Chandra Arya

Early life and career before politics

Chandra Arya was born in 1963 in Dwaralu village, located in the Sira Taluk of Karnataka, India. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the Kousali Institute of Management Studies in Dharwad, an institution affiliated with Karnataka University. Arya immigrated to Canada in 2006 and settled in Ottawa. Prior to entering federal politics, he served as the chairman of the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber, a role focused on fostering trade and business connections between Canada and India. His business background and community leadership were foundational to his subsequent political career.

Parliamentary career and electoral success

Chandra Arya was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2015 federal election, winning the riding of Nepean for the Liberal Party. He secured re-election in the 2019 federal election and again in the 2021 federal election with 45 percent of the vote. During the 2021 election campaign, Arya was criticized by members of the Ottawa Punjabi Association, who put up anti-Arya signs accusing him of not taking a stronger stance against the Indian government's farming reforms. Throughout his decade in Parliament, Arya served as a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade, participating in reviews of Canada's trade agreements. In 2022, Arya became the first member of parliament to speak in Kannada, his mother tongue, in the House of Commons. On April 14, 2023, Arya sponsored petition e-4395, calling on the Liberal government to reconsider setting up a foreign influence transparency registry. Arya told Global News that he agreed with the concerns expressed by the petitioners. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded by saying he supported the registry but argued to be cautious with the implementation. In November 2022, Arya's private member's bill, which proclaimed that November was Hindu Heritage Month, passed unanimously. After allegations of Indian government involvement in the 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar were made public, Arya said to CBC News that Hindu Canadians were fearful of Sikh separatist supporters.

Political positions and policy stances

Chandra Arya developed a distinct set of policy positions. He supports abolishing the Canadian monarchy and advocates for a smaller, more efficient federal government. Arya opposes diversity, equity, and inclusion quotas in hiring and proposes taxing Canadian citizens living abroad. On environmental policy, he calls for the removal of the federal carbon pricing system. Arya supports recognizing Palestine as a state. He argues that Canada should criminalize displays of support for terrorists and extremism. Arya seeks to position Canada as an energy superpower. He also argues that former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's immigration policies have caused Canada to rely on cheap, foreign labour. His stance on the French language became a significant point of contention during his brief 2025 leadership campaign. Arya argued that fluency in French should not be a prerequisite for leading the country, asserting that French-speaking Canadians prioritized effective governance over linguistic ability. This position was widely criticized within the Liberal Party and contributed to his disqualification from the leadership race. When the Toronto Star inquired about his comments on Hindu Canadian fears, he refused to speak to them by stating that he only does live interviews to avoid being misquoted.

Controversies and ethical questions

Chandra Arya's time in office was accompanied by several controversies. In 2016, he faced an ethics inquiry after awarding 26 graduating students in his riding either an Amazon Kindle e-reader or $500 in cash for showing perseverance. Arya defended the awards, stating they were paid for by the Nepean Liberal Riding Association. In 2021, he apologized after a staffer mistakenly emailed the private information of nine hundred constituents to Conservative Party staffers. The Conservatives instructed their staff to delete the email and no sanctions were applied under privacy laws. In February 2023, a Global News report revealed that from July 2020 to September 2022, Arya spent $21,931 in taxpayer funds on 1,025 protocol gifts, primarily plaques from SINIX Media Group. The report noted SINIX Media Group received fifty-three contracts worth $53,681.50 from Arya’s constituency office over the same period. Arya stated the plaques were for constituents but did not answer questions about his relationship with the company's chief executive officer. When Arya raised a flag on Parliament Hill to celebrate Hindu Heritage Month in November 2022, academics from the Université du Québec à Montréal and groups from Hindus for Human Rights sent letters to Prime Minister Trudeau arguing that the flag represented Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization. Arya told CBC News that the flag represented the Hindu faith and not support for any political organization. In September 2024, Canadian news website The Breach accused Arya of advocating for causes close to the Hindu far right. In 2022, when filmmaker Leena Manimekalai faced backlash for a poster of her movie Kaali, which depicted the Hindu goddess Kali smoking and holding a rainbow flag, Arya condemned the poster on Twitter and linked it to vandalism of Hindu temples. Over a hundred academics, activists, and community organization members sent a letter criticizing Arya's remarks to Prime Minister Trudeau. In March 2024, Arya sent an email trying to convince his fellow members of parliament to oppose fellow Liberal MP Sukh Dhaliwal's motion on political interference, stating it would damage relations with India. The motion passed unanimously. In December 2024, Arya claimed he was the only Liberal Party Member of Parliament to oppose a motion recognizing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots violence in India as genocide. His refusal sparked backlash from Sikh MPs, particularly Sukh Dhaliwal and Jagmeet Singh. Arya later claimed he received threats following his objection and warned that a Khalistani lobby might seek to reintroduce the motion.

2025 leadership bid and removal from party

Following the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Chandra Arya declared his candidacy for the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election in January 2025, becoming the first sitting MP to do so. Arya could not speak French but did not believe his lack of French mattered to French-speaking Canadians. On January 26, 2025, the party's review committee deemed him "manifestly unfit" to lead the party, ruling his candidacy ineligible and barring him from the race. The party's actions against Arya escalated two months later. On March 20, 2025, the Liberal Party's national campaign director, Andrew Bevan, informed Arya in a letter that his nomination to run as the Liberal candidate in Nepean for the upcoming federal election had been revoked. The letter cited new information obtained by the party's "green light committee" but provided no specifics. Arya shared the letter on Facebook, calling the news deeply disappointing. Prime Minister Mark Carney was later announced as the new Liberal candidate for Nepean. The Globe and Mail reported that Arya was ousted due to foreign interference concerns. This was after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service allegedly briefed the government about Arya's allegedly close ties to the Indian government of Narendra Modi and the Indian High Commission in Ottawa. A specific point of contention was an unauthorized trip Arya took to India in summer 2024. During this trip, he met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi without informing the Canadian government, amid heightened tensions between the two countries. Global Affairs Canada stated Arya travelled on his own initiative and was not representing the Government of Canada. The Globe and Mail also reported party officials were concerned about "troubling inconsistencies" in Arya's responses to a confidential questionnaire regarding his foreign associations and activities. Arya defended his actions, stating he had never been required to seek government permission for such engagements. In May 2025, he said he believed he was removed for speaking up for Hindu Canadians and against alleged Khalistan movement extremists.

Post-parliamentary activities and legacy

On May 8, 2025, Arya announced the launch of the Hindu Public Affairs Council of Canada (Canada HPAC), an organization designed to lobby for Hindu-Canadian interests. He told The Globe and Mail that Canada HPAC would be funded by individual donations from Canadians and would not operate as a charity, ensuring independence from charitable regulations. He identified combatting anti-Hindu sentiments and the Khalistan movement as key priorities for the new council. Arya also expressed optimism that Indo-Canadian relations could improve under Prime Minister Carney. His political career demonstrated a base of local support in Nepean through three electoral victories. His expulsion highlighted the intense scrutiny on parliamentarians regarding foreign connections and adherence to party norms. His advocacy amplified specific diaspora concerns but also exposed community divisions and triggered debates about political speech and foreign influence. The establishment of Canada HPAC indicates his intention to remain a vocal figure in Canadian public affairs from outside Parliament.

Electoral performance

Chandra Arya was elected to represent the riding of Nepean in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election. He was re-elected in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. In the 2021 election, he won with 45 percent of the vote. His nomination for the 2025 federal election was revoked by the Liberal Party in March 2025, preventing a fourth campaign. Prime Minister Mark Carney subsequently won the Nepean seat in the 2025 election. Arya served as the Member of Parliament for Nepean from October 2015 until the dissolution of Parliament for the 2025 election.

Questions about Chandra Arya

Why was Chandra Arya removed from the Liberal Party?

Chandra Arya was removed due to foreign interference concerns. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service briefed the government about his alleged close ties to the Indian government and an unauthorized 2024 trip to India where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Liberal Party cited "new information" and "troubling inconsistencies" in his responses to a confidential questionnaire, revoking his nomination in March 2025 after earlier barring him from the leadership race in January. The party's review committee had deemed him "manifestly unfit" to lead.

What are Chandra Arya's main political beliefs?

Arya supports abolishing the monarchy, a smaller government, and removing the carbon tax. He opposes diversity quotas and supports taxing citizens abroad. In foreign policy, he supports recognizing Palestine and criminalizing support for terrorism. He seeks to position Canada as an energy superpower and criticizes immigration policies for relying on cheap labour. He also believes fluency in French should not be a prerequisite for Prime Minister, a stance that contributed to his leadership disqualification.

What controversies was Chandra Arya involved in?

Arya was involved in a 2016 ethics inquiry over student gifts, a 2021 constituent data breach, and high spending on plaques from SINIX Media Group. He faced criticism for raising a flag some associated with Hindu nationalism, condemned a film poster depicting goddess Kali, and opposed motions on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and foreign interference. In September 2024, The Breach accused him of advocating for the Hindu far right. His unauthorized 2024 India trip was central to his removal.

What is the Hindu Public Affairs Council of Canada?

The Hindu Public Affairs Council of Canada (Canada HPAC) is an advocacy organization founded by Chandra Arya in May 2025. It lobbies for Hindu-Canadian interests, funded by individual donations and not as a charity. Its stated priorities include combatting anti-Hindu sentiments and addressing the activities of the Khalistan movement within Canada. Arya leads the council after his parliamentary career ended.

How many times was Chandra Arya elected, and what riding did he represent?

Chandra Arya was elected three times to represent the riding of Nepean in Ottawa, Ontario. He won in 2015, 2019 and 2021. He served from October 2015 until the 2025 election, a tenure of nearly a decade, before his nomination was revoked. In his last election in 2021, he secured 45 percent of the vote.

Sources and further reading

• Chandra Arya (Wikipedia)
• Liberals revoke Chandra Arya's nomination, after removing ... (cbc.ca)
• Liberals revoke Arya's nomination, after removing him from ... (winnipeg.citynews.ca)
• Chandra Arya | openparliament.ca (openparliament.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.