Tim Uppal
Tim Uppal | |
|---|---|
| Minister of State (Multiculturalism) | |
| Assumed office July 15, 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Minister for Democratic Reform | |
| In office May 18, 2011 – July 15, 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Preceded by | Steven Fletcher |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Poilievre |
| Member of Parliament for Edmonton—Sherwood Park | |
| Assumed office 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Ken Epp |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 14, 1974 New Westminster, British Columbia |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Kiran Uppal |
| Children | Kirpa Uppal, Nihal Uppal, Faujna Uppal |
| Residence(s) | Edmonton, Alberta |
| Profession | Banker, politician, radio host |
Tim Uppal, PC, MP (born Harpreet Singh Uppal on November 14, 1974) is a Canadian politician, banker, and radio host. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Edmonton—Sherwood Park in the 2008 federal election. He represents the Conservative Party of Canada. On July 15, 2013, Uppal was moved from Minister of State for Democratic Reform to the portfolio of Minister of State (Multiculturalism).
Early life
Uppal was born in New Westminster, British Columbia. From 1992 to 1997, he was executive producer and host of a radio show on CKER in Edmonton. In 2004, he became a residential mortgage manager at TD Canada Trust. He is the founder and president of the South Edmonton Youth Group and has been a member of the Capital Health Community Health Council since 2001. For several years Uppal was an active member of the Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce and the Sherwood Park Rotary Club. He was also a founding member of the Edmonton Police Community Advisory Council.
Member of Parliament
Uppal ran for the Canadian Alliance in the 2000 federal election in Edmonton Southeast, where he lost to David Kilgour by less than 5,000 votes. In a re-match in the 2004 federal election in Edmonton—Beaumont, Kilgour defeated Uppal, who was now running for the Conservative Party of Canada, by just 134 votes. Uppal later requested a recount, as the number of rejected ballots was greater than Kilgour's margin of victory, but the recount ultimately confirmed Kilgour's victory.[1] Uppal subsequently lost the Conservative nomination for the 2006 election in Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont to Mike Lake.
After Uppal won the nomination as the Conservative candidate for Edmonton—Sherwood Park in the 2008 election, some members of the riding association board quit in protest, arguing that the location of nomination meeting favoured Uppal's supporters over their preferred candidate, Strathcona County councillor Jacquie Fenske.[2] The former board members instead backed James Ford. Although Ford did not run for the nomination, he subsequently filed as an independent candidate. On election night, Uppal and Ford seemed to trade the lead several times before Uppal was finally declared the winner by a margin of 1,668 votes.[3]
In December 2008, Uppal was appointed to two standing committees, Health and Heritage.[4]
The first private member's bill to be introduced by Uppal was passed in December 2010 - an unusual success, since private members bills do not usually become law. The bill created a National Holocaust Memorial, to be paid for by donations by citizens.[5] Speaking in the House of Commons, Uppal noted that Canada was the only allied nation without a National Holocaust Memorial.[6] The bill was supported by MPs from all parties, including local Edmonton MP and veteran Laurie Hawn.[7]
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights caused some controversy in the riding, due to the large number of people of Ukrainian heritage. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has been advocating for a separate exhibit for the Holodomor, the famine that Stalin imposed on Ukrainians in 1932 and 1933. Uppal supported the UCC, stating that "the Holodomor genocide should have a unique, autonomous and prominent place in the CMHR".[8]
In February 2010 Uppal was promoted to acting chair of the Health Committee, which will oversee and study various health agencies, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB), Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission (HMIRC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada (AHRAC).[9]
In April 2010 Uppal was involved in a controversy with Canadian Gemini-winning filmmaker, Ali Kazimi, when a Tory campaign ad was launched using a copyrighted image.[10]
Uppal was the first Turban-wearing Sikh to be appointed to the Canadian Cabinet, one of five Visible Minorities serving as Ministers in the Harper government.
In 2011, Uppal's bill, the National Holocaust Monument Act (Bill C-442) passed unanimously establishing the National Holocaust Monument.[11]
References
- ^ Recount granted for Edmonton riding, cbc.ca, July 3, 2004.
- ^ "'What happened here is not democracy'", Edmonton Journal, September 15, 2008.
- ^ "Uppal wins way to Ottawa", Sherwood Park News, October 15, 2008.
- ^ http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/ProfileMP.aspx?Key=128297&SubSubject=1003&Language=E
- ^ http://www.canada.com/Commons+passes+national+Holocaust+memorial+bill/3964215/story.html
- ^ http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Edmonton+national+holocaust+memorial+bill+passed/3964162/story.html
- ^ http://www.lauriehawnmp.ca/news.asp?newsID=56
- ^ http://www.ucc.ca/2011/02/23/statement-by-mp-tim-uppal-on-canadian-museum-of-human-rights/
- ^ http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2987374
- ^ http://www.thestar.com/news/article/967994--filmmaker-peeved-after-tories-use-his-image-in-campaign-ad?bn=1
- ^ National Holocaust Monument
External links
- Tim Uppal official site
- Profile at Parliament of Canada
- Tim Uppal – Parliament of Canada biography
- Speeches, votes and activity at OpenParliament.ca