Gurbax Singh Malhi

Background

Gurbax Singh Malhi was born in Chugha Kalan, Moga district in Punjab, India on 12 October 1949, to a family of Sikh farmers. He completed his education at Punjab University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, English and History. Notably, he was the editor of his college’s student magazine’s English-language section.

In the 1960s, while still in India, Malhi began actively participating in politics at the municipal and state levels. A trend that would continue when he moved his family to Canada and quickly became known for were his altruism and willingness to lend a hand. (See also Immigration to Canada.)

Between 1975 and 1993, he started working in the manufacturing industry. Later on, he worked as a real estate agent.

Malhi is currently based in Brampton, Ontario. His family includes his wife, son and daughter.

Political Career

A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Gurbax Singh Malhi was first elected to the House of Commons during the 1993 federal election. He defeated the Progressive Conservative incumbent, Harry Chadwick, in the Peel Region riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton.

In 1993, Malhi’s insistence on wearing the turban led to a change in Canadian laws which earlier prohibited any sort of headgear for members of Parliament in the House of Commons.

In the 1997 election, he was re-elected with 46.4 per cent of votes. He would then go on to win the largest majority of his career in the 2000 federal elections with a majority of over 57.1 per cent of votes. Despite his riding being a key Conservative target, he was re-elected in 2004 again with a plurality of 49.5 per cent votes over the Conservative candidate Raminder Singh Gill. Malhi was again re-elected in 2006 and 2008.

Malhi occupied a number of notable parliamentary positions. From 2001 to 2003, he served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Labour. Then, from 2003 to 2004, he acted as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of Industry with special emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians. In 2004, he became parliamentary secretary to the minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. He took on an additional responsibility as the parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for Democratic Renewal in 2005. He then served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of National Revenue from 2005 to 2006.

In 2002, he travelled to India with then Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and a parliamentary delegation to inaugurate the first Canadian consulate in Chandigarh.

In 2005, Malhi was 1 of 32 Liberal Party members who voted against the Civil Marriage Act which aimed to legalize same-sex marriage. His position was in opposition to the Liberal government’s positive stance on the topic. During a House of Commons debate, Malhi encouraged MPs to vote toward maintaining the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman “in keeping with the natural law and in conformity with God’s design for the world.” He also downplayed the discrimination faced by same-sex couples, saying that “just because differences exist in society, it does not mean that inequality and discrimination exist”.

During his political career, he also served on various committees:

• Industry
• Scrutiny of Regulations
• Justice and Human Rights
• Government Operations
• Procedure and House Affairs
• Member of Special Joint Committee on Code of Conduct
• Member of Subcommittee on the Business of Supply
• Member of Pearson Airport Subcommittee

Malhi’s time as a member of Parliament concluded in 2011 when the Liberal Party won the fewest seats in its history leaving Malhi in third place. He was defeated by the Conservative candidate Bal Gosal.

After retiring from his political career, Malhi campaigned for his daughter Harinder Malhi in the 2014 Ontario general election. She successfully won the seat for Brampton—Springdale for the Ontario Liberal Party.

Awards and Honours

Throughout Gurbax Singh Malhi’s 18-year-long career as a member of Parliament, he held several important positions and received recognition for his political service.

In 2002, Malhi was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee medal for his commitment and contributions to Canadian society. That year, the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace recognised him as an Ambassador of Peace.

In 2003, he was appointed to the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada for life by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

In 2021, Brampton’s Rhapsody Park was renamed after Gurbax Singh Malhi in recognition of his community service.

In 2023, Malhi was awarded the Key to the City of Brampton by Mayor Patrick Brown for his outstanding achievements as a trailblazer and community leader for the Sikh and South Asian communities in Canada.