Justin Trudeau made his return to Surrey after winning the leadership in another big Indo-Canadian-Punjabi community fundraiser organized by Dr. Gulzar Cheema and other federal Liberal supporters. Trudeau with great looks and having finally found his mojo is a fundraising machine and he knows how to work a crowd. He took time to take pictures with every single person in attendance. That’s what the Federal Liberal party needed and got with the pretty boy with a sharp intellect to match but his leadership skills is what Conservatives worry about. Canada is in a love affair with this young leader and the party hopes that he will return them back to power. He made his entrance at the Mirage Banquet hall to a thunderous applause and was given a standing ovation from the packed Liberal crowd after his speech. While the crowd included old and new Liberals from the Punjabi community, one key player from the federal scene was absent. Former MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who might be returning to the federal scene after the mini CRA scandal forced him to drop out as candidate in Surrey for the BC Liberals just before their win in May’s provincial election, was surprisingly a no show at the fundraiser. Dr. Gulzar Cheema, a former BC MLA and minister who was swayed by former federal Liberal leader Paul Martin to run federally, is returning to federal politics with a potential run for the nomination in the formerly held Liberal riding of Newton-North Delta, currently held by NDP’s Jinny “Jogindro” Sims. Cheema, who is close to Trudeau, could face off against Dhaliwal for the nomination, which could mean another battle royal. Cheema is building a strong team to back his bid, which could mean that Dhaliwal may be outside looking in!
***By R. Paul Dhillon
