Salma Zahid MP (born May 26, 1970) is a 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.[2]

Early life and career

Zahid was born in Coventry. 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-i-Azam University in Pakistan. She is Pakistani Canadian, mother of 2 and has resided in Scarborough since 2000. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Zahid was a community organizer and worked for the Government of Ontario in multiple positions before running in the election.

Politics

Zahid was elected in the 2015 Canadian federal election as a Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre (federal 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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5] Zahid received some negative reactions to the hijab, to which she responded by highlighting the personal nature of her decision.[5] In July 2018, after completing six rounds of chemotherapy, Zahid was cancer-free and returned to her job.[4]

Zahid was re-nominated to run in Scarborough Centre for the Liberals in the 2019 Canadian federal election.[4]

Zahid received criticism in November 2022 when she attended a 'solidarity' event with a publisher of Holocaust denialism.[6][7][8] She has also received criticism for her position on the 2023 Israeli-Hamas conflict, which stepped out of long standing tradition of Canadian and Liberal Party MPs political support for the State of Israel.[9][10][11] In January 2024, Zahid called on her colleagues in the House of Commons to support South Africa's application to prosecute Israel for genocide.[12]

Past election results

2021 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Salma Zahid 23,128 57.6 +2.3 $104,544.73
Conservative Malcolm Ponnayan 9,819 24.4 +2.1 $35,013.30
New Democratic Faiz Kamal 5,479 13.6 +1.9 $8,952.20
People's Petru Rozoveanu 1,472 3.7 +1.2 $0.00
National Citizens Alliance Aylwin T. Mathew 263 0.7 N/A $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,161 99.0 – $108,279.65
Total rejected ballots 425 1.0
Turnout 40,586 54.8
Eligible voters 74,078
Liberal hold Swing +0.1
Source: Elections Canada[13]


2019 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Salma Zahid 25,695 55.3 +4.80 $100,475.79
Conservative Irshad Chaudhry 10,387 22.3 -10.40 $88,298.94
New Democratic Faiz Kamal 5,452 11.7 +0.10 $11,622.00
Independent John Cannis 2,524 5.4 $49,981.60
Green Dordana Hakimzadah 1,336 2.9 +0.80 none listed
People's Jeremiah Vijeyaratnam 1,162 2.5 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 46,556 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 638
Turnout 47,194 62.4
Eligible voters 75,662
Liberal hold Swing +7.60
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]
2015 Canadian federal election: Scarborough Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Salma Zahid 22,753 50.5 +18.61 $111,259.09
Conservative Roxanne James 14,705 32.7 -2.18 $96,481.13
New Democratic Alex Wilson 5,227 11.6 -19.06 $24,264.68
Libertarian Katerina Androutsos 1,384 3.1   $1,452.03
Green Lindsay Thompson 960 2.1 -0.47 $1,627.92
Total valid votes/expense limit 45,029 100.00 +22.33 $203,985.80
Total rejected ballots 407 0.90 +0.33
Turnout 45,436 64.36 +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. ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  2. ^ "Liberal candidate Salma Zahid wins Scarborough Centre". Toronto Star. October 19, 2015.
  3. ^ "Biography | Salma Zahid | Your member of parliament for Scarborough Centre". szahid.liberal.ca. Retrieved 2019-09-27.
  4. ^ a b c Aiello, Rachel (August 22, 2018). "'A new low': Conservative robocall tries to exploit Liberal MP's cancer diagnosis". CTV News. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ "Minister and MPs attend parliamentary reception with Holocaust denier". The Globe and Mail. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  7. ^ "MPs condemn controversial publisher's attendance at Parliament Hill reception - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  8. ^ Passifiume, Bryan (December 1, 2023). "Canadian MPs attend 'solidarity' event with publisher of Holocaust denialism". National Post.
  9. ^ "Liberal MP calls on Trudeau to back prosecution of Israel for genocide". National Post (The Canadian Press). January 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Hopper, Tristin. "FIRST READING: Terrorist sympathizers on Parliament Hill – Canada's Palestinian extremism problem | SaltWire". www.saltwire.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  11. ^ "Liberal MP supports UN vote calling for a humanitarian ceasefire". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. December 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "Liberal MP calls on Trudeau to back prosecution of Israel for genocide". National Post. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  14. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  15. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salma_Zahid
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