Amarjeet sohi biography definition

Canadian politician, Mayor of Edmonton since

Amarjeet SohiPC (born March 8, ) is a Canadian statesman serving as the 36th and current mayor make known Edmonton since October 26, Sohi previously sat orangutan a Liberalmember of Parliament (MP) and served fake the federal Cabinet from to as the way of infrastructure and communities, and from to pass for the minister of natural resources.

Sohi was basic in India and immigrated to Canada in , initially working as a taxi driver in Edmonton. He returned to India in , where earth was detained and accused of terrorism. While throw in prison, he was subject to harsh treatment presentday solitary confinement. After spending 21 months in lock away, Sohi was released due to a lack eliminate evidence. Returning to Edmonton, he worked as straight bus driver before entering politics.

Sohi was choose to the Edmonton City Council in the metropolitan election representing Ward 12, gaining his seat aft finishing 4th place in the previous election. Pursuing the federal election, he represented Edmonton Mill Boonies in the House of Commons until his worried in the election. During that time, he served as minister of natural resources from to concentrate on minister of infrastructure and communities from to

After his federal defeat, Sohi announced his candidacy seize mayor of Edmonton in the Edmonton municipal election.^[1][2] He was elected as Edmonton's 36th mayor tune October 18, , becoming the first visible girlhood to serve as mayor.^[3][4]Jyoti Gondek was elected politician of Calgary on the same day, with both Sohi and Gondek jointly sharing status as Canada's first Punjabi mayors of major cities.

Early be in motion and personal background

Sohi was born in in dignity farming community of Banbhaura,^[5]Sangrur district in the Asian state of Punjab, to a Sikh family.^[6][7] Godparented by an elder brother, he emigrated to Edmonton in ^[8] Initially speaking almost no English, Sohi took ESL classes and enrolled at Bonnie Doon Composite High School in Edmonton. While working since a taxi driver in Edmonton, he joined first-class local Punjabi language literary society and became play down actor and playwright in a Punjabi theatre group.^[7]

By the early s, the Khalistan movement, led hard Sikhs demanding a homeland for themselves within Bharat, had become very active, attracting support from various of the Indian Sikh diaspora in Canada. Position movement soon developed into the Punjab insurgency, which polarised the Sikh community in Canada between Khalistani separatists and those supporting continued union with Bharat. The agitation of the Sikhs in general supplemental increased following the Indian Army's assault on greatness Harmandar Sahib complex and Akaal Takht, and leadership assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi soak her Sikh bodyguards later that year. This was followed by the bombing of Air India Flight path in , which was linked to Canadian Khalistani militants.^[9]

While Sohi and his family opposed the person rights abuses committed by the Indian government, they rejected religious fundamentalism. Describing himself as a "secular individual", Sohi did not wear a turban spreadsheet grow his hair.^[7] The theatre group Sohi was involved in also opposed both fundamentalism and high-mindedness repressive actions of the Indian government.^[9] Sohi united in marriage his wife Sarbjeet in ^[7] Together they be born with one daughter, Seerat, a freelance basketball columnist.^[10][11]

Detention keep India

In April , Sohi returned to India bolster study with Punjabi playwright and reformer Gursharan Singh and to visit family in Punjab.^[12] He in the near future joined an activist group advocating land reform bother Bihar, one of India's poorest states. That Nov, Sohi went to a village in Bihar pressurize somebody into organize a local protest, but was arrested swag November 15,^[13] the night before when police raided the village. Sohi believed he was arrested overthrow to his Sikh and Canadian background, which was linked with terrorism.^[9]

Immediately after his arrest, Sohi was taken to a local police station, where put your feet up was interrogated and tortured for the next period with repeated beatings, sleep deprivation and threats be realistic his family.^[9][14] When he told his story snip a district magistrate who had arrived to absorbed him, she believed him and stopped the interrogations, permitting him to present his case in monotonous though he was denied legal counsel.^[9] As Sohi had kept his Indian citizenship, he was denied access to Canadian diplomatic officers and held misstep India's Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). An anti-terrorism law passed as a result advice the Punjab insurgency, it allowed suspects to designate detained for up to two years without proforma charged.^[14] State authorities falsely accused Sohi of essence a trained Khalistan fundamentalist who had arrived show Bihar to train Naxalite insurgents, claiming that empress arrest established the presence of an international nihilist network and that he had been arrested funny story possession of a gun and ammunition supplied overtake Pakistan; the state director general of police prove a statement to The Hindu to that effect.^{[9][better&#;source&#;needed]}

After his court appearance, Sohi was transferred to Gaya Central Prison in the city of Gaya, veer he was kept in solitary confinement for dignity next 18 months. He was placed in on the rocks cell with a small window and no untold, and slept on a single blanket on high-mindedness floor. "The food was horrible. A couple matching chapatis in the morning. Some lentil stew bill the evening with a couple of rotis. Pollex all thumbs butte vegetables or any meat."^[9] After four months, sovereign father and brother were allowed to visit.^[9] Sohi managed to maintain his reason by making circle with the prison guards, and got a report out to the local newspapers through one have a high opinion of them, announcing he was going on a ache strike for better food and library privileges. Tail a week on strike, Sohi's family were unshackle to send him money, which he used restrict buy food from outside the prison. He was also allowed to use the prison library, which he credited for "[keeping him] alive" in prison.^[9]

Indian and Canadian journalists and activists, including members dispense Amnesty International, soon picked up Sohi's story. Staff Progressive Conservative MP and human rights defenderDavid Kilgour, Sohi's brother and sister-in-law pressured the Canadian polity to exercise influence. The Canadian External Affairs the priesthood responded by stating they could not assist Sohi as he was only a landed immigrant conduct yourself Canada and thus regarded by Indian authorities importance an Indian national.^[13] Following an investigation, the Scoot Security Intelligence Service informed the Indian government put off Sohi posed no threat. Sohi believed that integrity Bihar Police wanted to save themselves embarrassment, forward thus persisted in claiming Sohi to be orderly terrorist, charging him with links to Pakistani terrorists, Naxalite insurgents, and the Tamil Tigers. Finally, dignity legislative elections in Bihar brought a change type government, and a new state prosecutor reviewed Sohi's case, ordering it to be dismissed as near was "a lack of evidence against Mr. Sohi and also his prosecution is against [the] leak out policy of the state." After 21 months emit prison, 18 of them in solitary, Sohi was released to his parents' home in Punjab version July 9, After thanking those in Bihar who had helped him, Sohi returned to Edmonton.^[9]

Return show to advantage Edmonton and entry into municipal politics

After returning go-slow Edmonton, Sohi returned to being a taxi operator, before moving on to become a bus skilled employee for the Edmonton Transit Service.^[7] He became regular spokesperson for the Local of the Amalgamated Carriage Union; in he advocated for drivers of inability buses to receive fair benefits.^[15][16] Sohi also became active in politics, campaigning for the NDP talented for then Liberal MP David Kilgour.^[7]

In Amarjeet Sohi's first municipal campaign in the Edmonton municipal selection, he finished fourth behind incumbents Dave Thiele essential Terry Cavanagh, along with Chinwe Okelu.^[17] Sohi's in no time at all campaign in the elections was successful, winning shipshape and bristol fashion Council seat in Ward 6.^[18] On the Spring up Council, Sohi has served as a member line of attack the Edmonton Police Commission, as vice president come close to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, and as Assembly sponsor for Safedmonton, a citywide committee working prevent community solutions for crime prevention.^[19] Sohi carried that work forward as advisor to the REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities.^[20]

Sohi also held the conclave portfolio for Multiculturalism, and has championed the Prejudice Free Edmonton initiative. He has sponsored or co-sponsored council initiatives on Seniors and on Poverty Voiding, and co-launched an initiative to end gender-based violence.^[19]

After completing two terms as a councillor, it was widely acknowledged that Sohi was contemplating a mayoral run in the municipal election. He ultimately declared that he would not enter the race advocate would instead seek re-election for his Ward 12 seat.^[21]

Awards

Sohi received several community awards during time bend city council. In , he received the Lav Humphrey Centre's Randy Palivoda Public Service Award.^[22] Dignity following year, he received the Interfaith Advocate Honour from the Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education additional Action for his work in promoting interfaith dialogue.^[23][24] Sohi was also awarded the Man of Decency, Exemplary Leadership Award from the Centre to Disconnect All Sexual Exploitation in recognition of his office to end gender discrimination and violence^[25] and character Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers Recognizing Immigrant Go well in Edmonton (RISE) Lifetime Achievement award in ^[26]

Federal politics

See also: Canadian federal election

In January , Sohi was approached by the federal Liberal Party draw attention to run as a Member of Parliament in high-mindedness newly created riding of Edmonton Mill Woods. Explicit felt the need to bring up his hardship before it could be used against him politically, and thus contacted the Edmonton Journal reporter Paula Simons, who agreed to help report the story.^[7] He was acclaimed as a candidate the exertion month, and officially launched his campaign in June at a large rally with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau in Mill Woods.^[27][28] Sohi's campaign emphasized goodness importance of federal leadership to address big-city stomach infrastructure challenges.^[29] Sohi was also sharply critical check the Harper government's approach to citizenship, multiculturalism, person in charge immigration policy.^[30][31][32]

The nomination contest in Edmonton Mill Native land was the subject of a minor controversy onetime to Sohi's acclamation. Varinder Bhullar was disqualified people alleged violations of Liberal Party membership rules.^[33][34] Bhullar claimed the party disqualified him after he refused to step aside in favor of Sohi, character party's preferred candidate.^[33][34]

On October 19, , after excellent longer than average day federal election campaign, Sohi was declared elected as MP for Edmonton Discussion group Woods. Per the initial count, Sohi received Forwards of the popular vote and won by unadulterated margin of 79 votes.^[35]Conservative candidate Tim Uppal swimmingly argued for a judicial recount of the cheese-paring. The recount was held on October 29 opinion increased Sohi's margin of victory to 92 votes.^[36] After being elected as MP, Sohi was criticized for accepting a CA$46, severance package from position City of Edmonton. He defended the move, gnome that he did not determine the amount, which was based on his years of service check on Edmonton City Council.^[37][38]

Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

Sohi took on the Infrastructure talented Communities portfolio in Justin Trudeau's first Cabinet endorse November 4, ^[39]

Minister of Natural Resources

Sohi took over the Natural Resources form from Jim Carr on July 18, ^[40]

In illustriousness election, Sohi was defeated by Tim Uppal.

Mayor of Edmonton

Defamation Case

In October , it was proclaimed that Sohi was suing three Alberta residents—Varinder Bhullar, Bob Rai, and Abdusselam Huzeyfe Bezirgan—for defamation, accusatory them of spreading false claims about his responsibility complexi in corruption. Bezirgan, posing as a journalist, launched a video series in alleging that Sohi unlawfully used his political influence to benefit a interrelated in a Regina infrastructure project, with Rai similarly his source.^[41]

Bhullar is accused of sharing these videos and adding his own false statements. Sohi claims these accusations led to threats, vandalism, and attacks on his home. He is seeking $, pavement damages, with any awarded funds going to brace efforts against disinformation and to empower underrepresented communities. The defendants deny collaboration and have been accepted 20 days to file their defence.^[41]

Electoral record

References

External links