -10.4%
New DemocraticVishnu Roche 1,864 4.9% -0.7%
IndependentGurinder Malhi 783 2.0%
CommunistJim R. Bridgewood 350 0.9%
Marxist–LeninistDavid Greig 269 0.7% 0.0%
Total valid votes 38,416 100.0%

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

Bramalea—Gore—Malton

Canadian federal election, 1997
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGurbax Malhi 18,933 46.4% +3.5%
Progressive ConservativeBeryl Ford 10,655 26.1% +7.1%
ReformDarlene Florence 8,685 21.3% -8.2%
New DemocraticAbdul Majeed 2,281 5.6% +0.5%
Marxist–LeninistPhilip Fernandez 279 0.7% +0.5%
Total valid votes 40,833100.0%
Canadian federal election, 1993
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalGurbax Malhi 16,530 42.9% +8.5%
ReformDarlene Florence 11,376 29.5%
Progressive ConservativeHarry Chadwick 7,338 19.0% -22.5%
New DemocraticPaul Ledgister 1,977 5.1% -17.3%
NationalJack Ardis 480 1.2%
Natural LawBill Davies 279 0.7%
IndependentJohn E. Maxwell 261 0.7%
GreenBill Emms 215 0.6%
Marxist–LeninistIqbai Sumbal 89 0.2% -0.1%
Total valid votes 38,545100.0%

Note that all electoral information is taken from Elections Canada.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nriinternet.com/NRIpoliticians/CANADA/Ontario/Malhi/00_BIOGRAPHY.htm Gurbax Malhi M.P., NRIinternet.com.
  2. ↑ Grewal, Sam (12 June 2014). "Liberal candidate Harinder Malhi wins Brampton-Springdale". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
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