• Prabhjot Singh

TORONTO (TIP): When Shafoli Kapur, an immigration consultant, moved to Canada in 2009, she couldn’t have imagined that she would be running for a seat in the Ontario Provincial Assembly in 2025. Her journey to becoming a dedicated community leader and advocate is rooted in her strong educational foundation and relentless drive to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

It is after 143 years that provincial elections are being held in February. Incumbent Conservative Premier Doug Ford called the election on January 28, launching a 31-day campaign with voting on February 27. It is also more than a year early. Ford already had a commanding majority and had time until June 2026 to hold the polls.

The short campaign and the wintery weather have thrown wrenches into election planning. Still, Dave Allston, returning officer for Ottawa Centre and a veteran Elections Ontario employee, says the province is ready for election day.

Ontario in general and GTA in particular witnessed unprecedented snowstorms last week. The weather has tossed another curveball thanks to the snowiest February in Ottawa in nearly a decade. The snow has made it difficult to put up election signs, so candidates have chosen to zip-tie signs to fences and poles. City bylaw officers and Elections Ontario workers must use wire cutters to remove signs that have been placed illegally, particularly those that were too close to advance polling stations.

“We were going out today buying salt. My biggest worry was snow on election day, but now it’s looking like two or three days of thaw followed by a flash freeze,” says Dave Allston.

“Then there are the stations themselves. We will have 2,000 people walking through with slush on their boots that create a slipping hazard. We’re hiring extra people to clean.”

Snowbanks and narrow streets might also cause parking woes around some polling stations, “but that’s not something Elections Ontario can control,” he said. Fortunately, in urban ridings like Ottawa Centre, no one should be more than five or six blocks from their polling station.

The weather has failed to dampen the spirit of the contestants. Despite a fall in several contestants and the ongoing tariff war with the neighboring US – Donald Trump has once again deferred the new tariffs until the first week of April – the battle of the ballot involving four major political parties, including the ruling Conservatives, New Democrats, Liberals and Greens, there are new entrants to the political scenario, including New Blue Party.

Nearly three dozen candidates of Indian descent are in the fray. If Shafoli Kapur is representing Liberals, who are trying to wrest back a major share in the political domain of the biggest province of Canada, young Indo-Canadians are representing all major political parties. A few of them are contesting as Independents as well.

After completing her degree in Electrical Engineering, Shafoli Kapur embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and, over the past 12 years, has built a thriving business from the ground up.

As a successful business owner and a respected regulated Canadian immigration consultant, Shafoli has worked closely with newcomers, witnessing first-hand how immigrants strengthen local economies and enrich communities. Her deep understanding of the challenges they face—coupled with her expertise in guiding them toward success—has fueled her commitment to policies that foster inclusion, economic growth, and opportunity for all.

In addition to her work in business, Shafoli is an unwavering advocate for women’s rights, mental health awareness, and social justice. She has dedicated much of her time to volunteering with women’s shelters, supporting survivors of abuse, and advocating for accessible and effective mental health resources. She is deeply committed to addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their circumstances, have access to the support they need to live fulfilling lives.

Her belief in the power of advocacy extends to her role on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), where she fought for greater inclusion of families from diverse cultural backgrounds. As a strong voice for many families, she worked tirelessly to ensure their concerns were reflected in school decision-making processes, helping to create a more equitable and inclusive educational environment for all students.

Beyond her advocacy work, Shafoli is a passionate mentor and community leader. She has provided guidance to small business owners and entrepreneurs, empowering them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. Recognizing the vital role that small businesses play in local economies, she has dedicated herself to fostering an environment where entrepreneurs can flourish, create jobs, and contribute to the prosperity of their communities.

As an immigrant, entrepreneur, and advocate, Shafoli symbolizes accomplished new immigrants and understands the importance of building strong, inclusive communities where everyone—regardless of their background—has access to the opportunities and resources they need to succeed. As MPP, she is committed to ensuring that Niagara Falls remains a place where residents can access high-quality healthcare, affordable housing, and economic opportunities.

With a deep understanding of the economic and social forces that shape communities, Shafoli is ready to be a strong voice for Niagara Falls at Queen’s Park. She will work tirelessly to improve healthcare, make life more affordable, and support small businesses so the region can thrive. With her leadership, determination, and passion for real change, Shafoli is prepared to build a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.

And in the February 27 Ontario Provincial elections, she will have several others, including first and second-generation immigrants of Indian descent in the fray.

If Shafoli represents the new generation of immigrants, then Ranjit Singh Bagga, also a Liberal candidate, is a dedicated long-time resident of Brampton and a successful Canadian businessman with over 30 years of experience in the hospitality, entertainment, recreation, and leisure sectors. As the owner and operator of a successful chain of 10 golf courses, he has created countless jobs and made significant contributions to the local economy.

Another candidate of Indian descent is Vicky Dhillon who is a business professional with an abundance of personal and political experience in serving the public.

He served his community of Wards 9 and 10 for eight years as a City Councilor in Brampton. During his time as a Councilor, Vicky played a pivotal role in policy development which included Brampton’s budget approvals and long-term planning. He was the Chair of Community Services, Vice-Chair of Planning Design and Development, and was elected by his colleagues to represent the City of Brampton at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Vicky consistently worked hard on behalf of his constituents and advocated for the issues that mattered most.

He has deep roots in the community where he works, raises his family and continues to proudly call Brampton East his home for over 15 years.

Gurwinder Dosanjh, a Liberal candidate for Sault Ste. Marie, is another candidate of Indian descent. He is deeply committed to addressing the pressing concerns of his community, including healthcare access, housing affordability, and economic development. As the owner and operator of a gas station and convenience store, he transformed them into award-winning establishments, enhancing local services and contributing to economic revitalization.

Recognizing the critical housing shortage in his area, where homelessness has risen by over 72% since 2021, Gurwinder established Pioneer Park. This land-lease community offers modular homes with essential services, providing affordable housing options and addressing the community’s urgent needs.

In his role as a senior customer service representative for BMO Financial Group, Gurwinder has honed his expertise in financial services and customer relations, equipping him to navigate complex economic challenges. His decade-long commitment to his riding is evident through his service as Vice-President of the Algoma University Students’ Union and as a Walk-Safe attendant on campus. He has actively participated in initiatives such as the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast and founded the Algoma Sikh Association, leading charitable efforts like One-Billion-Rising donations to Women-in-Crisis Algoma and Pauline’s Place.

Representing NDP is Martin Singh. He is a licensed pharmacist and a partner in the Precision Health Group company which has over 300 employees and owns care facilities in Ontario and Nova Scotia. In terms of his education, Martin has four university degrees in chemistry, chemical engineering, pharmacy, and a Master’s in Business Administration.

Martin has a strong history of supporting environmental protection and reproductive rights at the national level where he was a board member for the Sierra Club of Canada and Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada. Martin is very active in Brampton where he works to improve the opportunities for Brampton youth. Martin is the former Commanding Officer of the 557 Lorne Scots which is Brampton’s only army cadet corps with approximately 220 cadets. During his time in command, the 557 Lorne Scots were the largest Duke of Edinburgh award center in all of Canada. For this achievement, Martin received a Commanding Officer’s Commendation from the Army General in charge of all cadets in Canada.

Martin also works to get the cadets in the 557 Lorne Scots their First Aid qualification as well as keeping them physically fit with a long-distance hiking program on the Bruce Trail. Most recently, Martin has been nominated for King Charles III’s Coronation Medal. Other awards and recognition include being a delegate from Canada for the International Planned Parenthood Federation Conference in Mexico City in 2008 and the Nova Scotia Department of Health Award of Recognition for the Community Medication Management Program that Martin designed and implemented.

Another NDP candidate Sukhamrit Singh is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and is currently studying law at the University of Western looking to pursue a career in union-side labor law fighting for working people.

“I have seen and lived the struggle that afflicts working people in Brampton. Whether from inadequate healthcare or ever-increasing housing/rental prices, the people of Brampton deserve better,” he says.

Sukhamrit Singh has served the community of Brampton through his time at Seva Food Bank and Credit Valley Conservation, but recently through his service as a reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces.

(Prabhjot Singh is a Canada based senior journalist. He can be reached at prabhjot416@gmail.com)