Parm Gill

Parm Gill (Punjabi: ਪਰਮ ਗਿੱਲ) (born May 17, 1974) is a Canadian politician, who was formerly an elected member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Brampton—Springdale in Ontario. He is a member of the Conservative Party. In the 2011 election, he defeated Liberal incumbent Ruby Dhalla. He was defeated in the new riding of Brampton North by Liberal candidate Ruby Sahota in the 2015 federal election.

Gill was born in India and moved to Canada at young age. He first ran for public office in 2006. In 2008, he ran a family-owned business in the hospitality sector.

After his victory in the 2011 election, Gill introduced a private members bill, C-394, that increased penalties for gang related offenses, that was passed into law.

Member of Parliament

In September 2013, Gill was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Through that role, Gill served on the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, which released a report titled "New Veterans Charter - A Way Forward". The report made fourteen recommendations that called for a monthly financial benefit for injured Veterans after they turn 65; new support for reservists; and increased support for families among other items. The Conservative Government accepted many of the recommendations in the Economic Action Plan 2015.

During Rob Ford's cocaine 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" and claimed that Torontonians were happy with his record.

In January 2015, GIll was given the role of a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade.

In May 2015, Gill wrote letters of support to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission for two of his constituents' competing applications for a community radio station in Brampton. The Federal Ethics Commissioner opened an investigation because the Conflict of Interest Act bars parliamentary secretaries from writing such letters to the CRTC. The Ethics Commissioner ruled in February 2016 that although he had acted in good faith, Gill had violated the Conflict of Interest Act.

2015 election

Shortly before the 2015 federal election, the Huffington Post 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. The commissioner of Elections Canada launched an investigation into these claims.

Redistribution of federal ridings took place and concluded shortly before the 2015 election. Gill's riding, Brampton-Springdale, was split in two. Gill ran in the new riding, Brampton-North and lost to Liberal candidate, Ruby Sahota.

Provincial politics

On October 29, 2016, Gill announced that he would seek the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario nomination in Milton.

Gill lives in Brampton with his wife Amarpal, with whom he has two sons, Daman and Raman, and a daughter, Parmeet.