Former Indo-Canadian lawmaker Ruby Dhalla’s unique approach in the Liberal Party leadership race

Ruby Dhalla, a former Indo-Canadian MP, has entered the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party, bringing a distinct set of policy positions and a unique leadership style to the competition. Her campaign emphasizes her background as a successful businesswoman and hotelier, setting her apart from her competitors in several key ways.

Dhalla’s economic focus is a cornerstone of her campaign. She believes the Liberal Party needs to shift back toward the center-right to effectively address the economic challenges facing Canada. Her experience in the business world, she argues, gives her a practical understanding of these issues, which she believes is crucial for crafting effective economic policies.

In the realm of international relations, Dhalla highlights her recent trip to Washington for President Donald Trump’s inauguration as an example of her commitment to fostering strong ties between Canada and the United States. She stresses the importance of collaborative efforts between the two countries, particularly in light of the current political climate and the potential impact of U.S. policies on Canada.

While other candidates like Chandra Arya have criticized diversity, equity, and inclusion quotas, Dhalla’s campaign takes a different approach to addressing these issues. She focuses on her own background as a woman of Indian origin and her appeal to the Indo-Canadian community, emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusion without explicitly engaging in the debate over quotas.

Dhalla’s leadership style is another point of differentiation. She presents herself as a trailblazer and a motivational speaker, emphasizing her ability to inspire and lead from a grassroots level. This contrasts with candidates like Chrystia Freeland, who focuses on her extensive government experience and her ability to handle economic and trade issues, and Mark Carney, who leverages his background in economics and finance.

Unlike Karina Gould, who has openly discussed the need to rebuild trust within the party and with Canadians, Dhalla has not made this a central theme of her campaign. Instead, she focuses on her business acumen and her vision for Canada’s role on the world stage.

These differences in policy focus and leadership style set Ruby Dhalla apart from her competitors in the Liberal Party leadership race, offering a unique perspective and approach to the challenges facing Canada.

Dhalla was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 from the riding of Brampton-Springdale. She was re-elected in 2006 and 2008 but lost in 2011 and chose not to contest in 2015 when the Liberals came into power with a majority. Beyond her political career, Dhalla has also been a model and is currently a successful hotelier. She emphasizes the importance of having a leader with business experience, stating, “It is important to have someone who has actually run a business but has started from the grassroots and from the ground up.”

Dhalla made history as the first woman of Indian origin elected as an MP for three terms. She is now aiming to become Canada’s first Prime Minister of color. Reflecting on her journey, Dhalla said, “When my mom immigrated to Canada in 1972, she never imagined that her daughter would one day be in the race to become Prime Minister of Canada.”

Dhalla’s campaign focuses on bringing the Liberal Party back to the center with practical solutions to the challenges Canadians face. She aims to implement a growth and prosperity agenda to ensure the success of Canadians both at home and on the world stage. “Canada’s Comeback Starts Now,” she declared.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Dhalla was previously elected in the riding of Brampton, Ontario. She is a self-made businesswoman and entrepreneur, recently awarded Women’s Hotelier of the Year. She is also a Doctor of Chiropractic.

The leadership race features several prominent candidates, including former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, former central banker Mark Carney, Cabinet Minister Karina Gould, and Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya. Under the Liberal Party’s election rules, any Canadian citizen over the age of 14 can register to vote before January 27. The next leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Canada will be announced on March 9.

Ruby Dhalla’s candidature holds significant implications for India, particularly in the context of bilateral relations and the Indian diaspora:

Strengthening India-Canada Relations: Dhalla has a history of advocating for stronger ties between India and Canada. Her leadership could potentially lead to more robust diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Representation of the Indian Diaspora: As the first woman of Indian origin to run for the position of Prime Minister of Canada, Dhalla’s campaign could inspire and empower the nearly two million Indo-Canadians, fostering a greater sense of inclusion and representation in Canadian politics.

Economic and Cultural Ties: Dhalla’s background in business and her experience as a hotelier could bring a practical, business-oriented perspective to her leadership, promoting economic partnerships and cultural exchanges between India and Canada.

Diplomatic Engagement: Given the current diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, Dhalla’s leadership could potentially help in easing these tensions. Her understanding of both Indian and Canadian perspectives could facilitate more constructive dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

Ruby Dhalla’s candidature for Prime Minister of Canada is significant for India as it could lead to stronger bilateral relations, greater representation of the Indian diaspora in Canadian politics, enhanced economic and cultural ties, and potentially more constructive diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

(This story has not been edited by News Mania staff and is published from a Media Release)