New Delhi, June 16, 2004
IANS

Canada has sent a special envoy to New Delhi to felicitate the new Indian government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The special envoy is Herb Dhaliwal, an MP of Indian origin and a minister in the cabinet of former prime minister John Chretien.

Dhaliwal, who was here in 2002 leading a high-level business delegation and again last year as a member of Chretien's entourage during his official visit, will call on Manmohan Singh Wednesday evening, officials said.

Dhaliwal, who went to Canada as a six-year-old in 1952, belongs to Phagwara village of Punjab.

He has more than 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors as a businessman and entrepreneur, specialising in transportation, maintenance and real estate development.

He has also served as vice-chair of the board of directors for the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority and as chair of British Columbia Hydro's Budget and Audit Committees.

He contested and won the national elections from South Vancouver in 1993 on a Liberal Party ticket wresting the seat from the Progressive Democrats.

On being re-elected in 1997, Chretien appointed him as minister for national revenue, the first Canadian of Indian origin to be appointed a minister. He served as minister for fisheries and oceans in 1999......