Parm Bains
Paramvir "Parm" Bains is a Canadian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he has represented Richmond East—Steveston in the House of Commons since the 2021 federal election. He was re-elected in the 2025 federal election.
Early life and career prior to politics
Bains was born in Victoria, British Columbia. He is from a Jat Sikh family and his parents immigrated to Canada from Village Mahilpur Punjab, India. Bains is married and has two children.Prior to his election, Bains was an instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He has also worked as a media and public relations officer with the provincial government.
Political career
Bains ran for Richmond City Council in the 2018 British Columbia municipal elections, but was not elected. In the 2021 federal election, he defeated incumbent Kenny Chiu. He was re-elected in the 2025 federal election, receiving 48.5% of the vote.In the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, Bains endorsed Mark Carney.
Chinese interference allegations
In 2023, allegations surfaced that the Chinese government may have attempted to influence Parm Bains' 2021 election victory in Steveston—Richmond East. Reports indicated disinformation campaigns on Chinese-language platforms, such as WeChat and WhatsApp, targeted his opponent Kenny Chiu, a critic of the Chinese Communist Party and sponsor of a foreign influence registry bill.Canadian Security Intelligence Service documents flagged the riding as a potential target of interference. Bains denied that foreign interference played a role in his victory and insisted he won "fair and square."