Raj Chouhan is a Canadian politician and trade unionist, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as the MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds in the 2005 provincial election. He is serving as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He previously served as the Assistant Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2013 to 2017 and as the Deputy Speaker from 2017 to 2020. While in opposition he served as the critic for Mental Health; Human Rights, Immigration and Multiculturism and Labour. He was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2020.

Raj Chouhan
40th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Assumed office
December 7, 2020
PremierJohn Horgan
David Eby
Lieutenant GovernorJanet Austin
Preceded byDarryl Plecas
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Burnaby-New Westminster
Burnaby-Edmonds (2005–2024)
Assumed office
May 17, 2005
Preceded byPatty Sahota
Personal details
BornMarch 4
India
Political partyNew Democrat
ResidenceBurnaby, British Columbia
OccupationUnion leader

Born in the Punjab province of India, Chouhan was the founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers Union and served as a director of the Hospital Employees' Union. He 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, Chouhan has worked to promote human rights and racial equality. He has served as the Vice President of B.C. Human Rights Defenders since 2003, and has taught courses on Human Rights, the B.C. Labour Code and collective bargaining since 1987.

Electoral record

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2024 British Columbia general election: Burnaby-New Westminster
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Raj Chouhan 10,260 59.8 -3.6[a]
Conservative Deepak Suri 5,987 34.9 +33.5[a]
Independent Daniel Kofi Ampong 922 5.4
Total valid votes 17,169
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC
  1. ^ a b From 2020 redistributed results.
2020 British Columbia general election: Burnaby-Edmonds
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Raj Chouhan 11,063 62.01 +7.76 $38,987.91
Liberal Tripat Atwal 4,754 26.65 −5.43 $62,427.04
Green Iqbal Parekh 2,023 11.34 −2.33 $889.57
Total valid votes 17,840 100.00
Total rejected ballots 196 1.10  
Turnout 18036 44.36  
Registered voters 40655
Source: Elections BC[1][2]
2017 British Columbia general election: Burnaby-Edmonds
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Raj Chouhan 10,827 54.25 +2.82 $47,595.75
Liberal Garrison Duke 6,404 32.08 −6.55 $42,998.98
Green Valentine Wu 2,728 13.67 +4.93 $2,758.14
Total valid votes 19,959 100.00
Total rejected ballots 156 0.78 −0.34
Turnout 20,115 53.81 +4.81
Registered voters 37,385
Source: Elections BC[3][4]
2013 British Columbia general election: Burnaby-Edmonds
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Raj Chouhan 9,253 51.43 -0.51 $79,346
Liberal Jeff Kuah 6,950 38.63 +0.27 $20,696
Green Wyatt Tessari 1,573 8.74 +2.00 $600
Excalibur Nicholas Edward D'Amico 215 1.20 $341
Total valid votes 17,991 100.00
Total rejected ballots 203 1.12
Turnout 18,194 49.00
Source: Elections BC[5]
B.C. General Election 2009 Burnaby-Edmonds
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
New Democratic Raj Chouhan 8,647 51.94% +20.52% $75,002
Liberal Lee Rankin 6,385 38.36% -7.71% $80,469
Green Carrie McLaren 1,122 6.74% -3.17% $383
Libertarian Dan Cancade 493 2.96% +2.96% $643
Total valid votes 16,647 100%
Total rejected ballots 178 1.06%
Turnout 16,825 49.07%
B.C. General Election 2005: Burnaby-Edmonds
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
  NDP Raj Chouhan 10,337 46.71% +5.23% $71,644
Liberal Patty Sahota 9,599 43.38% -5.02% $109,119
Green Suzanne Deveau 2,192 9.91% $1,754
Total valid votes 22,128 100%
Total rejected ballots 155 0.70%
Turnout 22,283 57.70%

References

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  1. ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  2. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  4. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  5. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
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