# Baltej Singh Dhillon

Baltej Singh Dhillon (born 1966) is a Canadian politician and former police officer who was the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to be allowed to wear a turban. He was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau on February 7, 2025.

## Early life

He was born in 1966 in Malaysia and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1983. After graduating from high school, he went on to Kwantlen College to study criminology with hopes of becoming a criminal lawyer. Having been advised to do some volunteer work to improve his chances of getting into law school, he helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) launch the Block Watch program in his community and was subsequently hired by the force to work on the program.

## Recruitment and controversy

Based on his previous experiences, Dhillon decided that he wanted to join the RCMP. He went to a recruiting office and met all the initial requirements. The recruiting officer raised the delicate issue of the turban. RCMP policy did not allow it, however the issue went to then-Commissioner of the RCMP, Norman Inkster. Inkster sided with Dhillon, and pressure was put on the federal government to change the policy.
Dhillon's request (and subsequent support from Inkster) created much controversy. Many opposed to the change believed that the stetson was part of the uniform and allowing a turban into such an all-Canadian institution would change the face of a national icon.
Over 150,000 people signed petitions to retain the traditional RCMP dress code, and sympathetic legislators presented the results to Parliament. Conversely, Sikh leaders pointed out that turbaned Sikhs served in the British Indian Army in two World Wars and now work in many Canadian police forces.
On March 16, 1990, the federal Solicitor General, Pierre Cadieux, announced in the House of Commons that the policy was theretofore amended to permit Sikhs to wear the turban while on active duty in the RCMP. Dhillon subsequently entered the RCMP Academy, Depot Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the first turbaned cadet. Dhillon's career saw him, among other things, work as an investigator with the 1985 Air India bombing task force.
Staff sergeant Dhillon served as head of the British Columbia RCMP Provincial Intelligence Centre, which is composed of Regular RCMP Members, Canadian Security Intelligence Service members, municipal police service members and civilian staff. He participated in Major Crimes and Polygraph, as they were his previous area of expertise.

## Political career

In 2024, Dhillon was nominated as a BC NDP candidate for the 2024 British Columbia general election, running in the Surrey-Serpentine River riding. He placed second behind former Mayor of Surrey Linda Hepner of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.
On February 7, 2025, he was nominated and appointed to the Senate of Canada by Justin Trudeau.

## Personal life

As of 2025, Dhillon resides in Surrey with his wife, mother, and two daughters.

## Electoral record

vte2024 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Serpentine River :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Linda Hepner | 9,782 | 49.7% |
| | New Democratic | Baltej Singh Dhillon | 9,347 | 47.5% |
| | Independent | James McMurtry | 554 | 2.8% |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 19,683 | – |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | |
| Source: Elections BC |||||||