Friday, June 19, 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

    B.C. Asks For Tougher Regulations After Drones Hamper Wildfire Fight

    B.C. Asks For Tougher Regulations After Drones Hamper Wildfire Fight
    VANCOUVER — British Columbia is getting tough on drones after unmanned aerial vehicles grounded aircraft fighting wildfires this summer.

    B.C. Asks For Tougher Regulations After Drones Hamper Wildfire Fight

    Indian-American Academics Spar Over Narendra Modi Visit To Silicon Valley

    Indian-American Academics Spar Over Narendra Modi Visit To Silicon Valley
    Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Silicon Valley, a war of words has broken out between pro and anti Modi academics of Indian descent spread over major American universities.

    Indian-American Academics Spar Over Narendra Modi Visit To Silicon Valley

    Step Up Efforts On Syrian Refugees, Groups Urge Canadian Government

    Step Up Efforts On Syrian Refugees, Groups Urge Canadian Government
    OTTAWA — Pressure is mounting on the federal government to ease paperwork barriers and boost resources to help Syrian refugees settle in Canada.

    Step Up Efforts On Syrian Refugees, Groups Urge Canadian Government

    Canada Added 12,000 Jobs In August, Unemployment Rate Increases To 7.0 Per Cent

    Canada Added 12,000 Jobs In August, Unemployment Rate Increases To 7.0 Per Cent
    Signs that Canada's economy is beginning to pick up following a sluggish start to the year grew brighter Friday as Statistics Canada said the country added 12,000 jobs in August.

    Canada Added 12,000 Jobs In August, Unemployment Rate Increases To 7.0 Per Cent

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds
    MONTREAL — SkyGreece Airlines has filed for creditor protection in Canada, a week after halting operations and standing hundreds of passengers.

    SkyGreece Files For Protection After Halting Operations, Stranding Hundreds

    Police Officer's Role In Premier Paul Davis Ad Raises Questions Of Rights, Restrictions

    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The uproar this week over a police inspector's role in an online video endorsing the Newfoundland and Labrador premier is raising questions about rights and acceptable restrictions.

    Police Officer's Role In Premier Paul Davis Ad Raises Questions Of Rights, Restrictions