Journalist-turned-politician Gurtej Singh Brar is the latest addition to a list of successful members of the Punjabi Diaspora who have made waves in Canadian politics. In the just-concluded three by-elections in the Alberta province of Canada, Brar looks all set to make his debut in the Alberta Provincial Assembly as a representative of the New Democrats, the main opposition party.

He will be the sixth representative of the Indo-Canadian community to be a part of the 31st Provincial Assembly of Alberta. Five of them—Parmeet Singh Boparai (Calgary-Falconridge), Gurinder Singh Brar (Calgary-North East), Jasvir Singh Deol (Edmonton-Meadows), and Rakhi Pancholi (Edmonton-Whitemud)—represent the NDP, while Rajan Sawhney represents the ruling UCP from Calgary-North West.

Brar contested from Edmonton-Ellerslie and got 4,327 votes, ahead of another candidate of Indian descent, Naresh Bhardwaj of the United Conservative Party, who received 3,239. The third candidate of Indian origin in the run, Manpreet Tiwana of the Alberta Liberal Party, received 410 votes. Fred Munn of the Republican Party of Alberta received 291, Caroline Currie of the Alberta Party received 203, and Pamela Henson of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition received 41.

Educated at Ashton College and with a background in media, he has spent years amplifying the voices of his community. Beyond his professional life, he is a self-taught tech enthusiast who built his first computer from scratch. Interestingly, he maintains a 1,500-book home library that he regularly shares with his neighbors.

Brar feels that life is getting harder in Edmonton-Ellerslie under the Conservative government led by Danielle Smith, with the cancelled South Edmonton hospital, rising costs, overcrowded schools, and growing concerns about community safety.

According to him, he is ready to fight for what matters: lower costs, better health care, safer streets, stronger schools, and opportunity for everyone.

With the initial counting of votes over in the three by-elections, the ruling Conservatives have 47 members in a House of 87. The NDP has swelled its tally to 38, with the remaining two seats shared by Independents.

In the remaining two by-elections, Tara Sawyer of the United Conservative Party won the provincial by-election in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, while Alberta’s New Democrats captured both Edmonton ridings.

Elections Alberta says all vote counts remain unofficial until the official tabulation is completed on July 3.

In Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Sawyer received 9,363 votes. Beverley Toews of the Alberta NDP received 3,061. Cameron Davies of the Republican Party of Alberta received 2,705, and Bill Tufts of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition received 189.

Premier Danielle Smith congratulated Sawyer in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

According to her campaign website, Sawyer is a farmer and business owner who lives near Acme, Alta. She has served as Chair of Grain Growers of Canada and Alberta Grains—becoming the first woman elected to both roles—and has represented Canadian agriculture on trade missions to Asia, Africa, and the Gulf.

In Edmonton-Strathcona, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi received 7,952 votes. United Conservative Party candidate Darby-Rae Crouch received 1,314. Don Slater of the Alberta Liberal Party received 195, Samuel Petrov of the Alberta Party received 115, Ravina Chand of the Republican Party of Alberta received 65, and Jesse Stretch of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition received 24. All 52 voting locations reported.

Nenshi issued a written statement saying, “I am deeply honored and grateful for the trust this community has placed in me. It means the world to have the opportunity to serve Edmonton-Strathcona and all Albertans as a member of the Legislative Assembly.”

Nenshi also framed the results as a broader rejection of the governing party. “Danielle Smith and the UCP have now lost three by-elections in the last six months and have massively reduced their lead in a fourth. Voters reject the UCP’s failures. Voters sent a clear message tonight that the UCP doesn’t have a plan for a better future.”

He added, “I welcome Gurtej Singh Brar as our newest member of caucus and know he will do great things for his community. I thank Bev Toews for her strong, people-powered campaign and for showing rural Albertans that we will fight every day for their issues.”

Official results are scheduled to be released on July 3.

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