Jagrup Brar

Jagrup Brar is a Canadian politician. He is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in British Columbia, representing the riding of Surrey-Panorama Ridge from 2004 to 2009, then Surrey-Fleetwood from 2009 to 2013 and since 2017. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), he has served as the province's Minister of State for Trade since 2022.

The Honourable
Jagrup Brar
MLA
Minister of State for Trade of British Columbia
Assumed office
December 7, 2022
PremierDavid Eby
Preceded byGeorge Chow
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Surrey-Fleetwood
Assumed office
May 9, 2017
Preceded byPeter Fassbender
In office
May 12, 2009 – May 14, 2013
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byPeter Fassbender
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Surrey-Panorama Ridge
In office
October 28, 2004 – May 12, 2009
Preceded byGulzar Cheema
Succeeded byStephanie Cadieux[1]
Personal details
Born1957/1958 (age 65–66)[2]
Bathinda District, Punjab, India
Political partyNew Democrat
ResidenceSurrey, British Columbia
Alma materUniversity of Manitoba

Background

Born in Bathinda District, Punjab, India,[3] Brar was part of the India men's national basketball team.[4][5] He moved to Canada to study at the University of Manitoba, where he received a Master's degree in Public Administration.[4] He then moved to Surrey, British Columbia, where he worked in career and entrepreneurship development for non-profit organizations, including as executive director of the Surrey Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society (SEEDS).[4][5]

He has two children with wife Rajwant.[4]

Political career

He first entered politics by running as the NDP candidate in the October 2004 by-election for the riding of Surrey-Panorama Ridge, triggered by the resignation of BC Liberal MLA Gulzar Cheema.[6] He won the by-election with 6,740 votes (53.59%), defeating Liberal candidate Mary Polak to become a member of British Columbia's 37th Legislative Assembly.[7] He was re-elected to the legislature by winning 11,553 votes (53.17%) in the 2005 provincial election,[8] and served as opposition deputy caucus chair and opposition critic for public safety and the Solicitor General in the 38th Legislative Assembly.[9]

With the NDP reserving the Surrey-Panorama riding for a female candidate in the 2009 provincial election,[10] Brar instead contested the newly established riding of Surrey-Fleetwood, winning the seat by 1,992 votes.[5][11] He was named critic for small business by NDP leader Adrian Dix in April 2011.[12]

In early 2012 Brar participated in the Raise the Rates MLA Welfare Challenge by living on $610 for one month, the standard wage given to welfare recipients in B.C. at the time. Brar lived in a small room in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for part of the month-long challenge. He lost 26 pounds during the event and reported feeling constantly hungry and his mind "fuzzy" due to a lack of adequate nutrition and sleep. He kept a blog of his experiences and the media exposure surrounding the event significantly raised public awareness of welfare rates in B.C.[13]

In August 2012, Brar was criticized by Liberal MLA Bill Bennett for praising Cuba's health and education system on a Punjabi radio station after a holiday in the communist country.[14]

He was defeated in the 2013 provincial election by BC Liberal candidate Peter Fassbender by 200 votes.[5][15] He then ran for president of the BC NDP,[16] but lost to Craig Keating at the November 2013 party convention.[17]

In the 2017 provincial election Brar defeated Fassbender in a re-match,[15] then won re-election in 2020.[18] He was acclaimed as caucus chair for the governing NDP on November 10, 2021, replacing outgoing chair Bob D'Eith.[19]

On December 7, 2022 he was named Minister of State for Trade by Premier David Eby.[20][21]

Electoral record
2020 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Fleetwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJagrup Brar11,45760.93+7.51$61,844.02
LiberalGarry Thind5,77630.72−5.03$62,863.75
GreenDean McGee1,5718.35−2.48$702.09
Total valid votes 18,804100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1380.73−0.04
Turnout 18,94250.77−8.75
Registered voters 37,309
Source: Elections BC[22][23]
2017 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Fleetwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJagrup Brar11,08553.58+9.17$74,487
LiberalPeter Fassbender7,59936.73−8.70$66,268
GreenTim Binnema2,0049.69+3.88$879
Total valid votes 20,688100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1600.77+0.10
Turnout 20,84859.52+3.80
Registered voters 35,025
Source: Elections BC[24][25]
2013 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Fleetwood
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPeter Fassbender8,97445.43+5.89$191,875
New DemocraticJagrup Brar8,77444.41−4.88$74,514
GreenTim Binnema1,1475.81−0.62$1,641
ConservativeMurali Krishnan8014.05−0.66$1,275
VisionArvin Kumar590.30–$2,195
Total valid votes 19,755100.00–
Total rejected ballots 1340.67−0.33
Turnout 19,88955.72+1.76
Registered voters 35,692
Source: Elections BC[26]

References
  1. Surrey-Panorama
  2. Kupchuk, Rick (April 16, 2013). "B.C. Votes: Surrey-Fleetwood candidates on the record". Surrey Now-Leader. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  3. Mackin, Bob (December 7, 2022). "NDP trade minister switch signals alignment with federal strategy to emphasize India". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  4. "Jagrup Brar". www.leg.bc.ca. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  5. Young, Leslie (May 15, 2013). "Surrey-Fleetwood results: Langley mayor Fassbender defeats NDP incumbent". Global News. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  6. McMartin, Will (October 6, 2004). "Why James Isn't Running in Surrey". The Tyee. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  7. "Report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the Surrey-Panorama Ridge By-election October 28, 2004" (PDF). Elections BC. April 12, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 3, 2006.
  8. "Statement of Votes - 38th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. November 14, 2005. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  9. "MLA: Jagrup Brar". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. June 23, 2005. Archived from the original on February 21, 2006.
  10. Holman, Sean (September 10, 2008). "Brar won't run again in Surrey-Panorama Ridge". The Tyee. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  11. "Surrey-Fleetwood". CBC News. April 3, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  12. MacLeod, Andrew (April 26, 2011). "Dix announces BC NDP shadow cabinet". The Tyee. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  13. "NDP MLA Jagrup Brar prepares to bring welfare lessons back to B.C. legislature". The Georgia Straight. January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  14. "Liberal accuses B.C. NDP MLA of pushing communism". CBC News. August 28, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  15. Pawson, Chad (May 10, 2017). "Jagrup Brar, Jinny Sims and Garry Begg upset Liberals in Surrey ridings". CBC News. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  16. Pablo, Carlito (October 30, 2013). "Jagrup Brar eyes B.C. NDP presidency". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  17. Smith, Charlie (November 17, 2013). "Craig Keating elected president of the B.C. NDP". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  18. "Surrey-Fleetwood: Jagrup Brar re-elected for NDP". Surrey Now-Leader, via Cloverdale Reporter. May 10, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  19. "Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar acclaimed as new chair of BC NDP caucus". BC New Democratic Party Caucus. November 10, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  20. "B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  21. Zytaruk, Tom (December 8, 2022). "Four Surrey MLAs named to Eby's cabinet". Peace Arch News. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  22. "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  23. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  24. "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  25. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  26. "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
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