The first in a series of profiles of Surrey’s new MPs, here’s a Q&A with Amna Shahelected MP in Surrey city centre. The NDP candidate is a newcomer to provincial politics in a riding she narrowly won, following a decision ordered by Elections BC. automatic recount of ballots. THE final count gave Shah 6,727 votes, just 236 more than his conservative opponent Zeeshan Wahla. The riding, formerly Surrey-Whalley, was long held by the NDP’s Bruce. RalstonWHO did not seek re-election.

You must be thrilled with the election results in inner city Surrey. How do you feel now that the recount is over?

“There’s a whole range of emotions, you know. I’m thrilled, I can’t wait to get to work. I’m honored and I feel pretty privileged, frankly. It’s been a whirlwind but I think the The only thing I’m looking forward to most is getting to work.”

Were you surprised by the proximity of the elections? As you know, this is a riding that has long been held by the NDP. Was it too close for your liking?

“I think we kind of knew it was going to be a close race across the province, but that’s why we really fought hard in this campaign. I know our volunteers, our staff, our supporters really worked hard to get I’m here to talk to voters, to help them get to the polls And that’s part of why I feel so humbled, is just seeing the dedication and support of everyone who gave back. this campaign possible and successful It tells us a lot, and the most important thing is that, you know, we really need to take action for British Columbians, for Surrey residents in particular, just by continuing to listen and. really focusing on the things we hear at the door that are the biggest issues in Surrey, which are health care and housing.

When and why did you decide to run?

“You know, I have a long history in Surrey, especially when it comes to areas of service, and whatever role I’ve had in the past, I’ve always considered it a privilege for me to be able to serving in a number of different capacities, I’ve done a variety of different things, and a lot of it was field work, field work. It really struck me that there was an opportunity. for me, after seeing how things work on the ground, after talking to people on the ground and seeing what their needs are, a way to translate that into a leadership position where we actually have to do what we have to do. better, which is to say listening and For me, it was a natural progression from my years of service, from my work in government, in the field. So it seemed very natural to me to arrive here. But of course, none of this is without its challenges. I’m happy to have evolved through this process.

OK, but when did you decide to introduce yourself? Earlier this year?

“You know, it was earlier this year. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of people approach me and say, ‘Hey, you guys should seriously consider, you know, doing something like this.’ For me, I was actually concerned about the work I was doing, because I loved it. This year it became much more of a reality than before.”

You have served on the board of directors of the Surrey Food Bank and have also worked in government. What was this role?

“My current job, which I took a leave of absence from, was as Director of Outreach and Stakeholder Relations for the BC Government Caucus. It was an incredibly rewarding job in the sense that I was able to develop my strengths, which was really being involved in the community. and talking to people that we talk to regularly, but also people that we had never interacted with in the past, it was enriching in the sense that there was so much to learn, there was so much ‘acquiring information.…I’m going to miss it. work, but I am happy to make this new journey here.

You’ve lived in Surrey for around 20 years, haven’t you? What brought you here? Tell me more about yourself and your family.

“I’m a first generation immigrant. I came to this country from Malaysia. I was a high school student when I came to this country, to Surrey, and you know, the main reason my parents left Malaysia was in hopes of a better future for their children. Canada was always the destination they wanted to call their forever home. Likewise, growing up and knowing it was a place we wanted. to call our forever home, I always looked back on it dreamily So when I got here I felt incredibly lucky and optimistic for our future here I went to high school here in Surrey (Johnston Heights Secondary) and. I even coached rugby here in Surrey, and I also played that was also driven by the fact that I really enjoyed being here and I enjoyed being with people, people that I loved. called my friends, people I met through sports and my efforts in education. I always tell people I’m grateful, despite this. facing the challenges faced as a first generation immigrant, I have always been grateful for how good Canada is to me and I always want to continue to be good to Canada.

Do you live in the riding of Surrey City Centre?

“Nearby in Surrey. I have my immediate family here, including my parents and my brother, and my sister lives in Ontario. We’re a small family. We came here, we didn’t know anyone, and it’s sort of stayed that way, just our immediate family.

This election, there have been more women elected in British Columbia than menwhich is historic. Are you proud to be part of it?

“Yes, it’s quite historic, and obviously I feel very privileged to be a part of it. And even beyond that, we actually have women who have so much expertise, who are so skilled at what I’m getting to know some of my colleagues now and I’m constantly amazed by what they bring to the table.

Do you aspire to be part of the Cabinet one day, and which portfolio?

“You know what, I’m just excited and very happy to serve downtown Surrey. That’s my priority. We already have a number of projects underway, and I’ll watch, I’ll see, I’ll champion those things Downtown Surrey is a place I love because there is so much diversity there, whether it’s community or industry, and that’s my first priority. Right now.

What’s next for you and other elected MPs?

“I think the swearing-in will be on November 13th and I think after that we have to get going, we have to start the work now. And I like that because, you know, we are all very fresh . of the campaign and we heard the people and their concerns.