Ontario Minister Celebrates Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Viral Bilingual Video

Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Graham McGregor, has gained significant attention for a video celebrating the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Posted at the beginning of November 2023, the video features McGregor speaking in both English and Punjabi, a move that surprised many given his background as a white Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) representing a diverse riding.

In the video, McGregor stands between two Ontario flags, wearing a red poppy on his lapel. He states, “Today we celebrate the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose message of equality, compassion and service continues to inspire millions around the world.” His ability to communicate in Punjabi reflects his engagement with a community where 75 percent of residents are visible minorities, and 25 percent are Sikh.

Brampton North, McGregor’s riding, has a rich cultural tapestry, with significant representation from various ethnic groups. McGregor mentioned to Global News, “Being a Brampton MPP, I’ve spoken in Punjabi many times. I can speak kind of conversational Punjabi and definitely interact with the community that way.”

The video quickly went viral, amassing 441,000 views on Instagram and over 1.1 million views on X, far exceeding the 125,000 constituents in his riding. The positive reception included numerous comments filled with heart emojis and praying hands, expressing appreciation for McGregor’s message. Many viewers felt a sense of recognition and inclusion through his words.

Not all responses were favorable, however. Some comments on X criticized the minister’s outreach, with one user stating, “I don’t even know which minority group you’re pandering to but it’s pathetic.” McGregor expressed mixed emotions about the feedback, stating he was “surprised in good and bad ways” by the reactions he received. While many appreciated the message, he was also taken aback by the negativity, particularly from what he described as “the hard right in America.”

Despite the backlash, McGregor remains committed to promoting positive messages. He emphasized, “The important thing is we can’t let the negative get in the way of meaningful progress. We are a diverse province; the diversity makes us beautiful, and we’ve got to celebrate that and commemorate that.”

While he has continued to post videos since the initial one, McGregor has chosen not to engage with the negative comments under the original post. He commented, “I think you’ve got to move on. Look, I’m a Brampton boy, I’ve got some chippiness in me and certainly lots of different ideas of what you could tweet back or get back at people. But rule number one is make sure that we’re putting out a positive message, that’s what the people that elected me expect me to do.”

McGregor’s intention to keep sharing messages in both English and Punjabi signals his dedication to fostering inclusivity within the community he serves. His approach reflects a broader effort to engage with a diverse constituency and to celebrate the cultural richness that defines Ontario.