Controversy Over Vinning’s $28,000 Consulting Contract With City Of Surrey Might Have Hurt His Senate Chances!

Former Scotiabank’s vice chairman Sarabjit Singh “Sabi” Marwah has become the first Sikh to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, making history for the vibrant Sikh-Canadian community. However, the choice stunned many political observers who were sure that long-time Liberal party man Prem Vinning, who brought Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan into Trudeau’s winning team, was supposed to make history by finally becoming a Senator after he was offered the same post by former Prime Minister Jean Chretien. But Vinning may have been passed over due to recent controversy where he was accused of selling his Ottawa connections to the City  of Surrey in a “chump-change” consulting contract worth a pittance $28,000.

By PD Raj

TORONTO  – Former Scotiabank’s vice chairman Sarabjit Singh “Sabi” Marwah has become the first Sikh to be appointed to the Canadian Senate, making history for the vibrant Sikh-Canadian community.

However, the choice stunned many political observers who were sure that long-time Liberal party man Prem Vinning, who brought Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan into Trudeau’s winning team, was supposed to make history by finally becoming a Senator after he was offered the same post by former Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

But Vinning may have been passed over due to recent controversy where he was accused of selling his Ottawa connections to the City  of Surrey in a “chump-change” consulting contract worth a pittance $28,000.

Toronto-based Marwah, who retired from Scotiabank in 2014, was among six people from Ontario who were appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the weekend.

Trudeau lauded Marwah for his efforts for showcasing the “rich diversity of Sikh and South Asian art and culture”.

Marwah is one of the founders of the Sikh Foundation of Canada that promotes culture and art among the diaspora community.

The Sikh-Canadian community activist organization World Sikh Organization congratulated also congratulated Marwah on being appointed Canada’s first Sikh senator.

Marwah, who recently retired as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer for Scotiabank, has long been a mentor to up and coming Sikh professionals and has worked on several Sikh cultural initiatives.

WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “we offer our congratulations and best wishes to Sabi Marwah on his appointment to the senate;  there are few people with stronger qualifications.  This is truly an amazing and historic time for Sikhs in Canada with a record number of Sikh MPs, four cabinet ministers, the appointment of Bardish Chaggar as the first woman and first Sikh to serve as House Leader and now with the appointment of the first Sikh senator.  Sikhs have come a long way in Canada and continue to be inspired by the Sikh values of seva (service) and sarbat da bhalla (upliftment of all).”

Marwah, who was born in Kolkata in 1952, did his his schooling from St Xavier’s School. He is an alumnus of Delhi’s St Stephen’s College and the Delhi School of Economics, and holds an MBA degree from the University of California – Los Angeles, US.

Marwah joined Scotiabank in Toronto as a financial analyst in 1978. Rising through the ranks, he went on to become the chief financial officer (COO) in 1998. In 2002, he was made the bank’s senior executive vice president and chief financial officer.

In 2005, he was elevated as the vice chairman and chief administrative officer. In 2008, he was re-designated.

Marwah has served on the boards of many famous Canadian institutions such as the Toronto Star daily newspaper, the Toronto International Film Festival, the CD Howe Institute, the Royal Ontario Museum, the United Way Campaign, and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Marwah joins two other turbaned Sikhs — Defence Minister Harjeet Sajjan and Science Minister Navdeep Bains — in the Canadian Parliament.

While Marwah will be the only Sikh-Canadian member of the Senate (upper house), there are over 20 elected Indo-Canadian-Sikh MPs in the House of Commons (lower house).