December 8, 2022
1 min read

Indian-origin Rachna Singh makes history as 1st South Asian minister in Canada

Rachna Singh was first elected as a lawmaker in 2017 from Surrey-Greentimbers and re-elected in October 2020…reports Asian Lite News

Punjab-origin Rachna Singh, a postgraduate in psychology from Panjab University here, has created a history of sorts after she was sworn in as Minister of Education and Child Care of British Columbia, Canada.

She is the second Punjabi after Moe Sihota to handle the portfolio, but the first South Asian woman to be appointed to such an important position.

“I am proud to be a part of the government that listens and care for the people. We are committed to free and accessible education to everyone,” Rachna Singh told IANS in a phone interview on Thursday.

“Our government has invested a lot of resources on education since 2017 and will continue to do the same in the coming years. Since I come from the family of educators and have worked on anti-racism in the past, I have a lens to see the problems of the children of working people and those belonging to visible minority communities,” she added.

Rachna with her parents after the swearing in today.

Both her parents — father Raghbir Singh and mother Sulekha, besides sister Sirjana are teachers by profession. Her becoming an education minister overseas is therefore significant for the family.

She had previously served the British Columbia government as Parliamentary Secretary for anti-racism initiatives. She hit the headlines after making a brief address in the provincial legislature on November 1 in her native Punjabi language.

Singh had immigrated to Canada with her husband and a two-and-a-half-year old son in 2001.

She joined Information Services Vancouver as a referral agent to help the victims of substance and domestic abuse.

She later joined Canadian Union of Public Employees and became an active trade unionist and political activist associated with the currently ruling NDP.

She was first elected as a lawmaker in 2017 from Surrey-Greentimbers and re-elected in October 2020.

She has worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor, a support worker for women facing domestic violence, and a community activist.

ALSO READ: Spouses of open work permit holders now eligible to work in Canada

Previous Story

India’s exclusion from US religious freedom blacklist irks Pakistan

Next Story

Bill protecting same-sex, interracial unions set for passage

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

India-EU Trade Deal Breakthrough Soon?

Negotiators report increased momentum in discussions, which have been given a boost from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive…reports Asian Lite News India and the European Union aim to finalise a trade

Europe Seeks Peace in Gaza

European countries condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound flotilla, demand safety of citizens…reports Asian Lite News Israel’s interception of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked condemnation across Europe, with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

‘My Injuries Made Me’

During his four-year battle with injury, the incumbent fast bowling spearhead made occasional appearances but couldn’t bear the workload and demands of red-ball cricket….reports Asian Lite News England tearaway Jofra Archer believes
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Environmental groups welcome deal to reverse nature loss by 2030

This historic deal was adopted by 196 countries under the

We stand with protestors in China, says Trudeau

We’re going to continue to ensure that China knows we’ll