Local MLA Raj Chouhan has been elected Speaker of the B.C. legislature, making him the first Punjabi person from India to be elected to that position in any legislature in North America, according to the BC NDP.
Chouhan previously served as deputy Speaker to former Independent MLA Darryl Plecas, and Premier John Horgan indicated, after his cabinet was sworn in, the Burnaby-Edmonds MLA would be nominated for the Speaker position.
Chouhan was elected to the position on Monday, the first day in a two-week session before MLAs break for Christmas. He is also the first South Asian speaker in B.C.'s history.
“I am deeply honoured to have been elected by my colleagues to serve as Speaker,” said Chouhan in a news release. “I have spent my career advocating for the rights of every person and working to end discrimination and inequality, and I look forward to continue serving the people of B.C. by ensuring our assembly operates in a fair and just manner.”
Chouhan has represented Burnaby-Edmonds since 2005 and has extensive union work prior to that, including founding the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union and serving as director of bargaining for the Hospital Employees Union for 18 years.
The Speaker of the legislature oversees debates to ensure rules of conduct and procedure are followed.
In a news release, the NDP noted the legislature would resume in the afternoon, with the short session to be focused on “helping people stay safe and ensuring British Columbians are supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The NDP promised a $500 subsidy to all individual households and $1,000 for all family households, but Horgan fell short of saying it would be available by the end of this session.
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