Tuesday, June 16, 2026
ADVT 
National

Punjabi Now Third Language In Canada's House Of Commons

Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 Nov, 2015 11:12 AM
    In total, 23 MPs of Indian-origin were elected after October 19 general elections. Three of the 23 MPs do not speak Punjabi, Hill Times online reported on Monday.
     
    Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau, who won from Papineau, Quebec constituency, will unveil his cabinet later this week. Some of Punjabi-speaking MPs are expected to be included in the Cabinet.
     
    Meanwhile, Navdeep Bains of Liberal Party said that the elected 20 Punjabi-speaking MPs represent all constituents regardless of their party affiliation or ethnic origin.
     
    "It speaks to our commitment to diversity and allowing individual to play an important role in our political institutions," Bains said.
     
     
    "The main issue to understand is that we have a very clear mandate to execute our platform and we also have a responsibility to represent our constituents, which are very diverse," he added.
     
    "The voice of the Indo-Canadian community will now be very well represented in the parliament. In the overall aspect of it, the South Asian community won," Deepak Obhrai of Conservative Party was quoted as saying.
     
    According to Statistics Canada's 2011 National Household Survey, 430,705 Canadians identified Punjabi as their mother tongue, making it the third most common language after English and French, the report in the daily said.
     
    The 430,705 native Punjabi speakers make up about 1.3 percent of Canada's population and the 20 Punjabi-speaking MPs represent almost six percent of the House of Commons, the report added.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Kathleen Wynne Says Final Cost Of Pan Am Games Not In Yet But Looks Under Budget

    TORONTO — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says it appears that this summer's Pan Am Games came in under budget, but the final numbers won't be known for up to a year.

    Kathleen Wynne Says Final Cost Of Pan Am Games Not In Yet But Looks Under Budget

    Ian Macdougall Of Calgary's Model Milk Wins Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship

    Ian Macdougall Of Calgary's Model Milk Wins Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship
    VANCOUVER — A Calgary chef has taken top prize in a national competition designed to help jump-start the careers of young chefs.

    Ian Macdougall Of Calgary's Model Milk Wins Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship

    Federal Leaders Prepare For Calgary Debate On Economy

    Federal Leaders Prepare For Calgary Debate On Economy
    Stephen Harper's rivals were busy defending the costs of their campaign promises on Wednesday, trying to bulletproof their platforms in advance of a leaders debate on the economy.

    Federal Leaders Prepare For Calgary Debate On Economy

    Second-Degree Murder Trial Of Dennis Oland Opens In New Brunswick

    Second-Degree Murder Trial Of Dennis Oland Opens In New Brunswick
    The Crown attorney has told the jury at Dennis Oland's murder trial that Oland's father, Richard, died after suffering 40 blows to the head and neck.

    Second-Degree Murder Trial Of Dennis Oland Opens In New Brunswick

    Seafarers Union Expands Court Fight Over Temporary Foreign Workers Program

    Seafarers Union Expands Court Fight Over Temporary Foreign Workers Program
    The union representing civilian sailors is expanding its legal fight over the temporary foreign workers program, naming two federal cabinet ministers in two additional lawsuits filed in the Federal Court.

    Seafarers Union Expands Court Fight Over Temporary Foreign Workers Program

    Hydrophones In B.C. River To Monitor Ship Noise In Effort To Help Whales

    Hydrophones In B.C. River To Monitor Ship Noise In Effort To Help Whales
    New hydrophones installed in 170 metres of water just off the mouth of British Columbia's Fraser River are expected to help researchers understand how shipping noise affects at-risk whales, says a project spokesman.

    Hydrophones In B.C. River To Monitor Ship Noise In Effort To Help Whales