Lord, we lift up MLA Raj Chouhan to You and thank You for his service to the people of British Columbia. Thank You for the talents and giftings he uses to lead others in his role as Assistant Deputy Speaker. We pray that You would bless him and his family this summer season with rest and quality time together. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Raj Chouhan was first elected as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in May 2005. He was then re-elected in May 2009 and again in May 2013.
Raj serves as Assistant Deputy Speaker. Previously he has served as Opposition Critic for Labour, Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Immigration.
Raj immigrated to Canada in 1973. As a student in India, he was actively involved in student union activities. Upon his arrival in 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, and as a member of the Labour Relations Board and the Arbitration Bureau.
A founding member of the B.C. Organization to Fight Racism, Raj has worked relentlessly in promoting human rights and racial equality. He has 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. He has also travelled across Canada to give seminars and attend conferences that raise the awareness of issues such as racism, poverty, worker rights and discrimination.
Raj continues to support organizations in his community and has helped to promote diverse programs including neighbourhood safety, refugee assistance and health and wellness programs for seniors.