HOME  |  March 20, 2010  |  Blogs: The Dish, The Goods, The Hype and The Informer

My Toronto Life: Sign In  |  Register   |  Contests  |  Subscribe

Toronto Life

advertisement indicator

Nanny 911

Ruby Dhalla’s dramatic fall from grace



Image credit: Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press

On May 8, 2009, Ruby Dhalla stepped in front of the cameras. Old hat for the fresh-faced Brampton MP who, in her five years in politics, has proven to be the most comely and camera-ready Liberal this side of Trudeaumania. Except this time, the adoration had turned to accusation in a cinematic storyline that could go down as the scandal that sidelined Dr. Dhalla for good. With her lawyer by her side, she struggled to maintain her patented poise as dozens of reporters demanded answers. Had she really committed all of these appalling (or arguably appalling) acts—paying her mother’s caregivers less than $5 an hour; forcing them to shovel snow, scrub floors and polish shoes—as three former Dhalla family employees had alleged? Or was she a victim of the muckraking media, suddenly empowered nannies or even the conspiring Tories? Parliament’s unofficial Miss Ethnic Diversity, Dhalla has built her name on championing the rights of immigrants, a fact that only served to heighten the hysteria and further humiliate the star at the centre of the storm, who, for once, wasn’t quite ready for her close-up.

Comments

Comment on this story

Neither the author nor Toronto Life necessarily agree with the comments posted here. Editors will not correct spelling or grammar. Toronto Life reserves the right to edit or delete comments entirely. Read our full policy

Some articles on this site require that you have a Torontolife.com account in order to comment, and this is one of them. If you do not have an account, you can register now.

Username:
Password: (Forgotten your password?)

Comment:

Follow Toronto Life on Twitter, Facebook and via RSS

advertisement indicator
advertisement indicator

TODAY IN TORONTO has moved to our new culture and entertainment blog, The Hype. Look for it every morning here

Special messages from our partners Toronto Life and Yellow Pages Wedding Guide 2010. Click here for Perfect Escapes Click here to view the full Private Schools Directory Click here to view the Home Renovation Guide Click to search careers on Toronto Life. Powered by Career Builder Canada
The Dish blog
The Goods blog
The Hype blog
The Informer blog
Most-read Feature Stories
CityGuides
advertisement indicator HomeStars Mark McEwan Windfall Canadian Family