There will be several Punjabi and Sikh candidates whose fates will be decided when Canada votes on September 20 to establish a new federal government.
As many as 47 Punjabis are trying their luck in the upcoming general federal elections in Canada. Several NRI candidates are contesting elections from various constituencies and some
are even going up against each other in a few points.
In between these Indo-Canadian politicians, one prominent face is Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. Seeking re-election, the Defence Minister is contesting from Vancouver South for Liberals.
He will be opposing Sukhbir Singh Gill of the Conservative Party.
Having served as a former police officer and decorated soldier, Mr Sajjan has made helping others a cornerstone of his life. Here’s all you need to know about the current minister
of Defence in Canada and the Liberal candidate contesting in the 2021 federal elections.
Political presence
Harjit was elected as a Member of Parliament for Vancouver South on October 19, 2015. Contested for Canada's Liberal Party, he had defeated Wai Young, the incumbent Conservative
MP. Since then, Mr Sajjan is the minister of national defence in the federal cabinet of Justin Trudeau.
Sajjan represents the community in the house of commons with a strong voice and advocates for youth education and mentorship programs.
Also Read: Canadian elections 2021: Here are 47 Punjab-origin candidates in fray for snap poll on September 20
Served in Canadian armed forces
Sajjan, a combat veteran who served in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan three times, is a retired lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces. He
received multiple military honours including the Meritorious Service Medal in 2013 for diminishing the Taliban's presence in Kandahar.
He was also the aide-de-camp (ADC) to the lieutenant governor of British Columbia.
Police officer
Harjit served for the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years, mainly in South Vancouver. He worked as a detective in the gang crime unit in the last days of his career, where he specialised
in organised crime.
Early life
Harjit Sajjan was born in Bombeli village of Punjab’s Hoshiarpur District (India). The Indian origin politician, immigrated to Canada from India with his family when he was just
five years old.
The minister in his early 50s grew up in South Vancouver and is running from the same constituency.