Who is Ruby Dhalla, the 'female Donald Trump' of Canada?

Ruby's tough stance on illegal immigration is drawing comparisons to President Donald Trump.


News Desk January 29, 2025
Photo: FILE

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Ruby Dhalla, an Indian-origin former Member of Parliament (MP) for Canada, has officially entered the race to become the leader of the Liberal Party, with a promise to become the country’s first prime minister of colour.

In a firm statement released on social media, Ruby Dhalla announced her stance on illegal immigration, vowing to deport illegal immigrants and clamp down on human trafficking if elected.

In a post shared via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Ruby Dhalla stated, "As Prime Minister, I will deport illegal immigrants and clamp down on human traffickers. That’s my promise to you."

Ruby Dhalla's tough stance on illegal immigration is drawing comparisons to US President Donald Trump's policies. She is also being called the "Female Donald Trump".

Ruby Dhalla, who represented the Brampton-Springdale constituency from 2004 to 2011, has become a strong contender in the Liberal Party leadership race, aiming to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Ruby Dhalla (@rubydhalla1)

She hopes to make history as the first woman of colour to lead both the Liberal Party and Canada. In a campaign video, Dhalla expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "We are on the verge of creating history by electing the first woman of colour as the leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada."

As part of her leadership bid, Ruby Dhalla outlined a vision focused on engaging a new demographic of Canadians. "Phase 1 is over, we go on to phase 2 and engage with liberals all across the country, who have signed up as members of our party," Dhalla said. She promised a revitalised Liberal Party, stating that she intends to bring practical solutions to Canadians' pressing challenges.

Ruby Dhalla’s political journey includes her tenure as the first Indian-origin woman elected as an MP in Canada. During her time in office, she became one of the first Sikh women to serve in the House of Commons.

Addressing her approach to leadership, Ruby Dhalla made clear that her candidacy is not driven by personal ambition. “I am not entering the race to lead the Liberal Party because I need a job. I am here because I believe in the future of our Party and our country. We need to take our Party back to the centre with policies that allow ordinary Canadians to succeed and flourish,” she said.

Her promise to address illegal immigration is a central focus of her campaign. She faces strong competition from several high-profile contenders, including former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and former finance minister Chrystia Freeland.

Ruby Dhalla is positioning herself as an outsider to the current administration, stating Canadians are looking for a change. "Canadians don’t want Trudeau 2.0. If we’re going to beat the Conservatives, we need real change," she tweeted.

The leadership race for the Liberal Party will culminate on March 9, 2025, when the next prime minister will be announced, depending on the outcome of the federal elections.

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