Sukh Dhaliwal

Sukh Dhaliwal
MP
Member of Parliament
for Surrey Newton
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byJinny Sims
Member of Parliament
for Newton—North Delta
In office
January 23, 2006 – May 2, 2011
Preceded byGurmant Grewal
Succeeded byJinny Sims
Personal details
BornSukhminder Singh Dhaliwal
(1960-10-01) October 1, 1960
Sujapur, Punjab, India
PartyLiberal
United Surrey
SpouseBalwinder "Roni" Kaur Dhaliwal
ProfessionBusinessman, politician

Sukhminder "Sukh" Singh Dhaliwal MP (born October 1, 1960) is a Canadian businessman and politician, who has served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Surrey—Newton since 2015. He was previously the Member of Parliament for Newton—North Delta from 2006 to 2011.

Early life

Born to a Sikh family in Sujapur, Punjab, India, Dhaliwal emigrated from India in 1999 and became a Canadian citizen three years later. As a businessman, he co-founded a successful land surveying company and played an important role in the municipal politics of Surrey where he is said to have dominated the Surrey Electors Team membership list by signing up over 2,600 new party members. This represented over half the total number of members. However, in the November 1999 municipal elections, Dhaliwal lost his own bid for a seat on city council.

Federal politics

Dhaliwal was the federal Liberal candidate for the Newton-North Delta riding in 2004, but lost to Conservative Gurmant Grewal by just over 500 votes. Grewal decided to not seek re-election and, in 2006, Dhaliwal faced Conservative newcomer Phil Eidsvik. The NDP was also strong in the riding and 2004 candidate Nancy Clegg also ran again. Dhaliwal succeeded in winning the seat by exactly 1,000 votes.

In the 2006 Liberal leadership campaign, Dhaliwal initially indicated support for Joe Volpe, but soon moved to support Michael Ignatieff. Dhaliwal was instrumental in building support for Ignatieff's campaign in the Sikh community. Dhaliwal played a key role in Ignatieff's short-lived, but successful, second leadership campaign in 2008.

Dhaliwal in 2008 had written to a U.S. District Court judge on official House of Commons stationery in support of convicted international drug trafficker Ranjit Cheema.[1]

On October 14, 2008, Dhaliwal was re-elected to Parliament by nearly 2,500 votes. Following the election, Dhaliwal was elected as the Chair of the Northern and Western Caucus of the Liberal Party, and served as the critic for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Western Economic Diversification Canada.

Dhaliwal has served on several House of Commons Committees: International Trade; Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities; and Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. The Ethics Committee attracted high-profile attention when it investigated allegations surrounding Karlheinz Schreiber’s dealings with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

Dhaliwal lost his seat to Jinny Sims of the New Democratic Party in the 2011 federal election.

Dhaliwal was acclaimed as the candidate for the British Columbia Liberal Party for the 2013 provincial election. However, he later withdrew after he was charged with six counts of tax evasion related to a business he ran with his wife.[2][3] He pleaded guilty to three of the charges and was fined $3,000.[4]

In December 2014, Dhaliwal won the Liberal nomination in newly-formed riding of Surrey—Newton ahead of the 2015 election. He defeated NDP incumbent Jinny Sims and won the seat with 56 per cent of the vote.[5]

In 2021, in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre in India, 8 people died in a vehicle-ramming attack. Shaken by the video of the incident Dhaliwal called it a terror attack no different than London, Ontario truck attack.[6][7]

Dhaliwal endorsed Liberal Party of Canada leadership candidate Mark Carney on January 16, 2025.[8]

He was elected joint chair of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament in the 45th Canadian Parliament in 2025.

2024 controversies

In August 2024, Dhaliwal sponsored a petition calling on the government to order a new inquiry into the Air India bombing, a terror act perpetrated by Sikh extremists, which killed 329 people, most of them Canadians. The petition promotes a discredited theory that the Indian government, as opposed to Canadian Sikhs, was responsible for the bombing. Two Canadian public inquires held Sikh extremists responsible for the act, and Talwinder Singh Parmar as the mastermind, in addition the CSIS and RCMP investigated the possibility of Indian government agents provoking the attack, but have since discarded the theory.[9] The petition was drafted by Gurpreet Singh, a freelance journalist based in Surrey. Singh told The Globe and Mail that Dhaliwal's staff helped him draft and edit the petition.[10]

In December 2024, Dhaliwal attempted to introduce a motion in the House of Commons seeking recognition of the 1984 anti Sikh riots in India as a "genocide". Chandra Arya, among other MPs, called out "no" while Dhaliwal was reading the motion, denying it unanimous support. Arya accused Dhaliwal of threatening him on his way out of the Commons chamber after the motion failed.[11]

Electoral record

2025 Canadian federal election: Surrey Newton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal20,26349.45–4.98$114,030.03
ConservativeHarjit Singh Gill18,02343.99+28.77$103,027.94
New DemocraticRaj Singh Toor2,4676.02–20.06$11,159.06
CommunistSalman Zafar2220.54–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,97599.06–$120,300.63
Total rejected ballots 3870.94–0.16
Turnout 41,36263.66+7.56
Eligible voters 64,971
Liberal notional hold Swing –16.88
Source: Elections Canada[12][13]
2022 Surrey mayoral election
Party Mayoral candidate Vote %
  Surrey ConnectBrenda Locke33,31128.14
  Safe Surrey CoalitionDoug McCallum (X)32,33827.31
  Surrey FirstGordie Hogg24,91621.05
  Surrey ForwardJinny Sims14,89512.58
  United SurreySukh Dhaliwal9,6298.13
  People's Council SurreyAmrit Birring2,2701.92
  IndependentJohn Wolanski6460.55
  IndependentKuldip Pelia3850.33
2021 Canadian federal election: Surrey—Newton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal19,72153.87+8.83$95,083.75
New DemocraticAvneet Johal9,53626.05–3.18$22,609.98
ConservativeSyed Mohsin5,75815.73–5.23$10,627.85
People'sPamela Singh9672.64+1.09$1,484.10
IndependentParveer Hundal6281.72–$7,216.08
Total valid votes/expense limit 36,61098.91–$104,887.75
Total rejected ballots 4041.09–0.09
Turnout 37,01456.10–6.77
Eligible voters 65,973
Liberal hold Swing +6.01
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]
2019 Canadian federal election: Surrey—Newton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal18,96045.04–10.94$90,758.68
New DemocraticHarjit Singh Gill12,30629.23+3.12$97,110.63
ConservativeHarpreet Singh8,82420.96+5.25$104,840.23
GreenRabaab Khehra1,3553.22+1.02none listed
People'sHolly Verchère6531.55–$896.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 42,09898.81–$102,264.49
Total rejected ballots 5051.19+0.45
Turnout 42,60362.87–4.98
Eligible voters 67,763
Liberal hold Swing –7.03
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]
2015 Canadian federal election: Surrey—Newton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal24,86955.98+21.90$165,127.94
New DemocraticJinny Sims11,60226.12–9.17$121,583.62
ConservativeHarpreet Singh6,97815.71–11.71$89,371.95
GreenPamela Sangha9752.19–0.40none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,42499.27–$199,113.86
Total rejected ballots 3280.73–
Turnout 44,75267.85–
Eligible voters 65,954
Liberal notional gain from New Democratic Swing +15.54
Source: Elections Canada[18][19]
2011 Canadian federal election: Newton—North Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJinny Sims15,41333.42+7.29$77,719.25
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal14,51031.46–4.96$74,338.64
ConservativeMani Fallon14,43731.30+0.39$75,595.27
GreenLiz Walker1,5203.30–2.30none listed
IndependentRavi S. Gill1230.27–$5,095.65
CommunistSamuel Frank Hammond1160.25–0.02$306.07
Total valid votes/expense limit 46,11999.37–$85,439.40
Total rejected ballots 2940.63+0.07
Turnout 46,41361.45–0.62
Eligible voters 75,535
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +5.79
Source: Elections Canada[20][21]
2008 Canadian federal election: Newton—North Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal16,48136.42+2.17$81,327.89
ConservativeSandeep Pandher13,98830.91+0.29$78,520.57
New DemocraticTeresa Townsley11,82426.13–5.83$40,898.10
GreenLiz Walker2,5335.60+3.65$2,243.32
IndependentJames William Miller-Cousineau1790.40–none listed
IndependentJohn Shavluk1260.28–none listed
CommunistHarjit Daudharia1210.27+0.01$377.54
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,25299.44–$81,605.45
Total rejected ballots 2550.56+0.16
Turnout 45,50762.07–1.02
Eligible voters 73,317
Liberal hold Swing +4.00
Source: Elections Canada[22][23]
2006 Canadian federal election: Newton—North Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal15,00634.25+2.69$67,987.74
New DemocraticNancy Clegg14,00631.96+2.77$49,197.21
ConservativePhil Eidsvik13,41630.62–2.20$72,801.42
GreenSunny Athwal8531.95–4.25$12,580.23
IndependentRob Girn3190.73–none listed
CommunistHarjit Daudharia1120.26+0.02$379.38
IndependentMike Saifie1060.24–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 43,81899.60–$75,124.92
Total rejected ballots 1740.40–0.13
Turnout 43,99263.09+0.10
Eligible voters 69,725
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +2.45
Source: Elections Canada[24][25]
2004 Canadian federal election: Newton—North Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGurmant Grewal13,52932.82–$72,183.08
LiberalSukh Dhaliwal13,00931.55–$64,235.28
New DemocraticNancy Clegg12,03729.20–$24,563.59
GreenJohn Hague2,5556.20–$2,736.63
CommunistNazir Rizvi980.24–$389.84
Total valid votes/expense limit 41,22899.48–$72,282.76
Total rejected ballots 2160.52–
Turnout 41,44462.99–
Eligible voters 65,794
Source: Elections Canada[26][27][28]

References

  1. ↑ "SurreyRanjit MPCheema wrotegunned letter in support of drug traffickerdown". Canada.com. Archived from the original on 10 December 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  2. ↑ Bolan, Kim (February 7, 2013). "B.C. Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal faces tax-evasion charges". Global News. Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ "B.C. Liberal candidate steps down over tax charges". CBC News. February 8, 2024. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ Zytaruk, Tom (March 11, 2024). "Former Surrey MP and wife fined after pleading guilty to tax charges". Surrey Now-Leader. Surrey, British Columbia. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  5. ↑ Eagland, Nick (October 20, 2015). "Surrey-Newton: Sukh Dhaliwal takes new seat for Liberals". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  6. ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Sidhu skips party's Amritsar protest over Lakhimpur killings". Tribuneindia News Service. Archived from the original on October 12, 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  7. ↑ "Gurpreet Singh: Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal describes Lakhimpur Kheri episode as a "terrorist attack"". The Georgia Straight. 10 October 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "Connect FM - Two BC Punjabi Liberal MPs Endorse Mark Carney for Leader". connectfm.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  9. ↑ "Liberal MP sponsors petition to open a new Air India bombing investigation". The Globe and Mail. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  10. ↑ "Liberal MP sponsors petition to open a new Air India bombing investigation". The Globe and Mail. 2024-08-27. Retrieved 2024-09-08.
  11. ↑ Major, Darren. "Liberal MP accuses fellow caucus member of threatening him in the House of Commons". CBC.
  12. ↑ "Forty-Fifth General Election 2025 — Poll-by-poll Results: Surrey Newton". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2025.
  13. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2025 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  14. ↑ "Forty-Fourth General Election 2021 — Poll-by-poll Results: Surrey—Newton". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2021.
  15. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2021). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2021 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  16. ↑ "Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll Results: Surrey—Newton". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2019.
  17. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2019). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2019 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  18. ↑ "Forty-Second General Election 2015 — Poll-by-poll Results: Surrey—Newton". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2015.
  19. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2015). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2015 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  20. ↑ "Forty-First General Election 2011 — Poll-by-poll Results: Newton—North Delta". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2011.
  21. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2011). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2011 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  22. ↑ "Fortieth General Election 2008 — Poll-by-poll Results: Newton—North Delta". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2008.
  23. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2008). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2008 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  24. ↑ "Thirty-Ninth General Election 2006 — Poll-by-poll Results: Newton—North Delta". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2006.
  25. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2006). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2006 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  26. ↑ Canada, Library of Parliament (2026). "Elections and Ridings: Newton--North Delta, British Columbia (2004)". lop.parl.ca.
  27. ↑ "Thirty-Eighth General Election 2004 — Poll-by-poll Results: Newton—North Delta". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2004.
  28. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2004). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2004 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
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