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TORONTO: An Indo-Canadian MP from the Conservative Party has been accused of “lying” about a Liberal candidate’s views over pension policy for new immigrants, a media report said.
Liberal candidate Ruby Sahota has accused Parm Gill, the Tory incumbent in the hotly-contested Greater Toronto Area riding of Brampton North, of attacking a former political foe with the same first name as her, for championing a policy that she does not support, The Huffington Post Canada reported on Sunday.
“Ruby and the Liberals have been pushing to lower the residency requirement for Old Age Security (OAS) from 10 years to 3 years for new immigrants,” Gill was quoted as saying in a pamphlet sent to voters in Ontario district.
But the Ruby who championed that policy was the former Liberal MP, Ruby Dhalla.
“I don’t know what to call it other than a blatant lie,” Ms Sahota said.
“He has eliminated last names in the letter and sent this out to all the constituents, clearly lying and misleading them to believe that I’m in support of this bill,” she added.
Ms Dhalla in 2009 introduced a bill — C-428 — which sought to reduce eligibility requirement for monthly old age security pensions. The bill was not supported by the Liberals.
The bill, according to Mr Gill, would cost Canadians $700 million per year.
Mr Gill beat Ms Dhalla for the Brampton-Springdale seat in 2011 with 48.3 per cent of the vote against her 27.9 per cent.
Canadian federal elections are scheduled to be held in October this year.
