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Sikhs dominate Ethnic stake in
Canadian Elections
Jagmohan Singh/WSN Bureau
 With close to
two dozen out of the thirty Indian origin candidates, from the three
main contesting parties, Sikhs are making their presence felt like
never before in this third general election in last five years in
Canada.
The Liberals were the first to recognize the poll potential of the
Sikhs, the Conservatives are catching up and the New Democrats have
fielded the maximum number of candidates.
Gurbaksh Singh
Malhi, the first turbaned MP would be running for the sixth time
from Bramalea-Gore-Malton and in case if he wins and his party comes
to power, is likely to be a senior minister in the government.
Two-time MP Navdep Bains from Brampton-Springdale
also
likely to get a berth in government as his victory is certain in
this densely Punjabi populated constituency. Ditto is the case for
Ruby Dhalia in Mississauga-Brampton South just outside
Toronto. In the
South Asian dominated areas, where Sikhs are not in a position to
win, they are supporting candidates en bloc thereby expanding their
political bargaining position.
In
Brampton West, Sikhs are supporting Liberal party nominee Andrew
Kania.
In 2006, there
were ten Members of Parliament of Indian origin and Punjabi is the
fourth most common language in the country, with primacy in the
state of British Columbia.
In 1974, Bhai
Sahib Kapur Singh in a speech to the All Canada Sikh Federation had
said that the mosaic-pattern of Canadian society suited the Sikhs
the most. The Sikh Canadians have never looked back since. The
political climate of
Canada has
stifled the Sikhs in some ways, but on a larger canvas it has given
them the full freedom to practice and preach their religion, hold
their political and propagate their political perceptions and
beliefs -howsoever inconvenient that may have been to the Indian
government. Recognition of their historical contribution by setting
up heritage sites, seeking pardon for past wrongs and despite local
opinion against them, successive governments have opened more
immigration possibilities and rendered maximum respect to the faith
requirements of the community have all emboldened the Sikh Canadians
to participate in a big way in all Canadian elections, including the
present one.
The faith of the
Sikhs –from atheists to diehard religious individuals in the
Canadian system is the key for such massive participation in
Canadian elections. Cutting across party lines, Sikh politicians
have scored well with the Canadian population.
As this election
is the third in five years, there is a general indifference among
all Canadians. However, the participation of Punjabis is
overwhelming, prompting the national media of the country to take
notice and the Punjabis are adding their rich colours to the
beautiful Canadian autumn.
While continuing
their issue-based party political plank, the Sikh candidates in
Canada
are on the threshold of carrying out what Joyce Pettigrew termed as
the ‘paltibazi’ of the Sikh polity. With the plane-load of
politicians who are going to spend their autumn in Canada, helping
their candidates, the focus is likely to shift from issues to
personal contacts and relationships.
The vociferous
Punjab ishtyle campaigning is likely to take roots in Canada
this time around and whether that is good for the Sikh Canadians or
not only time will tell. Already, some Badal Dal politicians have
started to deny their intervention in the elections there,
particularly where one Sikh candidate is pitted against another.
The Resident
Punjabis wooing the Non- Resident Punjabis is perhaps out of a sense
of gratitude for the non-resident Punjabi money that pours in here
during the elections in
Punjab.
The NRPs have made
Punjab elections
go out of the reach of those who adhere to principles and
commitments. It is only a money game. Comparatively, less money is
spent in Canada elections. Well, only time will tell.
Just as
Canada has to be
French-friendly to keep Quebec and the Quebecois happy and to be
politically correct, in
British Columbia,
Punjabi language is so far a significant issue, what with board
signs, stickers in Punjabi and the use of Punjabi election
literature.
In a broader
perspective, South Asians are candidates for all political parties,
though the Greens have not attracted any Sikh candidates, or shall
we say it is the other way round as the issues, concerns and
adherent-type politics of the Greens unfortunately do not interest
them.
Some local
campaigners are worried that Asian candidates could sway these snap
elections and have derided all the parties for ‘ethnic pandering.’
While the average Canadian citizen adopting a couldn’t-care-less
approach and the ethnic communities go big, the nature and scale of
multiculturalism in
Canada is on
test. It seems that Prime Minister Stephen Harper knows this and his
election campaign are tailored accordingly.
The influx of
immigrants from
Eastern Europe
and erstwhile Russia has also added to the ethnic pre-dominance in
this general election.
An ethnic Jewish
leader, Mr. Faber commenting upon the Canadian election has said,
"Jewish people are like anybody else, maybe a little more so
political animals, and they will be moved based on how their issues
are being dealt with." With Punjabi likely to be recognized as an
official Canadian language, whichever party wins and substantially
increasing their presence in Parliament, Sikh Canadians will be
nearer to the Jewish political animals.
1 October 2008
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