Politics & World • Politician

Ruby Dhalla

Ruby Dhalla is a Canadian businesswoman and former politician who served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale from 2004 to 2011.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ruby Dhalla is a Canadian businesswoman and former politician who served as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Brampton—Springdale from 2004 to 2011. She was one of the first Sikh women elected to the House of Commons of Canada. In 2025, she re-entered national political coverage through her bid for the federal Liberal leadership.

Early life and education

Ruby Dhalla was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on February 18, 1974. She grew up in Canada to an immigrant family. Sources describe her as a businesswoman and chiropractor.

Political career

Dhalla was elected as the Liberal MP for Brampton—Springdale in 2004 and served until 2011. During her tenure, she was one of the first Sikh women in the House of Commons, alongside Nina Grewal.

Leadership race and later public profile

In 2025, Dhalla entered the Liberal Party leadership race. According to CBC, a party committee voted to disqualify her from the contest over alleged rule violations.

Significance and representation

Dhalla is noted for breaking barriers as a Sikh woman in federal Canadian politics. Her career has been discussed in the context of South Asian representation and immigrant-background participation in public life.

Key facts

Ruby Dhalla served as Liberal MP for Brampton—Springdale from 2004 to 2011.
She was one of the first Sikh women elected to the House of Commons.
In 2025, she ran for Liberal leadership and was disqualified.
She is a businesswoman and former politician.

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Canadian context

Dhalla is relevant to Canadian readers as a former federal MP from Ontario and as one of the first Sikh women elected to the House of Commons, making her a figure in Canadian political representation and South Asian Canadian public life.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ruby Dhalla?

Ruby Dhalla is a Canadian businesswoman and former Liberal MP who represented Brampton—Springdale from 2004 to 2011.

What political party did Ruby Dhalla belong to?

She was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada during her time in Parliament.

What riding did Ruby Dhalla represent?

She represented Brampton—Springdale in Ontario.

Was Ruby Dhalla the first Sikh woman in the House of Commons?

Sources say she was one of the first Sikh women to serve in the House of Commons of Canada, alongside Nina Grewal.

Is Ruby Dhalla still an MP?

No. The House of Commons lists her as no longer serving as a Member of Parliament.

Did Ruby Dhalla run for Liberal Party leader?

Yes. Media reports in 2025 said she entered the Liberal leadership race, and CBC later reported that she was disqualified by a party committee.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Dhalla
Supports: Birth date, Canadian businesswoman and politician, MP for Brampton—Springdale from 2004 to 2011, and first Sikh women in the House of Commons.
House of Commons of Canada — https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/ruby-dhalla(25498)
Supports: Confirms she was the MP for Brampton—Springdale, her party affiliation, and that she is no longer a Member of Parliament.
House of Commons of Canada — https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/ruby-dhalla(25498)/roles
Supports: Shows her parliamentary service dates for Brampton—Springdale.
CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ruby-dhalla-liberal-leadership-1.7465430
Supports: Reports on her 2025 Liberal leadership bid and subsequent reported disqualification from the race.
The Globe and Mail — https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/10-things-you-should-know-about-ruby-dhalla/article4288145/
Supports: Background on her political profile, service as MP, and contemporaneous coverage of controversies during her parliamentary career.