Salma Zahid

Salma Zahid MP is an English-born Pakistani-Canadian politician, who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding of Scarborough Centre during the 2015 Canadian federal election. She succeeded the Conservative Roxanne James.[1]

Salma Zahid

Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Scarborough Centre
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byRoxanne James
Personal details
BornCoventry, England, UK
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • Pakistan
  • United Kingdom
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceScarborough, Toronto, Ontario
Alma materUniversity of London
Quaid-i-Azam University
AwardsQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal

Early life and career

Zahid was born in Coventry, England. She holds a master's degree in educational management and administration from the University of London’s Institute of Education, and an MBA from Quaid e Azam University in Pakistan.[2] She is Pakistani Canadian, mother of 2 and has resided in Scarborough since 2000.[3] She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[4] Zahid was a community organizer and worked for the Government of Ontario in multiple positions before running in the election. [5]

Politics

Zahid was elected in the 2015 Canadian federal election as a Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre (electoral district). While in the 42nd Parliament, Zahid had the role of Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, where she was a spokesperson for racialized women.[5]

In February 2018, Zahid announced that she was taking medical leave to treat her Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This was used by the Scarborough Centre Conservative Party of Canada Riding Association Vice President to sell memberships via robocall.[6] While recovering from chemotherapy treatment, Zahid wore a hijab for personal reasons, saying that she had grown closer to her Islamic faith while facing cancer. In May 2018, she became the first MP to wear a hijab in the House of Commons.[7] Zahid received Extreme negative reactions to the hijab, and she responded with sadness for Shame in society in Canada.[7] In July 2018, after completing six rounds of chemotherapy, Zahid was cancer-free and returned to her job.[6]

Zahid was re-nominated to run in Scarborough Centre for the Liberals in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[6]

2015 Election results

2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalSalma Zahid22,75350.5+18.61$111,259.09
ConservativeRoxanne James14,70532.7-2.18$96,481.13
New DemocraticAlex Wilson5,22711.6-19.06$24,264.68
LibertarianKaterina Androutsos1,3843.1 $1,452.03
GreenLindsay Thompson9602.1-0.47$1,627.92
Total valid votes/Expense limit 45,029100.00+22.33$203,985.80
Total rejected ballots 407 0.90 +0.33
Turnout 45,43664.36+10.02
Eligible voters 70,594 +0.46
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +10.39%
Source(s)
"Election Night Results (Validated by Returning Officer)". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
"Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates".

References

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