Monday, December 22, 2025
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

    Ex-Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault To Remain In Jail Until At Least Tuesday

    Her lawyer, Marc Labelle, wanted to seek leave to appeal today, a day after Thibault was sentenced to 18 months in jail on fraud and breach of trust charges. 

    Ex-Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault To Remain In Jail Until At Least Tuesday

    Washouts, Damage To Homes Reported In New Brunswick After Major Downpour

    Washouts, Damage To Homes Reported In New Brunswick After Major Downpour
    The province's Emergency Measures Organization says the downpour Wednesday and early today damaged infrastructure and closed roads.

    Washouts, Damage To Homes Reported In New Brunswick After Major Downpour

    Marcel Aubut Steps Down As COC President As Sexual Harassment Investigation Begins

    Marcel Aubut Steps Down As COC President As Sexual Harassment Investigation Begins
    The COC received a complaint last Friday about Aubut and has retained Francois Rolland, former Chief Justice of the Quebec Superior Court, to head an independent investigation.

    Marcel Aubut Steps Down As COC President As Sexual Harassment Investigation Begins

    John Horgan, Christy Clark Spar Over Death Of Teen In Government Care

    Alex Gervais fell from a fourth-floor window of an Abbotsford hotel on Sept. 18, and children's representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond has said she believes he killed himself.

    John Horgan, Christy Clark Spar Over Death Of Teen In Government Care

    First Nations' Challenges Of Northern Gateway Pipeline To Be Heard In Court

    The challenges are expected to bring new scrutiny to the government's environmental approval process and its responsibility to consult with aboriginal groups.

    First Nations' Challenges Of Northern Gateway Pipeline To Be Heard In Court

    Premier Notley Says Trans Mountain Pipeline May Need New Terminal For Support

    Premier Notley Says Trans Mountain Pipeline May Need New Terminal For Support
    Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says Kinder Morgan Inc. may need to move the proposed terminal for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to win support for the project.

    Premier Notley Says Trans Mountain Pipeline May Need New Terminal For Support