The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Thursday, April 14, 2011 

A small group of Filipino-Canadian advocates has come out openly against a sitting member of Parliament, declaring its intent to sweep her out of office come May 2nd election. This is perhaps a first in Toronto that Filipino Canadians are flexing what little political muscles they have to advocate and protect issues and concerns affecting them. The MP they practically declared persona non grata to the Filipino community is Ruby Dhalla, a chiropractic doctor whom Filipino caregivers alleged "abused" and "exploited" them during their employ with her and her family. 

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AS THE MAY 2ND ELECTION HEATS UP

Filipino Canadians Form Coalition Against 'Abusive' Member of Parliament

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

and National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC)

T ORONTO - In a suburban enclave northwest of Canada's largest city, Filipino Canadians are banding together to unseat a perceived "abusive" member of parliament.

With no more than 1,500 out of a voting population of 84,239, these Filipino-Canadian voters could spell the difference between victory and defeat for incumbent Member of Parliament Ruby Dhalla, a Liberal, and challenger Parm Gill, a Conservative.

Dhalla, a chiropractic doctor, represents the riding (district) of Brampton-Springdale in the House of Commons since 2004, a year after it was carved out of six adjoining neighbourhoods. The dominant minorities are of South-Asian descent.

Gill, a businessman, courts the Filipino votes based largely on the disaffection with Dhalla, who has been accused by three Filipino caregivers of abuse. Dhalla had the caregivers under her employ, taking care of her mother.

Out of its listed population of 131,797 as of 2001, the riding has 84,239 electors. In the 2008 election, there was a 54.2 percent turnout, or 45,689. Of that number, Dhalla received 18,577 (41 percent). Her opponent Gill got 17,804 (39.3 percent) for a difference of 773 votes

That figure – 773 – is quite important in that Filipinos' 1,500 could be the swing vote. They could turn the tables for Gill, assuming they would all vote.

"The Brampton-Springdale riding is significant to the Filipino-Canadian community because of the on-going allegations of abuse towards Filipino caregivers by the family of the incumbent, Liberal Member of Parliament Dr. Ruby Dhalla," said Julius  A. Tiangson, one of the active leaders of Baguhin Coalition.

The coalition is an issues-oriented advocacy of Filipino-Canadian community leaders working to insure that Filipino concerns are best represented. It is endorsing Gill who was born in Malaysia and raise in Canada.

It is perhaps the first all-Filipino organization intent on removing a sitting MP by voting her out on May 2nd elections.

"This coalition will continue to work together to insure the defeat of Dr. Dhalla," explains Tiangson in an interview on Wednesday (April 13, 2011) in an event he organized in Brampton where Immigration Minister Jason Kenney was the main guest.

According to Tiangson, the cases brought against Dhalla have rendered her ineffective. "The issues surrounding the allegations of abuse of Filipino Live-in Caregivers by the family of MP Ruby Dhalla compromise her ability to represent the Filipino community," he states.

J ust how much Filipino caregivers detest Dhalla was echoed by Terry Olayta, the outspoken director of Caregivers Resource Center in Toronto. (For a video of Olayta's rant, please click the link: " mce_href="/">.)

"She is an elected woman to the highest public office that has destroyed the morale, the self-esteem of the caregivers and we want her out," she declares.

"I'm going to knock door to door until my knuckles hurt because I want to tell them: Ruby Dhalla, it's time to go. She has to go!" Olayta stresses.

Kenney, Gill and mostly Conservative supporters applauded her loudly. The huge presence of Filipinos seems to indicate an inclination to carry Gill, or any candidate for that matter, so long as it would result in kicking Dhalla out.

Dhalla's fallout began with the so-called "Nannygate" -- an expose by the Toronto Star that has unraveled the hiring by the Dhalla household of three Filipino nannies who complained in 2009 of being exploited. They claimed working long hours without overtime pay and did non-nanny chores.

One of the damning complaints was made by caregiver Richelyn Tongson, 39, who had claimed that Dhalla kept her passport and other personal documents for months and promised to sponsor her. The MP has denied the allegations.

"It's very unfortunate, what took place but I'm looking forward to working with the Filipino community to address as many issues and concerns as there may be," said Gill, Dhalla's challenger.

Asked to comment, he states: "Honestly, when I saw that story the first time it broke, it hit me. It broke my heart because specially any time anyone takes advantage of vulnerable people who've come here just like all of us to make a life for themselves and certain people take advantage of them . . . it's very unfortunate".

Dhalla or her office spokeswoman named Candice have not responded to queries at least six hours after this story was being written. Candice has promised to get back with answers but none has been received so far. # # #

(© Copyright by Romeo P. Marquez, Editor, Philippine Village Voice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. E-mail: TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com, PhilVoiceNews@aol.com or CurrentsBreakingNews@gmail.com).

My news channels can be viewed by clicking the links:

At Vimeo:

1. http://vimeo.com/16962555

2. http://vimeo.com/user4144767

For other stories, please visit: 

1. http://currentsbreakingnews.blogspot.com/ 

2. http://torontonewsroom.blogspot.com/

3. http://timecircumstance.blogspot.com/

4. http://travelsthemes.blogspot.com/ 

5. http://gotchajournalist.blogspot.com/ .