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.
|