Electoral Firsts in Canada - South Asians

South Asians

• Note: South Asians include those of Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepalese or Bangladeshi ancestry.

First South Asian Canadian candidate in Canada: Hardial Bains, Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada - Eglinton - 1972 federal election

First South Asian elected in Canada: Moe Sihota, BC New Democratic Party MLA, Esquimalt-Port Renfrew 1986–1991, Esquimalt-Metchosin, 1991–2001

First South Asian Provincial Premier: Ujjal Dosanjh, BC New Democratic Party February 24, 2000 to June 5, 2001 (Punjabi)

First South Asian leaders of a major political party: Raj Pannu, Alberta New Democratic Party February 2, 2000–2004 (MLA 1997–2008) (Punjabi) Note: Hardial Bains was the first South Asian Canadian to lead a political party. He founded and led the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada from 1970 to 1997

First South Asian female MPs: Yasmin Ratansi, Don Valley East, Liberal MP 2004+ (Ismaili, Muslim), Nina Grewal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, Conservative MP 2004+ (India, Sikh) and Ruby Dhalla, Brampton—Springdale, Liberal MP 2004+ (India, Sikh) (Yasmin Ratansi is the first Muslim woman elected in Canada, and Nina Grewal and Ruby Dhalla are the first Punjabi women elected in Canada)

First South Asian MLA elected in BC: Moe Sihota, BC New Democratic Party MLA, Esquimalt-Port Renfrew 1986–1991, Esquimalt-Metchosin, 1991–2001

First South Asian MLA elected in Alberta

First South Asian MLA elected in Manitoba: Gulzar Cheema, Manitoba Liberal MLA Kildonan 1988–1990

First South Asian MPP elected in Ontario: Murad Velshi, Ontario Liberal MPP Don Mills 1987–1990

First South Asian MLA elected in Nova Scotia: Leonard Preyra, Nova Scotia NDP MLA Halifax Citadel 2006–present

First South Asian School Board Trustee elected in Canada: Neethan Shan, York Region District School Board 2006–present

South Asian Canadian Senators

• Mobina Jaffer, Liberal Senator, 2001–present

South Asian presidents, vice presidents and secretaries of political parties

• Sav Dhaliwal - former President of the BC NDP
• Raj Sharan - Former president of the Newfoundland & Labrador Newfoundland & Labrador New Democratic Party