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VANCOUVER – When Raj Chouhan first arrived in Canada in 1973, it was not uncommon for minority homes to break their windows or be defaced with racist graffiti.
The attacks caused Chouhan to become a founding member of the B.. C.. . Organization to Combat Racism. It was one of his early forays into activism and set him on his way to the legislature, where he was first elected as the New Democrat MLA in 2005.
« That got me into it, » he said. “That had to be addressed. ”
On Monday, 47 years after arriving in Canada, Chouhan was named British Columbia Legislature Speaker.
He is the first Indo-Canadian to hold this role in Canada and the first Punjabi-speaking Sikh to hold such a role outside of the Indian subcontinent, he said.
The news sparked a flurry of congratulations with lots of news from the Indo-Canadian community.
« This is really very encouraging, » said Chouhan, who was sworn in on Monday. « I’m sure you feel encouraged that you can do the same if I can. ”
Name Chouhan’s election to the historical role, B. . C.. . Prime Minister John Horgan congratulated the new speaker in the legislature.
« You and I joined this house 15 years ago, with more hair but no less enthusiasm than we do today, » joked Horgan before commending Chouhan for his human rights work, including bringing the human rights court back to the province.
« We now have the largest contingent of South Asian members in this legislature than ever, the most candidates who have ever taken a step forward to represent their communities. And now seeing you in that chair is going to smash the ceiling and, I believe, lead to more diversity. ”
The province has had Indo-Canadians in high-ranking positions in the past, particularly Prime Minister Ujjal Dosanjh. But the dignity of the speaker is certainly held in high esteem by South Asian communities, said Rattan Mall, editor of the weekly Indo-Canadian Voice.
Chouhan has earned great respect as an anti-racism activist, serving for 18 years with the Hospital Employees Union, and as the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union.
« It is a huge, significant event for South Asians. It’s just a feather in the cap, so to speak, ”said Mall. « It makes us feel more integrated into Canadian society and it is a very good moral booster, especially for the younger generation. ”
Chouhan said his goal is to run lawmakers as efficiently and professionally as possible, a task made difficult by the introduction of pandemic measures.
hopes to make lawmakers a welcoming place . He has not yet selected his own employees.
On Monday, Chouhan paid tribute to South Asian activists and community members who paved the way for him.
« It is a great honor for our pioneers who came here long before me and for others who paved the way for this better future for us, » he said. “If they hadn’t worked so hard, if they hadn’t won these fights, it wouldn’t have been easy. ”
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Raj Chouhan, New Democratic Party in British Columbia, Legislative Assembly Member, John Horgan, Darryl Plecas
World News – CA – Raj Chouhan is the first South Asian politician to speak for the B. . C.. . legislative branch
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