Dr. Gulzar Singh Cheema, a respected physician and trailblazer in Indo-Canadian politics, has taken legal action after being blocked from a diplomatic posting to Australia despite earlier approval from the federal government.
Dr. Cheema, who made history as the first Indo-Canadian to be elected as an MLA/MPP, first in Manitoba and then in British Columbia—was given the green light in 2024 to serve as Canada’s Consul General in Australia. However, the appointment was halted after he was denied security clearance by federal agencies.
The issue reportedly stemmed from Cheema’s past interactions with individuals connected to foreign governments. While the name of the country involved has not been officially disclosed, speculation suggests that his previous contact with diplomats or officials—possibly in his capacity as a public figure—was flagged during the clearance process.
Cheema has argued that any such meetings could be in the public domain and were not concealed in any way. Despite this, his responses during the screening process were deemed unsatisfactory by intelligence officers, resulting in the denial of clearance.
The federal government’s decision to withhold his security clearance has now led to a legal battle in court, where Cheema is challenging what he believes is an unfair and opaque process. The court will now determine the denial of security clearance was based on legitimate concerns or unfounded assumptions linked to his background and international connections.
