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

MP
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
  1. "Liberal candidate Salma Zahid wins Scarborough Centre". Toronto Star. October 19, 2015.
  2. "Biography: Salma Zahid". Liberal Party of Canada. October 15, 2016.
  3. "Two Pakistani women emerge victorious in Canadian general elections". ARY News. October 20, 2015.
  4. "Scarborough area Liberal MPs endorse John Tory".
  5. "Biography | Salma Zahid | Your member of parliament for Scarborough Centre". szahid.liberal.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-27.
  6. Aiello, Rachel (August 22, 2018). "'A new low': Conservative robocall tries to exploit Liberal MP's cancer diagnosis". CTV News. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  7. Massa, Ginella (August 21, 2018). "Scarborough MP responds to criticism over wearing hijab, says she's recovering from cancer". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
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