Ontario MPP Harinder Malhi with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne after taking oath as cabinet minister.Harinder's father and former MP Gurbax Singh Malhi also seen in picture .
Toronto, Jan 18 , 2018 Harinder Malhi, the Indo-Canadian member of the Ontario provincial parliament and the mover of the 1984 genocide motion in the House last April, has been given a cabinet berth in the Ontario cabinet, making her the first-ever Sikh cabinet minister in the Canadian province.
The 38-year-old daughter of Canada's first turbaned MP Gurbax Singh Malhi was sworn in as Minister of the Status of Women here on Thursday.Malhi family belongs to village Chugha Kalan in Moga district of Punjab.
The decision by Premier Kathleen Wynne to elevate Malhi seems to have been taken with an eye to Sikh votes as Ontario goes to the polls in June.
Malhi represents the Punjabi-dominated 'riding' (or constituency) of Brampton-Springdale in the Ontario assembly, whose members are called MPPs or members of provincial parliament.
She joins another Indo-Canadian woman minister Dipika Damerla in the Ontario cabinet.
Interestingly, her elevation to the cabinet comes when two senior Sikh MPPs Amrit Mangat and Vic Dhillon have been ignored.
It is being speculated that because of her 1984 genocide motion, Malhi can help her Liberal Party retain Sikhs votes which may drift to the New Democratic Party (NDP) which has just elected Jagmeet Singh as its national leader. After her genocide resolution, many in the Sikh community view her as the champion of the cause in the community.
Her party may also benefit from her father and former MP's huge hold over Sikh voters.
Interestingly, as a member of the Ontario assembly, Jagmeet Singh too had introduced a similar motion on the anti-Sikh riots, but his motion failed. He was also denied a visa to India in 2013.
Brampton, on the outskirts of Toronto, has the second largest concentration of the Sikh community in Canada after Surrey in British Columbia.
Malhi's genocide motion in the Ontario assembly in April 2017 read: "That, in the opinion of this House... should reaffirm our commitment to the values we cherish -- justice, human rights and fairness -- and condemn all forms of communal violence, hatred, hostility, prejudice, racism and intolerance in India and anywhere else in the world, including the 1984 genocide perpetrated against the Sikhs throughout India, and call on all sides to embrace truth, justice and reconciliation."
The motion was passed by 34-5 votes in a House of 107 members.
Reacting strongly to it, India rejected it calling it a "misguided motion which is based on a limited understanding of India, its constitution, society, ethos, rule of law and the judicial process".
Related News Link:
1984 Genocide : Why didn’t the Akalis get resolution passed in Assembly or Parliament?
http://www.babushahi.com/tirchhinazar.php?oid=1075
More about Harinder Malhi
Harinder Malhi is the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Brampton-Springdale. She is the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Harinder sits on the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly and the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. Harinder has lived and worked in the Brampton area for the past 18 years and is very proud to call Brampton her home.
Community Involvement:
Harinder’s values and passion for civic engagement were inspired at an early age. Both she and her family have been involved at many levels of government which range from municipal, provincial and federal.
Before being elected to the Ontario Legislature, Harinder served as a School Trustee and represented Brampton Wards 9 and 10 for the Peel District School Board. She championed a strong educational system and helped build relationships between students, parents, staff and members of the community.
Harinder has also been actively involved in many community organizations. She volunteers and works with residents to collect donations for local shelters and food banks.
( With inputs from IANS )