Dr. Ruby Dhalla visits India to speak at the 9th Annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Conference
and to receive Award by the World Punjabi Organization

Brampton, Jan 05,2008
Candice Debi

Dr. Ruby Dhalla, Member of Parliament for Brampton Springdale, is currently in India to speak at the 9th annual PBD conference being held In Chennai, India. She will be participating in the opening plenary session titled "India as an Emerging Power: The Diaspora Factor" with India's Minister of External Affairs Hon. Pranab Mukerjee.

Dr. Dhalla will also be honored by the World Punjabi Organization for her achievements in public service as a Member of Parliament.

In 2004, Dr. Dhalla made history as the first Sikh woman to be elected to Parliament in the western world. Dr. Dhalla was re-elected in 2006 and then again recently in 2008 and is currently one of the youngest women in Canadian Parliament. Dr. Dhalla has been a strong champion and promoter of enhancing trade and cultural relations between Canada and India. Having traveled to India with former Prime Minister Paul Martin and former Minister of International Trade, Hon. Jim Peterson Dr. Dhalla has done extensive work in expanding dialogue between both countries.

In addition Dr. Dhalla has championed various issues important to the global Indian Diaspora. Most notably in the last parliament session, Dr. Dhalla successfully passed a historic motion asking the Government to apologize to the Indo-Canadian Community for the Komagata Maru tragedy of 1914 in which Indians were barred from entering Canada.

Dr. Dhalla is a role model and inspiration to youth, women and Indians throughout the world. She has been a strong advocate against fraud marriages and promoting equality between men and women throughout India. In particular Dr. Dhalla has been advocating for the creation of a national state holiday in Punjab to celebrate the achievements of Punjabi women to educate children in schools of the contributions made by women to the community, and nation.

As the Member of Parliament for one of the largest South Asian ridings in Canada Dr. Dhalla will also be meeting with the officials at the Canadian High Commission to discuss issues regarding immigration backlogs, visa refusals, and delays in family reunification.

Dr. Dhalla hopes her visit will provide an opportunity to further discuss and champion issues important to her constituents and Canadians.

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