Canada, 18 September 2024 (Ozi News Desk)
As many as 27 candidates of Punjabi origin are in the fray for British Columbia’s provincial poll in Canada. Polling for all 93 constituencies will be held on October 19.
Both major political outfits — National Democratic Party (NDP) and Conservative Party — are not only banking heavily on South Asians in general and Punjabis in particular, but they have also given “adequate representation” to the communities by fielding them.
The NDP has fielded its sitting Minister of Housing and Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon from his Delta seat. Earlier, he was a hockey player and has represented Canada at several international events, including the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics.
Sitting Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh is seeking re-election for a third term from Surrey North on NDP ticket. She was born in Delhi and grew up in Chandigarh. She attended Panjab University, from which she received a master’s degree in psychology.
Senior leader Raj Chauhan is serving as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He previously served as the Assistant Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2017 and as the Deputy Speaker from 2017 to 2020. While in Opposition, he served as the critic for mental health; human rights, immigration and multiculturism and labour. He was first elected MLA in 2005 and then re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020. Now, he is contesting for the record sixth term on NDP ticket.
