On Oct 5, The Pakistan Canada Association (PCA) organized an All candidate meeting spearheaded by Mahwish Yousaf to showcase Muslim candidates who are running for municipal elections. These type of events and platform in community also give courage to the emerging leaders and youth to apply for these seats in the future. PCA President Shaukat Khan introduced the agenda to all candidates.
Amir Muneer from Canada Urdu Association, Shahzad Nazir from Committee of Progressive Pakistani Canadians, Bilal Cheema, Community Political Activist and Haroon Khan from PCA delivered speeches about:
-Importance of our community getting involved in the political process
-How our candidates can take our voices to the office
-Difference between Councilors, Mayor and School Trustee duties and what they can do for our community
-Why choose independent candidates over well-known slates.
Candidates from different faiths and backgrounds attended this meeting. Shaukat Khan and Mahwish Yousaf introduced the candidates. Each candidate then told the audience about themselves and their platform for 4 minutes Everyone delivered their own thoughts about the current issues of their city and their vision. If elected as a Councilor or School Trustee, each of them showed commitment to proving themselves that they can bring the change.
Everyone asked those in audience to vote for those who can fight for a more inclusive agenda at City Halls, whether it is Skytrain or other alternative transportation systems, LRT, Housing, Transparency in issue of big projects & Property permits, Land development, Local Police Force, Enhanced Community Programs, Youth Committee at Council, Active Diversity Committee, Affordable Housing, Schools , Class Sizes and Student/Teachers problems, Children and Youth, Park and Recreation Centres, Protection of Farm Land and Opening of City Halls to the People.
1. Imtiaz Popat for Surrey City Mayor 2. Mehreen Chaudry for Burnaby City Council 3. Afshan Kamran – Candidate for Surrey City Council, 4. Felix Kongyuy for Surrey City Council 5. Raza Mirza for Vancouver City Council 6. Asad Syed Candidate for Surrey City Council 7. Rick Macgowan of Burnaby, 8. Diana Ng, Surrey School Board, 9. Julia Poole’s Campaign, 10. Nasima Nastoh For Surrey City Council,11. Major Rasode for Surrey City Council, 12. Carey McLaren City Council, of Burnaby 13. Abubakr Khan Khan for Vancouver City Council
At the end, the floor was opened for a Q and A session
Mr. Pirzada from the Miracle Media raised the issue Homelessness in the city and asked what the past Mayor’s Team had done and what plans the Candidates have to deal with homelessness in certain perimeter in future.
The Miracle Media Group highly appreciates the efforts of Ms. Mahwish Yousaf, who made great efforts in bringing some of community members and 13 Candidates at Surrey Public
Library in a short notice with the help of PCA. We also encourgage everyone to vote in these civic elections – Advance Polling is on Oct 13 and General Voting Day is on Oct 20.
