Harper Tories Keeps Sikh Canadians Out Of Senate!
By R. Paul Dhillon
OTTAWA – In appointing another Indo-Canadian senator by naming Toronto Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Asha Seth to the Senate on Friday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, in his patronage gravy train to Tory supporters, again missed an opportunity to appoint the first Sikh to a Canadian senate.
Seth is the second Indo-Canadian appointed to the senate by Conservatives after earlier naming Toronto businessman Vim Kochhar to the Canadian Senate on January 29, 2010
Seth, who runs a Family Practice in suburban Toronto, is ecognized as a pioneer and patient advocate in the medical field, having received the prestigious Council Award from the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2010.
An active philanthropist, Seth is involved in a number of charities serving local and international communities.
She founded the NIMDAC Foundation, which raised funds for organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Foundation for the Physically Disabled Persons, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. She is also National Board Director of CNIB. Dr. Seth was also actively involved with St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation, assisting with initiatives to help raise funds for the Health Centre’s new patient care wing.
Seth completed her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at The King Georges Medical College in India and completed her resident training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the U.K. Upon moving to Canada, she continued her training at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
She resides in Toronto, Ontario with her husband Dr. Arun Seth. She has two daughters, Dr. Anila Seth Sharma, an Endocrinologist and Angie Seth, an award winning Journalist and News Anchor, OMNI Television, and four loving grandchildren.
Seth is a strong bolster of Doctors without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists.
In 2003, Seth undertook a major fundraising project for the Canadian Museum of Hindu Civilization, a museum dedicated to world peace. In 2004, Seth was the first South Asian woman to be appointed as Chair of the Province of Ontario Medal for Police Bravery Advisory Council, Canadian Police Services, a position she still holds.
Aside from Seth, Harper also appointed JoAnne Buth, Norman Doyle, Ghislain Maltais, Betty Unger and Vernon White to the Senate. Harper also announced the intention to appoint Jean-Guy Dagenais.
JoAnne Buth fills a vacancy in Manitoba, Norman Doyle a vacancy in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ghislain Maltais a vacancy in Quebec, Dr. Asha Seth a vacancy in Ontario, Betty Unger a vacancy in Alberta, and Vernon White a vacancy in Ontario. Jean-Guy Dagenais will fill a vacancy in Quebec.
All new appointees have pledged to support the Government in its efforts to make the Senate more democratic and accountable, including legislation to limit the term lengths of senators and encouraging the provinces and territories to hold elections for Senate nominees
“I look forward to working with these talented individuals in Parliament,” added the Prime Minister. “Their skills and experience will be of great value as our Government works on making this country as prosperous, safe and strong as it can be.”
