Raminder Gill
Encyclopedia
Raminder Singh Gill is a Canadian politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1999 to 2003, and has unsuccessfully sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
on three separate occasions. He currently serves as a citizenship judge.
Gill was born to a Sikh
family in Punjab, India
. He was educated at Parkdale Collegiate and later attended the University of Toronto
where he graduated with a Master's Degree
in Engineering. He works as a Chemical Engineer in private life, and has invented environmentally-friendly products such as "The Alternative Bleach", offered by the President's Choice
company. He started a private firm called Genpro Canada Ltd in 1990. Gill has been a director of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Canada, and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. He was also a founding member of the Malton Cougars Soccer Club.
In 1982, he ran for a seat on Peel District School Board, but lost.
In 1993 he sought the federal Liberal nomination for Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale, but lost to Gurbax Malhi.
Gill first ran for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1997 federal election, as a Progressive Conservative
in the riding of Mississauga West
. He finished third, well behind Liberal
Steve Mahoney
.
In the 1999 provincial election
, Gill ran for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives
in the riding of Bramalea--Gore--Malton--Springdale
, which has a large Indian-Canadian community. The riding is located in the "905 region", which at the time was a primary base of support for the Ontario Tories. Gill was elected, defeating Liberal
Dave Toor by about 4,000 votes.
He was not appointed to cabinet by either Mike Harris
and Ernie Eves
. In 2002, he supported Tony Clement
for the leadership of the Ontario Tories.
The Liberal Party made strong gains in the 905 area in the 2003 provincial election
, and Gill lost his seat to Liberal candidate Kuldip Singh Kular by almost 4,000 votes, following a bitter and divisive campaign.
In the Canadian general election of 2004
, Gill ran as a candidate of the Conservative Party
in the redistributed riding of Bramalea--Gore--Malton. Although this seat was actively targeted by the Conservatives, Gill lost to incumbent Liberal Gurbax Singh Malhi by 7,800 votes.
Gill announced his decision to quit politics after the election. http://www.mississauga.com/mi/elections/story/2037017p-2357185c.html He later reconsidered, and ran in the 2006 federal election in the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville
, against Liberal incumbent Wajid Khan
. He lost that contest as well, losing by about 5800 votes to Khan. That fall, Gill was appointed as a citizenship judge, a move that was considered a patronage appointment by some. Gill had been "fasttracked" into the post, bypassing the usual screening process. In 2009, he was reappointed to this position.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1999 to 2003, and has unsuccessfully sought election to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
on three separate occasions. He currently serves as a citizenship judge.
Gill was born to a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
family in Punjab, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was educated at Parkdale Collegiate and later attended the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he graduated with a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Engineering. He works as a Chemical Engineer in private life, and has invented environmentally-friendly products such as "The Alternative Bleach", offered by the President's Choice
President's Choice
President's Choice also known as “PC,” is a private label or store brand owned by Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest food retailer. As the company’s premium line, President’s Choice includes a wide variety of grocery and household products, in addition to financial services and mobile...
company. He started a private firm called Genpro Canada Ltd in 1990. Gill has been a director of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of Canada, and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. He was also a founding member of the Malton Cougars Soccer Club.
In 1982, he ran for a seat on Peel District School Board, but lost.
In 1993 he sought the federal Liberal nomination for Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale, but lost to Gurbax Malhi.
Gill first ran for the Canadian House of Commons in the 1997 federal election, as a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
in the riding of Mississauga West
Mississauga West
For the current provincial electoral district, see Mississauga West Mississauga West was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 2003. It was located in the city of Mississauga in the province of Ontario...
. He finished third, well behind Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Steve Mahoney
Steve Mahoney
Steven W. Mahoney, PC is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1995, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004. In the latter capacity, he served as a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien...
.
In the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, Gill ran for the Ontario Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
in the riding of Bramalea--Gore--Malton--Springdale
Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale (provincial electoral district)
Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale was a provincial electoral district in central Ontario, Canada that elected one Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It was created in 1999 from Brampton North, Brampton South and Mississauga North...
, which has a large Indian-Canadian community. The riding is located in the "905 region", which at the time was a primary base of support for the Ontario Tories. Gill was elected, defeating Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
Dave Toor by about 4,000 votes.
He was not appointed to cabinet by either Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
and Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
. In 2002, he supported Tony Clement
Tony Clement
Tony Peter Clement, PC, MP is a Canadian federal politician, President of the Treasury Board, Minister for the Federal Economic Initiative for Northern Ontario and member of the Conservative Party of Canada....
for the leadership of the Ontario Tories.
The Liberal Party made strong gains in the 905 area in the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and Gill lost his seat to Liberal candidate Kuldip Singh Kular by almost 4,000 votes, following a bitter and divisive campaign.
In the Canadian general election of 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, Gill ran as a candidate of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
in the redistributed riding of Bramalea--Gore--Malton. Although this seat was actively targeted by the Conservatives, Gill lost to incumbent Liberal Gurbax Singh Malhi by 7,800 votes.
Gill announced his decision to quit politics after the election. http://www.mississauga.com/mi/elections/story/2037017p-2357185c.html He later reconsidered, and ran in the 2006 federal election in the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville
Mississauga—Streetsville
Mississauga—Streetsville is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004...
, against Liberal incumbent Wajid Khan
Wajid Khan
Wajid Ali Khan is a Canadian businessman and politician. Until 2008, he was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville as a Conservative Member of Parliament.-Early life:Khan served as an officer and a pilot in the Pakistan Air Force from 1966 to...
. He lost that contest as well, losing by about 5800 votes to Khan. That fall, Gill was appointed as a citizenship judge, a move that was considered a patronage appointment by some. Gill had been "fasttracked" into the post, bypassing the usual screening process. In 2009, he was reappointed to this position.