Toronto, April 14: As Canada heads to the polls on April 28, a record 65 candidates of Punjabi origin are contesting in the federal election, marking a significant rise in the community’s political presence across the country.
These candidates, spanning all major federal parties—including the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, and Greens—as well as independents, are contesting from key provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba. The slate includes a mix of sitting Members of Parliament, newcomers, professionals, community leaders, and activists.
The surge in Punjabi representation reflects a broader trend of increasing South Asian political engagement in Canada. In the 2021 federal election, 45 Punjabi-origin candidates ran, with 17 securing seats in the House of Commons. In 2019, 47 contested and 22 were elected. This year, 16 incumbent MPs of Punjabi descent are seeking re-election.
Several high-profile figures are in the fray. Health Minister Kamal Khera is running again from Brampton West, while Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, is seeking re-election in Oakville. Former cabinet minister Bardish Chagger is back in the race from Waterloo, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is once again contesting Burnaby Central.
The Liberal Party has fielded a strong lineup, including Anju Dhillon (Dorval–Lachine–LaSalle), Ruby Sahota (Brampton North), Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South), Amarjeet Singh Sohi (Edmonton Southeast), Rahul Walia (Winnipeg Centre), George Chahal (Calgary McKnight), Randeep Sarai (Surrey Centre), and Sukh Dhaliwal (Surrey Newton).
The Conservative roster includes Gurmit Sandhu (Scarborough North), Tim Uppal (Edmonton Gateway), Jasraj Hallan (Calgary East), Taran Chahal (Brampton Centre), Dalwinder Gill (Calgary McKnight), Amanpreet S. Gill (Calgary Skyview), Rajvir Dhillon (Surrey Centre), and Harjit Singh Gill (Surrey Newton).
Newcomers such as Amandeep Sodhi in Brampton Centre and Rahul Walia in Winnipeg Centre are also making their electoral debut, buoyed by major party endorsements.
With campaign issues ranging from immigration and healthcare to economic reform and Canada’s foreign policy—especially relations with India and South Asia—Punjabi-origin candidates are engaging with a growing South Asian electorate.
“As proud Punjabi-Canadians, our community’s voice grows stronger in shaping Canada’s future,” said Gurpreet Singh, a community leader in Brampton. “With every federal election, we see greater participation—not just at the ballot box, but through candidacies, policy influence and building bridges between communities.”
Manpreet Kaur, a youth advocate from Surrey, added, “Punjabis have enriched Canada’s cultural and economic landscape for generations. Our rising engagement in federal politics reflects this legacy. Every vote we cast affirms our identity, our priorities and our vision for a more inclusive and representative Canada.”
