The Honourable Baljit Singh Gosal ਬਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੋਸਲ PC |
|
---|---|
Minister of State for Sport | |
In office May 18, 2011 – November 4, 2015 |
|
Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
Preceded by | Gary Lunn |
Succeeded by | Carla Qualtrough |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Bramalea—Gore—Malton |
|
In office May 2, 2011 – October 19, 2015 |
|
Preceded by | Gurbax Singh Malhi |
Succeeded by | Riding Abolished |
Personal details | |
Born |
Baljit Singh Gosal May 4, 1960 ratainda, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district, Punjab, India |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse(s) | Pawanjit Gosal |
Profession | Insurance broker |
Baljit Singh Gosal (Punjabi: ਬਲਜੀਤ ਗੋਸਲ; born May 4, 1960) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 2011 federal election. He represents the electoral district of Bramalea—Gore—Malton as a member of the Conservative Party, and served as Minister of State (Sport) in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Gosal was one of five Visible Minorities serving in the Harper Ministry in Cabinet. He was defeated by Liberal candidate Ramesh Sangha in the 2015 election.
Born in India, Gosal immigrated to Canada in 1981 settling in Northern British Columbia. Soon after, he moved to Brampton with his wife, Pawanjit. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from DAV College Jalander/Punjab University India in 1981 and a Stationary Engineer 4th class Certificate. Gosal began working in the financial sector first in 1984 for McDonnell Douglas Canada and later in 1994 for Prudential Insurance, which later became London Life. In 2004 Gosal joined Goodison Insurance and Financial Services and in 2008 he joined Rai Grant insurance brokers where he worked as an Insurance Broker and a Financial Security Advisor.
In the 2011 election Gosal defeated long-time Liberal Member of Parliament Gurbax Singh Malhi and future NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh Dhaliwal in a close three-way race.
As Minister of State for Sport, Gosal was the Minister responsible for Canada at the 2012 summer Olympics in London and lead the Canadian delegation to the 2014 Sochi winter Olympics. On June 29, 2012, Gosal announced the endorsement of all Canadian provincial ministers responsible for sport of the New Canadian Sport Policy.