Gracious Lord, today we bring the Speaker of the BC Legislature, the Hon. Raj Chouhan to you. We thank you for Raj’s many years of advocacy for workers in BC and his desire that all employees be treated fairly. As he presides over the proceedings of the legislature may these same desires guide his decision making and leadership. Give Mr. Speaker great wisdom today in all his deliberations and bless his marriage and family. Amen.
Raj Chouhan, a five-term member of the B.C. legislature was voted by his peers to be the house speaker in 2020. Chouhan, who immigrated from Punjab in 1975, is the first British Columbian in this position of South Asian ancestry. Raj immigrated to Canada in 1973. As a student in India, Raj was actively involved in student union activities. Upon his arrival to Canada, Raj was greatly impacted by the plight of other immigrant workers and the wide disparity between the rich and poor in a prosperous country. This contributed to his ongoing advocacy for community and social justice for workers. Raj is the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union and served as the director of bargaining for the Hospital Employees Union for 18 years. Raj also served as a member of the Labour Relations Board of B.C. and the Arbitration Bureau of B.C. A founding member of the B.C. Organization to Fight Racism, Raj has also served as the vice-president of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003. Raj has taught courses on human rights, the B.C. Labour Code and collective bargaining since 1987.