Rameshwer Singh Sangha (born June 6, 1945) is a former Canadian politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the riding of Brampton Centre from 2015 to 2021. He was first elected in the 2015 federal election[2][3] and was re-elected in 2019.[4]

Ramesh Sangha
Member of Parliament
for Brampton Centre
In office
October 19, 2015 – September 20, 2021
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byShafqat Ali
Personal details
Born (1945-06-06) June 6, 1945 (age 79)
India
Political partyIndependent (since 2021)
Other political
affiliations
Liberal (2015–2021)
ResidenceBrampton, Ontario[1]

On January 25, 2021, Sangha was removed from the Liberal caucus based on accusations he made that multiple other Liberal MPs supported the Khalistan movement — allegations the Liberal Party deemed "baseless". He then sat as an independent in the House of Commons.[5] Sangha voiced these allegations publicly in a 2019 interview with the Punjabi-language channel 5AAB.[6] Mark Holland, the Government Chief Whip, issued a statement reading: "As we have made clear time and time again, we will not tolerate conspiracy theories, or dangerous and unfounded rhetoric about Parliamentarians or other Canadians. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for many Canadians to experience suspicions because of their background; we all know where this can lead."[5][7] He did not seek re-election in the 2021 federal election.

Electoral history

edit
2019 Canadian federal election: Brampton Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ramesh Sangha 18,771 47.21 -1.43 $84,508.26
Conservative Pawanjit Gosal 10,696 26.90 -6.77 $102,185.61
New Democratic Jordan Boswell 7,819 19.67 +4.45 $47,671.91
Green Pauline Thornham 1,685 4.24 +2.11 $1,108.69
People's Baljit Bawa 681 1.71 $40,458.58
Marxist–Leninist David Gershuny 106 0.27 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 39,758 98.81
Total rejected ballots 480 1.19
Turnout 40,238 59.27
Eligible voters 67,890
Liberal hold Swing +2.67
Source: Elections Canada[8][9]
2015 Canadian federal election: Brampton Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Ramesh Sangha 19,277 48.64 +23.29 $120,004.74
Conservative Bal Gosal 13,345 33.67 -12.73 $183,194.43
New Democratic Rosemary Keenan 5,993 15.12 -8.08 $33,702.51
Green Saul Marquand T. Bottcher 844 2.13 -2.32 $144.64
Marxist–Leninist Frank Chilelli 173 0.44
Total valid votes/expense limit 39,632 100.00   $199,305.79
Total rejected ballots 264 0.66
Turnout 39,896 61.72
Eligible voters 64,640
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +18.01
Source: Elections Canada[10][11]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Liberal Ramesh Sangha wins Brampton Centre". Sandro Contenta. Toronto Star. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. ^ "19 Indian-Canadians elected to Canadian parliament". The Economic Times. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  4. ^ Bond, Meredith (October 21, 2019). "Federal election results: Who won in Toronto and the GTA?". CityNews. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Ryan Patrick. "Brampton MP Ramesh Sangha dropped from Liberal caucus, accused of spreading 'baseless and dangerous' claims". CBC News. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  6. ^ Blackwell, Tom (September 3, 2019). "Liberal backbencher accuses his own government of 'pandering' to Sikh separatists". National Post. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  7. ^ MacCharles, Tonda (January 25, 2021). "Brampton Centre MP ousted by Liberals for making 'baseless and dangerous accusations' against Navdeep Bains". Toronto Star. Torstar. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  9. ^ "Official Voting Results". Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  10. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Brampton Centre, 30 September 2015
  11. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine