Liberal candidate in B.C. election, former parliamentarian faces tax charges

The Canadian Press

SURREY, B.C. - A former member of Parliament who has been acclaimed to represent the B.C. Liberals in the May provincial election is expected in court later this month on tax charges.

Sukhminder Dhaliwal is facing six counts of failing to comply with the Income Tax Act and is scheduled to appear in Surrey provincial court Feb. 21.

Dhaliwal was acclaimed to run in the provincial riding of Surrey-Panorama, which is currently held by Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux.

Cadieux has decided to run instead in the nearby riding of Surrey-Cloverdale.

Dhaliwal was unavailable for comment, but Cadieux says she only found out about the charges today and will not comment further because the issue is now before the courts.

Dhaliwal was elected twice to Parliament and represented the federal Liberals in the riding of Newton-North Delta from 2006 and 2011 when he lost his seat to the NDP.