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NRI to work for Indian immigrants
Liberal Dhalla says she will work for recognition of foreign credentials, a priority with immigrants from India.
Indian origin Liberal Ruby Dhalla, who is running for re-election to the Canadian parliament, says she will continue to work for recognition of foreign credentials - a top priority with new immigrants from India.
"What I have been passionate about in Ottawa is foreign credential recognition. To really ensure that Canadians coming from abroad, they get their credentials recognised, and they get accredited and they get integrated into the labour market workforce," Dhalla, a chiropractor from Brampton, told the agency in an interview.
"In June 2005, I put forward a motion in the House of Commons to create a secretariat, or a separate government department that would help individuals in coordinating and collaborating so that new immigrants can find work and get their qualifications recognised," she said.
But her fortunes may yet be dealt a blow by her opponent Sam Hundal, a Conservative, whose party leader Stephen Harper appears to have won some minorities to his side by being against same-sex marriage.
The Liberal Party's future is uncertain with years of fighting off scandals as elections draw near Jan 23.
And with the same sex issue coming to the fore nationally, Conservative Party's Harper has made sure to use his cache of South Asian MPs like Deepak Obhrai and Rahim Jaffer of Calgary, Alberta, to canvass around the country in minority areas.
Dhalla however argued that her popularity was not tied to the slipping public support for Liberals: "To be honest, it's quite different (locally).
"So what's happening nationally is not reflective at all in the riding."
She first came to national attention nearly two years ago when Prime Minister Paul Martin sought her out as a candidate from the Brampton-Springdale constituency in Greater Toronto Area (GTA), one that has a large population of Sikh and other Indian immigrants more prone to be conservative on social issues.
Dhalla counts her accomplishments that include a new state-of-the-art hospital for which she has been involved in fundraising and which is naming its emergency department the Guru Nanak Dev Ji Emergency Wing.
With a highly multicultural district, Dhalla says, she has set "a great example of how a new member of parliament who is on the backbench can really make a difference".
Dhalla is also vice chair of the Canada-US parliamentary association in Ottawa.
"And I have worked with the prime minister and with our minister of international trade to focus on some of our emerging markets. I've been to India twice this year, and met with several ministers that have visited Canada from India, to ensure that we have not only a trade relationships which will ensure our countries growth and prosperity, but also an independent foreign policy," said the young candidate.
She pointed to her work during the tsunami and well as the Pakistan-India earthquake. She strongly supported Martin, saying he had passion, commitment and conviction.
"Even if you look at other issues of emerging markets - like China and India. The majority of speeches that the prime minister has done when he focuses on foreign policies and when he focuses on our country potential and promise for the future, he mentions those countries."
A major part of her platform, as it is with others, is Canada's socialised healthcare that Liberals have tried to say is threatened by Harper.
"As an individual who has been a healthcare provider, I have seen first hand the challenges we have in our system and the difficulties that patients encounter when they are utilising our system. I have always been and will always continue to be a promoter and defender of a public healthcare system in this country. I think healthcare should be available to all Canadians, it should not be based on the pocketbook, on what you can afford and what you cannot," Dhalla insisted.
