Parm Gill

❧

Wikipedia

The Honourable
Parm Gill
ECO
Gill in 2020
Minister of Red Tape Reduction
In office
June 24, 2022 – January 26, 2024
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byNina Tangri (Associate Ministry of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction)
Succeeded byAndrea Khanjin
Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
In office
June 18, 2021 – June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Succeeded byMichael Ford
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Milton
In office
June 7, 2018 – February 16, 2024
Preceded byIndira Naidoo-Harris[1]
Succeeded byZee Hamid
Member of Parliament
for Brampton—Springdale
In office
May 2, 2011 – August 4, 2015
Preceded byRuby Dhalla
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
BornParamjit Gill
(1974-05-17) May 17, 1974 (age 51)
Moga district, Punjab, India[2]
Political partyConservative (federal)
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (provincial)
ProfessionEntrepreneur

Parm Gill ECO (born May 17, 1974) is a Canadian politician.[3] He represented the riding of Milton in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario between 2018 and 2024.

As a member of the Conservative Party, he previously represented the riding of Brampton—Springdale in Ontario in the House of Commons of Canada from 2011 to 2015, holding roles as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Minister of International Trade from 2013 until his defeat in the 2015 federal election. In the 2025 Canadian federal election, he ran and was defeated in riding of Milton East—Halton Hills South riding.[4]

He was elected to the provincial legislature, representing Milton for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, in the 2018 provincial election. In 2021, he was elevated to the Cabinet as the Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism, and became the Minister of Red Tape Reduction in 2022. In January 2024, he announced his departure from provincial politics to run for the Conservatives in the 45th Canadian federal election.[5][6][3]

Early life

Gill was born on May 17, 1974, in Moga, Punjab in India.[7] He moved to Canada at a young age.[8]

Before politics, he was an entrepreneur and business executive.[7] He worked on his family's businesses, which include a furniture manufacturing factory and some restaurants that he operated with his older brother.[9]

Political career

In the 2006 federal election, Gill ran in York West, and lost to Liberal MP Judy Sgro by over 15000 votes.[10] In the 2008 federal election, Gill ran in Brampton—Springdale against incumbent Ruby Dhalla, but was narrowly defeated by 773 votes.[9] The election campaign between the two were heated, and during an all-candidates' debate, Dhalla brought up how Gill's brother had been charged with vandalizing her campaign signs in 2006, even though the charges were dropped, and Gill attacked Dhalla for failing to do enough for a boy beaten by police in India after stealing her aide's purse.[11]

He was elected as a Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament representing Brampton Springdale in the 2011 election, defeating Dhalla.[9]

After witnessing increased gang activity in his riding, Gill toured Western Canadian cities in December 2011 to speak with police and community organizations to see how this could be stopped.[12] In May 2012, Gill introduced a private members bill, C-394, which made it a crime to target someone for recruitment into a gang.[12][13] It was eventually passed into law in June 2014.[14][15]

In September 2013, Gill was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs.[7] During Rob Ford's drug scandal, Gill was one of the few federal politicians to offer support for the embattled mayor, calling him a "great mayor" who was "doing a wonderful job" in November 2013, and claimed that Torontonians were happy with his record.[16]

In January 2015, Gill was appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the role of a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.[17] In May 2015, Gill wrote letters of support to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for two of his constituents' competing applications for a community radio station in Brampton. The Conflict of Interest Act bars parliamentary secretaries from writing such letters to the CRTC and other administrative tribunals, and in October 2013, ethics commissioner Mary Dawson had issued a directive to that effect.[18] The Ethics Commissioner ruled in February 2016 that although he had acted in good faith, Gill had violated the Conflict of Interest Act.[19][20]

2015 election

Redistribution of federal ridings took place and concluded shortly before the 2015 federal election. Gill's riding, Brampton-Springdale, was eliminated,[21] and he ran in the new riding of Brampton North.[22]

In August 2015, HuffPost reported that a supporter of Gill's who previously bundled donations to Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, had switched his allegiance and had induced Liberal supporters into donating to Gill without their consent. In October 2015, a week and a half before voting day, it was reported that the commissioner of Elections Canada launched an investigation into these claims.[23][24]

During the election, Gill criticized the provincial Ontario Liberal Party and Premier Kathleen Wynne's proposed updates to the sexual education curriculum, which had not been changed since 1998. The changes included teaching that homosexuality was acceptable in Grade 3, teaching about puberty in Grade 4 as opposed to Grade 5, and teaching about masturbation and gender expression in Grade 6.[25] Gill described the changes as "graphic and explicit" in a taxpayer-funded mailout which conflated the provincial party's education policies with those of separate federal Liberal party, which has no constitutional jurisdiction in the field. In the mailout, Gill also said that it was part of a Liberal attack on family values and parent's right to control the education of their children.[26] In a 2015 video with the Punjabi Post, Gill described some segments of the new education curriculum as "disgusting."[27]

Gill lost to Liberal candidate Ruby Sahota.[22]

Provincial politics

On October 29, 2016, Gill announced that he would seek the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario nomination in Milton for the 42nd Ontario general election.[28] On June 18, 2017, he won the nomination.[29] In June 2017, then Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown stated that Gill's position on gay rights had shifted, and he was now "100 per cent" in favour of gay rights after comments stating that Gill said that he became involved in politics due to his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage were uncovered.[27]

On June 7, 2018 Gill won the Ontario general election in the riding of Milton as a member of the Progressive Conservatives.[30] In 2021, he was appointed the Ontario Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism from 2021 to 2022, when he became the Minister of Red Tape Reduction.[31] Gill officially resigned as MPP on February 16, 2024.[32] The provincial by-election to replace him was held on May 2, 2024.[33] The seat was retained by the Progressive Conservatives.[34]

45th Canadian federal election

On January 25, 2024, Gill announced that he would be resigning as a Minister and MPP to run in the 45th Canadian federal election in Milton.[31] He was acclaimed as the Conservative candidate despite an allegations that he misled a prospective candidate, D'Arcy Keene, a Georgetown town Councillor, about running.[35] After the riding was split into Burlington North-Milton West, and Milton East-Halton Hills South, Gill planned to seek a seat in Milton East-Halton Hills South.[36] Keene, who ran tried running in the nomination for Milton East-Halton Hills South, never received nomination papers and suggested this was because the party preferred Gill as their candidate.[37]

Gill was defeated in the 2025 election. Although preliminary results suggested he had narrowly won the riding, a subsequent vote validation process by Elections Canada revealed that Liberal candidate Kristina Tesser Derksen had won the seat by a margin of 29 votes, overturning Gill's initial lead. Because of the narrow margin, a judicial recount was automatically triggered.[38][39] Following a three-day recount, Tesser Derksen's victory was confirmed with a revised margin of 21 votes.[40]

Personal life

Gill and his wife Amarpal have three children.[41]

Electoral record

2025 Canadian federal election: Milton East—Halton Hills South
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalKristina Tesser Derksen32,17848.25+6.54
ConservativeParm Gill32,15748.22+6.97
New DemocraticMuhammad Riaz Sahi1,0291.54-8.03
GreenSusan Doyle6721.01-1.59
People'sWalter J. Hofman4750.71-4.17
IndependentShahbaz Mahmood Khan1740.26
Total valid votes/expense limit 66,68599.51
Total rejected ballots 3280.49
Turnout 67,01374.18
Eligible voters 90,340
Liberal notional hold Swing -0.21
Source: Elections Canada[42][43]
Notes: This riding's results were subject to an automatic judicial recount on May 9, 2025.[44] Number of eligible voters does not include election day registrations.
2022 Ontario general election: Milton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeParm Gill16,76643.07+1.40$47,201
LiberalSameera Ali15,08638.75+8.92$55,857
New DemocraticKatherine Cirlincione3,7779.70−12.54$21,161
GreenOriana Knox1,6124.14−0.88$1,700
New BlueJohn Spina1,5794.06N/A$9,745
Consensus OntarioMasood Khan1070.27N/Anone listed
Total valid votes 38,92799.41+0.32
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 2310.59-0.32
Turnout 39,15842.70-13.40
Eligible voters 91,696
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −3.76
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
  • "Political Financing and Party Information". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
2018 Ontario general election: Milton
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
Progressive ConservativeParm Gill18,24941.67+4.12$58,739
LiberalIndira Naidoo-Harris13,06429.83-13.26$49,410
New DemocraticBrendan Smyth9,74022.24+7.83$370
GreenEleanor Hayward2,2005.02+1.44$81
LibertarianBenjamin Cunningham3660.84N/Anone listed
Social ReformEnam Ahmed1700.39N/Anone listed
Total valid votes 43,78999.09
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 4030.91
Turnout 44,19256.11
Eligible voters 78,764
Progressive Conservative notional gain from Liberal Swing +8.69
Source: Elections Ontario[45][46][47]
2015 Canadian federal election: Brampton North
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRuby Sahota23,29748.37+20.21$136,386.70
ConservativeParm Gill15,88832.99-15.88$194,312.26
New DemocraticMartin Singh7,94616.50-2.34$78,854.84
GreenPauline Thornham9151.90-1.78$146.44
CommunistHarinderpal Hundal1200.25––
Total valid votes/Expense limit 48,166100.00 $206,076.29
Total rejected ballots 3180.66–
Turnout 48,48466.13–
Eligible voters 73,321
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +18.05
Source: Elections Canada[48][49]
2011 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeParm Gill24,61748.3%––
LiberalRuby Dhalla14,23127.9%––
New DemocraticManjit Grewal9,96319.6%––
GreenMark Hoffberg1,9263.8%––
CommunistLiz Rowley2190.4%––
Total valid votes 50,956100.0%–
2008 Canadian federal election: Brampton—Springdale
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalRuby Dhalla18,57741.03−6.3$80,011
ConservativeParm Gill17,80439.32+5.5$86,444
New DemocraticMani Singh5,23811.57−6.1$21,152
GreenDave Finlay3,5167.76+3.9$746
CommunistDimitrios Kabitsis1350.29+0.1$407
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,270100.0–$87,594
Total rejected ballots 4190.92
Turnout 45,68954.24−7.0
Electors on the lists 84,239
2006 Canadian federal election: York West
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalJudy Sgro21,41863.78$48,741.93
ConservativeParm Gill6,24418.59$71,005.65
New DemocraticSandra Romano Anthony4,72414.07$8,845.73
GreenNick Capra1,0022.98$1,692.18
IndependentAxcel Cocon1920.57$1,801.61
Total valid votes 33,580 100.00
Total rejected ballots 261
Turnout 33,841 57.90
Electors on the lists 58,450

References

  1. ↑ Halton
  2. ↑ Chaudhry, Amrita (May 4, 2011). "Moga man Gill trumps Ruby Dhalla". Indian Express. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  3. 1 2 Otis, Daniel (April 29, 2025). "Two ridings were won by less than 40 votes in Canada's federal election". CTV News. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Ontario riding flips to Liberals after validation process". CTVNews. The Canadian Press. May 2, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  5. ↑ Aguilar, Bryann (January 25, 2024). "Parm Gill resigns from Ford cabinet, steps down as Milton MPP to run for federal seat". CP24. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Hansard Transcript 2024-Feb-20 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. February 20, 2024. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "Parm Gill". lop.parl.ca. Library of Parliament. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Two Punjab-origin politicians join cabinet in Canada's Ontario province". Press Trust of India. Toronto, Ontario: Hindustan Times. June 20, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Grewal, San (May 3, 2011). "Conservative Parm Gill defeats Ruby Dhalla in Brampton-Springdale". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  10. ↑ "York West". CBC.ca. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  11. ↑ Boyle, Theresa (October 15, 2008). "Bitter battle between Dhalla and Gill". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  12. 1 2 McKnight, Zoe (May 4, 2012). "Ontario MP's gang recruitment bill finding support". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Kaplan, Ben (May 5, 2012). "Erasing signs of gang life". National Post. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Bills that became law so far in this session of Parliament". CBC News. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  15. ↑ "LEGISinfo - Private Member's Bill C-394 (41-2)". www.parl.ca. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  16. ↑ Goodman, Lee-Anne (November 1, 2013). "Conservative MP Parm Gill: Rob Ford a 'great mayor'". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Parm Gill Is Now Parliamentary Secretary To The Minister Of International Trade | Indo-Canadian Voice". www.voiceonline.com. January 23, 2015. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  18. ↑ Bronskill, Jim (October 8, 2015). "Tory candidate subject of ethics probe after lobbying CRTC for radio licences". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bronskill, Jim (August 25, 2016). "Ethics commissioner says Liberal MP's CRTC letter was improper". iPolitics. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  20. ↑ Dawson, Mary (February 24, 2016). "The Gill Report" (PDF). Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Proposed Boundaries – Ontario - Redistribution Federal Electoral Districts". www.redecoupage-federal-redistribution.ca. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Grewal, San (October 20, 2015). "Liberal Ruby Sahota wins in Brampton North". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  23. ↑ Raj, Althia (August 26, 2015). "Parm Gill Tory Donation Shows Up On Liberal Supporter's Credit Card". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018.
  24. ↑ Raj, Althia (October 8, 2015). "Parm Gill, Conservative Candidate, Investigated By Elections Commissioner". HuffPost. Archived from the original on October 8, 2015.
  25. ↑ Ross, Selena (September 9, 2015). "Ontario's new sex-ed curriculum threatens to become federal election issue". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ Maloney, Ryan (April 15, 2015). "Parm Gill's Mailout On Ontario Sex Ed Curriculum Links Policy To Federal Liberals". HuffPost. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018.
  27. 1 2 Ferguson, Rob (June 19, 2017). "Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown says newest candidate Parm Gill now supports gay rights, despite past comments". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on October 18, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Parm Gill, MPP on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.[user-generated source]
  29. ↑ "Gill wins provincial PC nomination in Milton". Inside Halton. June 19, 2017. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  30. ↑ Peesker, Saira (June 8, 2018). "PC Parm Gill takes Milton in decisive victory". InsideHalton.com. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Ontario PCs' Parm Gill resigns from cabinet to run for Poilievre's Conservatives". CBC News. January 25, 2024. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Hansard Transcript 2024-Feb-20 | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. February 20, 2024. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Ontario Newsroom". news.ontario.ca. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  34. ↑ Talbot, Michael (May 3, 2024). "Progressive Conservatives win both Ontario byelections". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  35. ↑ MacCharles, Tonda (February 13, 2024). "Conservative riding association protests 'unfair and undemocratic' decision to parachute former Doug Ford minister into federal riding". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Milton's federal riding set to split. Here's what you need to know". MiltonToday.ca. May 7, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Federal nomination contests yield candidates beholden to party leaders, not constituents, say ex-MPs". The Hill Times. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  38. ↑ Morrison, Catherine (May 2, 2025). "Milton East–Halton Hills South riding flips to Liberals after validation process". The Canadian Press. Toronto, Ontario: Toronto Star. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  39. ↑ Major, Darren (May 2, 2025). "Liberal minority back up to 169 after Elections Canada validates close Ontario race". CBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Kristina Tesser Derksen the new MP for Milton East-Halton Hills South following judicial recount". Milton Today. Milton, Ontario. May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Parm Gill". Office of the Prime Minister. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  44. ↑ Major, Darren (May 2, 2025). "Liberal minority back up to 169 after Elections Canada validates close Ontario race". CBC News. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Political Financing and Party Information". Elections Ontario. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Brampton North, 30 September 2015". January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on October 20, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  49. ↑ "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2017.