Ottawa, April 29 — A record 22 Punjabi-origin candidates have won seats in Canada’s House of Commons following Tuesday’s federal election, making it the highest-ever representation of Punjabis in the country’s legislature.
The result came amid a dramatic turnaround for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party, which defied earlier projections of defeat to reclaim power.
Of the 65 Punjabi-Canadian candidates contesting this election, 22 emerged victorious—up from 18 in 2021 and 20 in 2019—further solidifying the community’s political influence.
Sixteen sitting MPs of Punjabi descent had sought re-election, with many ridings witnessing direct contests between Punjabi candidates.
In Brampton alone, candidates of Punjabi origin won all five seats. Liberal Ruby Sahota retained Brampton North, defeating Conservative Amandeep Judge, while Maninder Sidhu of the Liberals beat Conservative Bob Dosanjh in Brampton East.
Amandeep Sohi, also a Liberal, triumphed over Taran Chahal in Brampton Centre. On the other hand, the Conservatives captured Brampton South and Brampton West, where Sukhdeep Kang and Amarjeet Gill defeated Sonia Sidhu and cabinet minister Kamal Khera, respectively.
Among prominent Liberal winners of Punjabi heritage were Anita Anand (Oakville East), Bardish Chagger (Waterloo), Anju Dhillon (Dorval–Lachine), Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey Newton), Iqwinder Singh Gaheer (Mississauga–Malton), Randeep Sarai (Surrey Centre), Gurbax Saini (Fleetwood–Port Kells), and Param Bains (Richmond East–Steveston).
The Conservative bench will now include Punjabi-origin MPs such as Jasraj Hallan (Calgary East), Dalwinder Gill (Calgary McKnight), Amanpreet Gill (Calgary Skyview), Arpan Khanna (Oxford), Tim Uppal (Edmonton Gateway), Parm Gill (Milton East), Sukhman Gill (Abbotsford South–Langley), Jagsharan Singh Mahal (Edmonton Southeast), and Harb Gill (Windsor West).
However, it was a crushing night for Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and a vocal pro-Khalistan figure.
Singh lost his Burnaby Central seat in British Columbia, finishing third with less than 19% of the vote. The NDP, which had won 25 seats in 2021, is now projected to win just seven—falling short of the threshold to retain official party status.
The party’s national support also plunged by 12 points to just 6%.
Carney’s stunning rise followed a political landscape shift triggered by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. Just months ago, polls showed the Liberals trailing the Conservatives by over 20 points.
But Carney, known for steering the Bank of Canada through the 2008 financial crisis and the Bank of England during Brexit uncertainty, successfully campaigned as a steady economic hand capable of countering US President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and influence.
“Carney’s leadership brought a new credibility,” said a Liberal Party strategist. “He wasn’t carrying Trudeau’s baggage, and that made all the difference.”
While Carney’s Liberals are projected to form the government, they may fall just short of a majority, requiring alliances with smaller parties.
Still, the result is being viewed as one of the most remarkable political reversals in recent Canadian history.
