Vic Dhillon - Definition and Overview

Vic Dhillon is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Brampton West--Mississauga for the Ontario Liberal Party. He is one of the three Sikh Members of the Legislature, all of whom are members of the Liberal Party.

Dhillon has lived in Brampton for most of his life. He has a Business Administration degree from Lakehead University, and helped to found a family-owned business in Mississauga. He has also done fundraising work for the Brampton Food Bank, and was involved in sending supplies to eastern Ontario during the Ice Storm of 1998. From 1993 to 2003, Dhillon worked as the executive assistant to federal Liberal MP Colleen Beaumier.

Dhillon first ran for the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1999, losing to high-profile cabinet minister Tony Clement by over 8000 votes in the newly-created provincial riding of Brampton West--Mississauga. He won the Liberal nomination for the riding again in the provincial election of 2003, and defeated Clement by about 2500 votes. This was regarded by most as a major upset, although Dhillon later claimed that the result did not surprise him. High support among the riding's Indo-Canadian community was extremely important to his victory.

Dhillon was 34 years old at the time of his victory. He is now a backbench supporter of Dalton McGuinty's government.