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Ruby Dhalla by Deep Dhillon from

20 Most Famous Indian Canadian Politicians

The Indian Canadian community has made an indelible mark in Canada’s political space. They have gone beyond limitations to champion a favorable political environment for all Canadians.

Moreover, they have proven service to their society at both provincial and federal political levels. The likes of Jagmeet Singh have climbed up the political ladder to lead a federal political party. Harjit Sajjan is respected for serving as a minister in Canada’s crucial departments like National Defence.

To add on, Ruby Dhalla is celebrated as one of the first Sikh women to serve in the House of Commons. Many more Indian Canadian politicians stand out for their remarkable contributions to Canada’s politics. Take a look.

Here are the 20 Most Famous Indian Canadian Politicians.

1. Harjit Sajjan

The Indian Canadian politician Sajjan is acclaimed for serving under different ministerial dockets. He was selected to head the Ministry of International Development starting in October 2021. He served as Minister of National Defence from 2015 until 2021. Also in 2019, he was in an acting capacity as the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Sajjan is a member of the Liberal Party. Further, he represents Vancouver South as their member of parliament in the House of Commons. He has held the position since October 19, 2015.

Before joining politics, Harjit worked in the Canadian Army. He was born on September 6, 1970, in India but moved with his family to Canada when he was a child.

Check out, Influential Canadian Politicians.

2. Jagmeet Singh

Jagmeet Singh by Yvonne Bambrick from

This Indian Canadian politician was born in Ontario, Canada on January 2, 1979. His parents are both of Indian descent. Singh is renowned as the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP). He was elected by party members to the position in 2017.

Furthermore, he joined politics in 2011. During that year, he was elected to represent the district of Bramalea—Gore—Malton. Thus served as their representative in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

From 2015 to 2017, Jagmeet served as Ontario’s New Democratic Party deputy leader. On October 1, 2017, he was elected the party leader of the New Democratic Party. In 2019 he took office as Burnaby South’s member of parliament (MP). He has held the position since then.

3. Ruby Dhalla

Dhalla is an Indian Canadian politician famed for serving in the House of Commons of Canada from 2004 until 2011. She was the Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale during that period.

Moreover, she lost her parliamentary seat following the 2011 federal election. Yet she left a mark as one of the first Sikh women to be elected into the country’s parliamentary house. She was born to Indian immigrants in Canada’s Manitoba province on February 18, 1974.

4. Ujjal Dosanjh

Ujjal Dosanjh in 2011 by Dave Chan from

The Indian Canadian politician is a lawyer by profession. He is celebrated as a vocal champion against violence and extremism. His highest position in the Canadian federal government was his 2004 to 2006 position as the Minister of Health.

On top of that, Dosanjh served in provincial politics for at least ten years. He was the Attorney General of British Columbia from 1995 to 2000. He was also the Vancouver South Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011. He was born on September 9, 1947, in India and relocated to the UK in his teenage years. Then later moved to Canada.

5. Navdeep Bains

He is appreciated for his role as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry. He held this position from 2015 to 2021 and steered R&D (Research and Development) in the country.

To add on, his other political positions ever held include Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Brampton South from 2004 to 2011. Also, as House of Commons representative for Mississauga—Malton from 2015 to 2021.

Starting in September 2021, he moved to the banking sector. He is the Vice-Chair of the CIBC(Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce). He was born on June 16, 1977, in Ontario to parents of Indian heritage.

6. Sukh Dhaliwal

Sukh Dhaliwal by an unknown author from

Dhaliwal was born in India on October 1, 1960, but immigrated to Canada in 1999 where he became a citizen a few years later. The politician also doubles as a businessman.

He is popular in Canada’s political space because of his position as a member of parliament. From 2006 to 2011, he was the Newton—North Delta representative in the House of Commons. Since 2015, he is the Surrey—Newton Member of Parliament.

7. Nina Grewal

She became famous as an Indian Canadian politician during her term in office as the Fleetwood—Port Kells, Member of Parliament. She served in the position from 2004 until 2015.

Moreover, as a Conservative Party member, she lost her seat during the 2015 federal election to a candidate from the Liberal party. Grewal was born in Japan on 20 October 1958. She lived in Liberia for a while with her husband then relocated to Canada.

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8. Ramesh Sangha

Ramesh Sangha by ABP Sanjha from

He is famous in Canadian politics because he served as the Brampton Centre Member of Parliament from 2015 to 2021. He was first elected to the position during the 2015 federal elections. He defended his seat through re-election in 2019.

Over and above that, his political popularity increased due to political allegations against him in 2021. He was denounced by the Liberal party due to the same on January 25, 2021. Sangha was born on June 6, 1945, in India.

9. Sandhu Jasbir

In the Canadian political scene, he is famed for serving as the Surrey North representative in the House of Commons. He held this position from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure, he is remembered for his oppositional criticism of projects like the Asia-Pacific Gateway as well as Public Safety.

As a New Democratic Party member, he sought re-election during the 2015 federal elections but lost to the Liberal party candidate. He was born in India on April 21, 1966. He immigrated with his family to Canada when he was a child.

10. Gurbax Malhi

Malhi is acknowledged for his long service to the people of the Bramalea—Gore—Malton district. He served as their representative in the House of Commons from 1993 until 2011. A period spanning about 18 years.

What’s more, he was one of the first turban-wearing Sikhs to the Canadian Parliament which set him apart from his colleagues. He was born on 12 October 1949 in India. Malhi belongs to the Liberal party.

11. Kamal Khera

Kamal Khera by TAG TV from

Khera has built a political name in Canadian politics in different capacities. She assumed office as the Minister of Seniors on October 26, 2021.

Before she was appointed minister, she served as parliamentary secretary to various ministers. Such as the Minister of International Development (2018 to 2021), National Revenue (2017-2018), and Health (2015-2017).  She is affiliated with the Liberal Party and is the House of Commons representative of Brampton West since 2015.

12. Maninder Sidhu

Maninder Sidhu by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from

As an Indian Canadian politician, he has served as the Brampton East Member of Parliament since 2019. He was re-elected to his seat following the 2021 federal elections.

Further, in March 2021 he was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development. Sidhu has also served on various parliamentary committees. Such as the Committee on Natural Resources and the Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities Committee.

He is affiliated with several parliamentary associations like the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association. He is also a member of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association. He was born on 26 April 1984.

13. Bal Gosal

In Canadian politics, Gosal is noted for serving as a member of the House of Commons. He was the representative of the Bramalea—Gore—Malton district from 2011 to 2015.

During his parliamentary tenure, he was appointed as the Minister of State for Sport. He led the sports docket from 2011 until 2015. He lost his parliamentary seat after the 2015 federal elections. Bal was born on May 4, 1960, in India and moved to Canada in 1981.

14. Ruby Sahota

Ruby Sahota by Tristan Lamonica from

This Indian Canadian female politician was elected as the Member of Parliament for Brampton North in 2015. She has served in the position since then. Before joining politics, she practiced law so she is a lawyer by profession. She was born in Toronto in the late 1970s to parents of Indian descent.

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15. Jody Wilson

This politician is popular by the initials JWR. They stand for her official name Jody Wilson-Raybould. She is a lawyer by profession but she has served in different political capacities. She was the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville from 2015 to 2021.

On top of that, she served as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2015 to 2019. Also, in 2019, Wilson led briefly as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister for National Defense. She has authored a political memoir published in 2021. She was born on March 23, 1971, in British Columbia.

16. Parm Gill

Parm Gill by Legislative Assembly of Ontario from

Gill has served in both federal and provincial political responsibilities in Canada. From 2011 to 2015, he was the Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale district.

In his parliamentary term, he secured a few parliamentary secretary positions. They include the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Minister of International Trade.

Afterward, Parm joined provincial politics. Thus he has served in Ontario’s Provincial Parliament representing Milton district since 2018. He has also been the Ontario Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism from 2021 to 2022.

In June 2022 he took office as the Minister of Red Tape Reduction in Ontario. He was born on May 17, 1974, in India and his family moved to Canada during his childhood.

17. Anju Dhillon

She grew up in Montreal, Canada. She was born on 1 January 1979 to parents of Indian origin. Since 2015, she has served as the Member of Parliament for Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle. To add on, from 2015 to 2017, she served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Status of Women.

18. Raj Grewal

This Indian Canadian politician rose to the political limelight when he won the 2015 Brampton East Member of Parliament seat. Hence he was in the parliamentary office until 2019.

Grewal didn’t seek reelection in the 2019 federal elections. Besides that, towards the end of his service, he resigned due to police investigations into his outstanding gambling debts.

Subsequently, in 2020 he was charged with fraud and breach of trust following the allegations. He was born on September 11, 1985, in Alberta, Canada to parents of Indian heritage.

19. Raminder Gill

The Canadian politician came to the spotlight when he served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He held the responsibility from 1999 to 2003. He has sought office in the House of Commons on a few occasions without success.

Other than politics, Raminder is a professional chemical engineer. He is credited with the invention of “The Alternative Bleach, ” an environment-friendly product. He was born in 1950/51 in India but relocated to Canada.

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20. Harry Bains

Harry Bains by the British Columbia New Democratic Party from

He is known for his political service in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. He is a member of the same since May 2005 representing the Surrey-Newton district. Beginning in July 2017, he was chosen as the Minister of Labour of British Columbia. He was born in 1951/52.

These Indian Canadian politicians are a testament to the inclusivity and diversity of Canadian political space. The politicians have changed their society and set footprints for other aspiring Indian Canadians to rise to political ranks in Canada. They are trailblazers and as such have left a legacy for generations.