The new wave that’s taken over Canada with the election of dashing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shows no signs of abating. The cultural demographic of the country is not only changing, but unlike it’s more conservative neighbor, the US, Canada looks ready and eager to embrace the change.
After the election of 20 Punjabi-speaking candidates to the House of Commons, the Canadian parliament officially listed Punjabi as its third language, following English and French. In the parliamentary elections in October this year, 23 South Asian-origin candidates, both from Liberal and Conservative parties, were elected as representatives. Only three of them don’t speak Punjabi.
According to statistics, over 430,000 Canadians identify Punjabi as their mother-tongue. Sikhs from Punjab were the pioneers of the immigrant community that has settled in Canada and made it home. Since then, there has been a continuous flow of Indians and Pakistanis who seek to build a new life in its vibrant and dynamic culture.
Pakistani-born MP Iqra Khalid said the ‘diversity of the newly elected House reflects the true face of Canada’. The different cultures existing in complete harmony in the country give an object lesson to nations that are torn by ethnic and racial conflict.