From five-timers to the youngest in this term, Punjabis shine in Canadian polls
As many as 22 Punjabis have been elected to Canada’s Parliament. Declared yesterday, the results, have given a boost to Punjabi diaspora in Canada and their increasing role in politics there.
Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Anita Anand (Liberal), who retained the riding of Oakville East comfortably, is expected to feature in a prominent position in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new Cabinet. Anand had initially withdrawn from the race but was convinced to contest.
Conservative candidate Tim Uppal held onto his seat from Edmonton Gateway. A former Federal Minister under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Uppal is the first turbaned Sikh to be appointed in the Canadian Cabinet. Previously, he lost in Edmonton Mill Woods in 2015 but regained it in 2019, 2021 and now in 2025. He also served as deputy leader of the Conservative Party since 2021. Prior to joining politics, he was a banker and host of a radio show.
Former minister Bardish Chagger won from her Waterloo seat for the fourth time. First she won in 2015, followed by 2019, 2021 and now.
Sukh Dhaliwal of Liberal party has won from Surrey-Newton for the fifth time successively. He previously served as the Member of Parliament for Newton-North Delta from 2006-2011.
Anju Dhillon, a lawyer, became the first Indo-Canadian to win a seat thrice in the French-speaking province of Quebec. She is also a certified mediator in civil, commercial and employment law. In 2015, she was elected Member of Parliament and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Status of Women and has subsequently served in various portfolios and committees.
Randeep Sarai has won for the fourth time from Surrey Centre seat. He said, “It’s pretty exciting, getting a fourth mandate from Surrey Centre. I feel much honoured that the residents of Surrey elected me again."
Sarai said his first step will be to tackle what he’s been hearing from the riding’s constituents about US tariffs and affordability.
Maninder Sidhu, a 41-year-old entrepreneur and philanthropist, has won for the third time on Liberal party ticket from Brampton East. He first won in 2019, 2021 and 2025. Sidhu has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
Sonia Sidhu, who has been representing Brampton South seat since 2015, has been able to retain her seat for the fourth time. Before politics, she worked for over 18 years in the healthcare field as a diabetes educator and research coordinator.
Ruby Sahota from Liberal party has also won for the fourth time as MP from Brampton North. She is representing the seat since 2015. Her father was the Chairman of the Ontario Sikhs and Gurdwara Council.
Iqwinder Singh Gaheer has won for the second term from Mississauga — Malton. Gaheer went on to attend Harvard Law School from 2016 to 2019, where he served as Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Human Rights Journal.
Parm Bains, a former media and public relations officer and instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, was first elected to Parliament in 2021 and has been able to retain his seat from Steveston-Richmond East.
Dalwinder Gill, Conservative candidate, has defeated sitting Liberal MP George Chahal from Calgary Mcknight seat. Gill has worked in realty sector for 21 years in Canada.
Moga’s Amanpreet Singh Gill, former president of Gurdwara Dasmesh Culture Centre Calgary, has become a Member of Parliament for the first time from the Calgary Skyview constituency.
Conservative candidate from Brampton West Amarjeet Gill, a businessman, has defeated sitting minister Kamal Khera.
A seven-time city councillor in Williams Lake, Gurbax Saini won for the first time from Fleetwood-Port Kells seat. He migrated from Punjab in 1970 with just $8 in hand.
Parm Gill, (Conservative) has won from Milton East seat. Earlier, he was MLA in Ontario Assembly; from 2011-2015 term he represented Brampton-Springdale; then in 2015 he lost in federal polls. Later, he won from Milton seat in 2018 Assembly polls; and in 2021 he was made Minister in Provincial Assembly.
Similarly, Harb Gill, Conservative candidate, who is a retired police officer, has defeated a seasoned NDP sitting MP Brian Masse from Windsor West.
Arpan Khanna, Conservative candidate, a lawyer by profession, has been able to retain his Oxford seat.
A former builder, Jasraj Singh Hallan, entered Parliament in 2019 and has since been a prominent Conservative voice. He has able to retain his seat and won for second term from Calgary East.
A 25-year-old Sukhman Gill, Conservative candidate, who hails from Moga district in Punjab, has won from Abbotsford-South Langley seat.
Jagsharan Singh Mahal, a lawyer by profession and Conservative candidate, has defeated a heavyweight sitting Edmonton Mayor and seasoned leader Amarjeet Sohi from Edmonton Southwest.
Liberal candidate, Amandeep Sodhi (23), has won from Brampton Centre and is the youngest MP in Canada in this term. Currently, she was working as a legal assistant at a family law firm.
Punjab