Raj Saini

Raj Saini
MP

Raj Saini at the Waterloo Region CARP Debate at CIGI
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Kitchener Centre
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Stephen Woodworth
Personal details
Born 1967
Political party Liberal
Residence Kitchener, Ontario
Profession Pharmacist

Rajinder "Raj" Saini (born 1967) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Kitchener Centre in the House of Commons of Canada in the Canadian federal election, 2015.[1]

Background

Saini’s political leanings were formed growing up in a Liberal household in Mississauga in the 1970s and 1980s, and later as a student at the University of Toronto,[2] where he completed a bachelor of science before going on to complete a bachelor of science in pharmacy at Boston's Northeastern University.[3]

Early career

Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Saini was a pharmacist, having moved to Kitchener to start Greenbrook Pharmacy,[2] a local independent business which he has co-owned and operated for more than 20 years.[4] Prior to becoming an elected official, Saini had long been involved in both his community and the Liberal Party. He is a past president and past vice-president of the Kitchener Center Federal Liberal Association,[3] a Rotarian, and has served as a member of the Canadian International Council, Waterloo.[4]

Political career

Saini has said that one of his top priorities for his time in Ottawa is addressing Canada’s need for a national pharmacare policy.[2] He is a member of two parliamentary committees, the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, as well as the Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics Committee.[5] Reflecting an interest in Foreign Affairs, Saini is a member of multiple Parliamentary Associations and Parliamentary Friendship Groups, including the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association (NATO PA). He is also an executive member of the Canada-Germany Interparliamentary Group.[5]

Saini has spoken in the House of Commons on a number of occasions as a Member of Parliament, speaking on topics including the International Day for Tolerance, Public Safety Canada, the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, and Canada's efforts to combat ISIL. [6]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalRaj Saini 25,504 48.78 +16.49 $100,662.46
ConservativeStephen Woodworth 15,872 30.36 -10.00 $126,009.07
New DemocraticSusan Cadell 8,680 16.60 -5.32 $58,064.50
GreenNicholas Wendler 1,597 3.05 -1.52 $1,292.98
LibertarianSlavko Miladinovic 515 0.99
Marxist–LeninistJulian Ichim 112 0.21
Total valid votes/Expense limit 52,280100.00 $209,331.18
Total rejected ballots 2920.56
Turnout 52,57268.46
Eligible voters 76,797
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +13.25
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]

References

  1. "Saini unseats Woodworth in bellwether of Kitchener Centre | CTV Kitchener News". Kitchener.ctvnews.ca. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  2. 1 2 3 "Newly elected MP Raj Saini ready to 'give back' to Kitchener". Therecord.com. 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  3. 1 2 "Raj Saini". Therecord.com. 2015-10-16. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  4. 1 2 "Daily Exchange - Posting". Exchangemagazine.com. 2014-09-03. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  5. 1 2 "Raj Saini". Parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  6. "Search: MP raj-sainiType:debate". Openparliament.ca. 2016-11-25. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
  7. "Voter Information Service - Find your electoral district". Elections.ca. Retrieved 2016-11-30.
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