As Canada prepares for its 45th federal election on April 28, there’s an important change happening in the Indian community. For many years, Punjabi-Canadians have been the main faces of Indian-origin politicians in Canada — holding important positions in parliament and government. But this time, Gujaratis are stepping into the spotlight.
From cities like Brampton to Calgary, four Gujarati-origin candidates — mostly first-generation immigrants — are running for parliament for the first time. While Punjabi leaders are still strong and experienced in politics, the Gujarati community is now starting to get involved in a big way after years of success in business and social work.
Who Are the New Faces?
One of the candidates, Jayesh Brahmbhatt, is running in Brampton Chinguacousy for the People’s Party. He came to Canada from Gujarat in 2001 and began by running convenience stores, later moving into real estate. Now, he wants to help shape the country’s future. “People want change,” he says, “and I feel connected to the values of freedom, fairness, and responsibility.”
Jayesh says it’s not just about politics, but about Gujaratis being seen and heard. Political parties now see the Indian community as important, and Gujaratis are using this chance to represent themselves.
Another candidate, Sunjiv Raval, is running from Calgary Midnapore for the Liberal Party. Born in Tanzania, he has lived in Calgary for more than 20 years and owns a chain of stores. He feels that the Gujarati community has waited too long to be involved in politics and wants to work on issues like better housing, infrastructure, and job opportunities.
Other candidates include:
- Ashok Patel (independent, Edmonton Sherwood)
- Minesh Patel (independent, Calgary Skyview)
- Don Patel, who was briefly chosen by the Conservative Party for Etobicoke North but was dropped recently.
All of them are newcomers to politics but have strong roots in business and their communities.
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Why This Matters
Hemant Shah, a long-time resident and director at Overseas Friends of India Canada (OFIC), says this is a big moment. “There are over 100,000 Gujaratis in Canada,” he says. “This is likely the highest number of Gujarati-origin candidates in any election here.” While Punjabi-Canadians still have a strong presence, this shift shows more diversity in Indian representation.
Punjabi Leaders Still Strong
Punjabi-origin leaders are still very active and powerful in this election. Some of the well-known names include:
- Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party and the first Sikh head of a major political party.
- Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
- Kamal Khera, Minister of Health, running again in Brampton West.
- Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal MP from Surrey-Newton.
- Bardish Chagger, former Minister of Diversity and Inclusion, running from Waterloo.
These leaders are experienced and already hold important roles. While Gujarati candidates are just beginning their political journey, they are stepping up with new energy and ideas.
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What’s Changing?
Both Punjabi and Gujarati candidates are focused on key issues like affordable living, jobs, and immigration reforms. But the bigger picture is about who gets to represent Indian-origin voices in Canada. Just like in the US, where Gujaratis like Raj Shah and Kash Patel have held powerful roles, Canada too is now seeing more variety in Indian representation.
