Navdeep Bains, the Mississauga-Malton MP, has been embroiled in a couple of controversies in recent years
The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Navdeep Bains, Canada’s industry minister and senior-most among the four ministers of Indian origin in the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, resigned on Tuesday, citing family grounds for his sudden decision.
Bains, the Mississauga-Malton MP who is very close to the prime minister and was instrumental in winning all seats for the Liberal Party from the 905 region of the Greater Toronto Area in the last federal elections in 2019, said he was stepping down to spend time with his family.
He said he hadn’t spent any time with his eldest daughter, who is currently in Grade 8. He said his daughter told him during the summer holidays that he if stayed in politics and spent another four years in the Cabinet, he won’t be able to spend any time with her in her childhood.
He said his daughter’s words “struck a chord with me. I came to this realization with my wife that I’ve got this small window of opportunity to spend time with my girls.”
But is what he saying now as the real reason for his decision to leave office at this crucial time when the country is in the grip of the worst phase of COVID-19? Does his decision to leave has anything to do with a couple of controversies he has been involved in the past couple of years?
One controversy related to a property deal in which some people allegedly close to Bains bought a property which Brampton City was about to buy. Bains allegedly got details of the City’s pending purchase deal from the chief of staff of then Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey. His close associates bought the property and later sold it to Brampton City for a profit of over $1 million.
The other controversy was Bains’ alleged role in getting visas for three priests for a fictitious gurdwara in Fort Erie. The three priests disappeared after arrival in Canada.
Prime Minister Trudeau has thanked Bains, saying that he “has been an integral part of our team. He’s worked tirelessly to create more opportunities for Canadians and will be missed at the Cabinet table. Nav, thank you for your friendship and everything you’ve done to help build a better Canada.”
