Indian-Origin MP Ruby Dhalla 'Disqualified' From Canada PM Race: 'Shocking, Deeply Disappointing'

Last Updated:February 22, 2025, 14:06 IST

Indian-origin Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla came to know on television that was being disqualified from the race to replace Trudeau as PM over "serious violations".

Indian-origin MP Ruby Dhalla was disqualified by Canada PM race. (Photo: Ruby Dhalla/X)

Indian-origin Canadian MP Ruby Dhalla said she was disqualified by Prime Minister Justin Trudau’s Liberal Party from the leadership race to determine the next Canadian PM, describing the decision as “shocking and deeply disappointing".

“I have just been informed by the Liberal Party of Canada that I have been disqualified from the leadership race. This decision is both shocking and deeply disappointing, especially since it was leaked to the media," she said in a post on X.

Azam Ishmael, the Liberal Party’s national director, said the Liberal leadership vote committee determined that Dhalla made 10 violations, some involving the party’s leadership and expense rules.

“The decision followed an extensive process and review, including interviews, questionnaires and an opportunity for Dr Dhalla to directly address the committees," Ishmael was quoted as saying by CBC News. “The leadership vote committee determined that the violations were extremely serious."

Dhalla rejected the allegations against her as “false and fabricated". “The tactics used to remove me from this race only confirm what we already knew—our message was resonating, we were winning, and the establishment felt threatened," she added.

“One day it was foreign interference, one day it was campaign violations – all in an attempt to keep me from debating Carney and winning," Dhalla further commented.

What Are The Allegations Against Dhalla?

Ishmael said the party was concerned that Dhalla may have violated the Canada Elections Act, as well as “certain other election finance matters, non-disclosure of material facts and inaccurate financial reporting."

Prior to that, a source told CBC News that Dhalla was also accused of failing to disclose the involvement of a non-Canadian citizen in her campaign, which the party alleged would amount to foreign interference as it happened during an election period. Dhalla came to know about her disqualification on TV.

The party confirmed that it was withholding $21,000 in contributions to her campaign as it investigated whether 12 donors surpassed the maximum contribution amounts. Three pairs shared the same last name and postal code. All 12 are recorded as donating $1,750, the maximum amount permissible by law, as per data on Elections Canada.

“I think it speaks to the state of the Liberal Party of Canada that a candidate who is running to become leader of the party and running to be prime minister of our country is finding out she is being disqualified on air from an email that the media outlet that she is interviewing with has received," she said on CBC’s Power & Politics. “They did not want anyone challenging the front-runner, the blue-eyed boy, Mark Carney."

Despite the setback, Dhalla vowed to continue fighting for Canada as she can appeal the decision. “I will not allow the Liberal Party of Canada or anyone, for that matter, to smear my name or to smear the name of the thousands of volunteers in our campaign," she said.

Who Is Ruby Dhalla?

Dhalla is a former Liberal MP and entrepreneur who represented Brampton-Springdale from 2004 to 2011. Born and raised in Winnipeg, she pursued a career as a chiropractor and later entered politics under former PM Paul Martin.

Dhalla entered the leadership race by billing herself as a “true outsider" in the race to replace Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and pitched policies that broke with current Liberal doctrine. She strongly advocated for deporting illegal immigrants and imposing life sentences for possession of hard drugs.

Her disqualification comes as Chandra Arya, another Indian-origin MP, said last month that he was not permitted to run in the leadership contest. “This decision raises significant questions about the legitimacy of the leadership race and, by extension, the legitimacy of the next prime minister of Canada," he added.

The remaining candidates are former MP Frank Baylis, former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former House leader Karina Gould. A successor would be named on March 9.

Ottawa, Canada

News world Indian-Origin MP Ruby Dhalla 'Disqualified' From Canada PM Race: 'Shocking, Deeply Disappointing'