From Surrey to Vancouver, 10 Punjabis win, 1 leading in Canada's British Columbia elections

In a remarkable display of political success, 10 Punjabi-origin candidates have won and one is leading in the recent British Columbia (BC) provincial elections, further cementing the community’s influence in Canadian politics.

The victories come at a time when the Indo-Canadian population, particularly the Punjabi community, continues to grow in size and prominence, especially in BC. The New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Conservative Party in neck-and-neck fight have won 40 and 45 seats, respectively, while the Green Party has won two out of 93 seats in the BC House.

These successful candidates hail from various political backgrounds, representing both the NDP and the Conservative Party. They ran on diverse platforms, advocating for issues such as healthcare reform, economic development, climate action, and greater support for immigrant communities.

Among the prominent winners were sitting housing minister Ravi Kahlon, who retained his Delta North seat with a significant margin. Kahlon, a key figure in BC’s political landscape, has been instrumental in driving policies related to housing and climate change.

Another notable winner is Raj Chauhan, an outgoing Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He has won for the record sixth time. 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, 2020 and 2024.

The other big name, Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar, has won from Surrey Fleetwood for a seventh term. He lost just once in 2013 and won all polls he contested. Brar was born in Bathinda and was part of the Indian men’s national basketball team. He moved to Canada for studies and settled there. He has been active in politics since 2004 when he was elected first time as an MLA.

Conservative Party candidate Mandeep Dhaliwal defeated Minister of Education and Childcare Rachna Singh from Surrey North, while another prominent Punjabi figure, Jinny Sims, lost from Surrey Panorama.

While NDP candidates Ravi Parmar won from Langford Highland, Sunita Dhir from Vancouver Langara, Reah Arora from Burnaby East and Harwinder Kaur Sandhu from Vernon Monashree. Harwinder has won from here for the second time.

Attorney General Nikki Sharma won again from Vancouver Hastings while Conservative leader Harman Singh Bhangu won from Langley Abbotsford. Conservative leader Honveer Singh Randhawa from Surrey Guildford was leading with 103 votes.

The wins mark a significant moment for the Punjabi community, which has long played a vital role in the socio-economic fabric of BC, particularly in cities like Surrey and Abbotsford, where a large portion of the Indo-Canadian population resides. These regions have seen increased political mobilisation in recent years, with local community leaders emphasising the importance of political representation.

Political analysts attribute these victories to a combination of factors, including the candidates’ strong grassroots presence, their focus on community-centric issues, and the growing influence of South Asian voters. Many Punjabi candidates received widespread support from the youth and first-generation immigrants, further signaling a shift in the political dynamics of the province.

As the newly elected Punjabi-origin MLAs take office, they are expected to continue advocating for policies that address the needs of their constituents, including affordable housing, immigrant services and education reform. Their success underscores the increasing multiculturalism of BC’s political landscape, reflecting the diverse make-up of the province’s population.

This election victory is seen as another step towards enhancing the representation of South Asians, particularly Punjabis, in Canadian politics, further empowering a community that has been integral to Canada’s cultural and economic life.