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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Short description|Canadian politician, Mayor of Edmonton since 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use Canadian English}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox officeholder&lt;br /&gt;
| honorific-prefix    = [[Worship (style)|His Worship]] [[The Honourable]]&lt;br /&gt;
| name                = Amarjeet Sohi&lt;br /&gt;
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|size=100%}}&lt;br /&gt;
| image               = Mayor Amarjeet Sohi (51632696240) (3x4 crop).jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| alt                 = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption             = Sohi in 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| order               = 36th&lt;br /&gt;
| office              = Mayor of Edmonton&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start          = October 26, 2021&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end            = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor         = [[Don Iveson]]&lt;br /&gt;
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |[[29th Canadian Ministry]]&lt;br /&gt;
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes&lt;br /&gt;
| office1             = [[Minister of Natural Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister1      = [[Justin Trudeau]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start1         = July 18, 2018&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end1           = November 20, 2019&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor1        = [[Jim Carr]]&lt;br /&gt;
| successor1          = [[Seamus O&amp;#039;Regan]]&lt;br /&gt;
| office2             = [[Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]]&lt;br /&gt;
| primeminister2      = [[Justin Trudeau]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start2         = November 4, 2015&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end2           = July 18, 2018&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor2        = [[Denis Lebel]] {{small|(Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs)}}&lt;br /&gt;
| successor2          = [[François-Philippe Champagne]]{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Parliamentary constituencies&lt;br /&gt;
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes&lt;br /&gt;
| parliament3         = Canadian&lt;br /&gt;
| riding3             = [[Edmonton Mill Woods]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start3         = October 19, 2015&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end3           = October 21, 2019&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor3        = &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Riding established&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
| successor3          = [[Tim Uppal]]&lt;br /&gt;
| office4             = Member of the&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;[[Edmonton City Council]]&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; for Ward 12&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt;{{small|(Ward 6; 2007–2010)}}&lt;br /&gt;
| alongside4          = [[Dave Thiele]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start4         = October 23, 2007&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end4           = November 2, 2015&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor4        = [[Terry Cavanagh (politician)|Terry Cavanagh]]&lt;br /&gt;
| successor4          = Mohinder Banga{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1964|3|8}}&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_place         = Banbhaura, [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], India&lt;br /&gt;
| residence           = [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], Canada&lt;br /&gt;
| party               = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]&lt;br /&gt;
| alma_mater          = &lt;br /&gt;
| occupation          = &lt;br /&gt;
| spouse              = &lt;br /&gt;
| website             = {{url|mayorsohi.ca}}&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Amarjeet Sohi&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC}} (born March 8th, 1964) is a Canadian politician serving as the 36th and current [[List of mayors of Edmonton|mayor of Edmonton]] since October 26th, 2021. Sohi previously sat as a [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP) and served in the federal [[Cabinet of Canada|Cabinet]] from 2015 to 2018 as the [[Minister of Infrastructure and Communities|minister of infrastructure and communities]], and from 2018 to 2019 as the [[Minister of Natural Resources|minister of natural resources]]. Sohi was [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|born in India]] and is the first [[visible minority]] to serve as mayor of Edmonton and is one of Canada&amp;#039;s first mayors of [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] descent.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Immigration to Canada|Immigrating to Canada]] in 1981, Sohi initially worked as a [[Taxi|taxi driver]] in Edmonton. He returned to India in 1988, where he was detained and accused of [[Terrorism in India|terrorism]]. While in prison, he was subject to harsh treatment and [[solitary confinement]]. After spending 21 months in prison, Sohi was released due to a lack of evidence. Returning to Edmonton, he worked as a [[Edmonton Transit Service|bus driver]] before entering politics.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sohi was elected to the [[Edmonton City Council]] in the [[2007 Edmonton municipal election|2007 municipal election]] representing Ward 12, gaining his seat after finishing 4th place [[2004 Edmonton municipal election|in the previous election]]. Following the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 federal election]], he represented [[Edmonton Mill Woods]] in the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] until his defeat in the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 election]]. During that time, he served as minister of natural resources from 2018 to 2019 and minister of infrastructure and communities from 2015 to 2018.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After his federal defeat, Sohi announced his candidacy for mayor of Edmonton in the [[2021 Edmonton municipal election]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Leavitt |first=Kieran |date=2021-05-17 |title=He&amp;#039;s the most well-known Liberal in Alberta. Will that help Amarjeet Sohi become Edmonton&amp;#039;s next mayor? |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2021/05/17/former-liberal-minister-announces-run-for-mayor-of-edmonton.html |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Former councillor, MP Amarjeet Sohi announces Edmonton mayoral campaign |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7856077/amarjeet-sohi-edmonton-mayor-campaign/ |access-date=2021-05-17 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; He was elected as Edmonton&amp;#039;s 36th mayor on October 18, 2021, becoming the first visible minority to serve as mayor.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |date=2021-10-18 |title=Amarjeet Sohi elected Edmonton&amp;#039;s 36th mayor, 4 incumbent councillors defeated |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/amarjeet-sohi-elected-edmonton-s-36th-mayor-4-incumbent-councillors-defeated-1.5627173 |access-date=2021-10-23 |website=Edmonton |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Edmonton election 2021: Amarjeet Sohi elected mayor - Edmonton {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8266564/edmonton-election-2021-mayor-amarjeet-sohi/ |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Jyoti Gondek]] was elected mayor of [[Calgary]] on the same day, with both Sohi and Gondek jointly sharing status as Canada&amp;#039;s first Punjabi mayors of major cities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Early life and personal background==&lt;br /&gt;
Sohi was born in 1964 in the farming community of Banbhaura,&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Mohatarem |first=Kashmala Fida |date=November 13, 2021 |title=Amarjeet Sohi&amp;#039;s political journey fuelled by experiences as immigrant in Edmonton |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/amarjeet-sohi-mayor-edmonton-1.6242332 |access-date=2022-06-24}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Sangrur district]] in the [[India]]n state of [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], to a [[Sikh]] family.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Tribune News |title=Sohi thrusts Banbhaura village into limelight again |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/story-158739 |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Mouallem |first=Omar |date=2017-01-04 |title=Amarjeet Sohi - From Political Prisoner to Parliamentarian |url=https://albertaviews.ca/amarjeet-sohi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320074616/http://albertaviews.ca:80/amarjeet-sohi/ |archive-date=2017-03-20 |access-date=2021-05-17 |website=Alberta Views |language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sponsored by an elder brother, he emigrated to Edmonton in 1981.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |date=September 20, 2007 |title=Survey Says: Amarjeet Sohi |work=Edmonton Journal |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/civicvote/story.html?id=bb7cc23f-2716-4d08-9a1b-db1ca5751a3c&amp;amp;k=1272 |url-status=dead |access-date=2010-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109011957/http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/civicvote/story.html?id=bb7cc23f-2716-4d08-9a1b-db1ca5751a3c&amp;amp;k=1272 |archive-date=2012-11-09}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Initially speaking almost no English, Sohi took [[English as a second or foreign language|ESL]] classes and enrolled at Bonnie Doon Composite High School in Edmonton. While working as a taxi driver in Edmonton, he joined a local [[Punjabi language]] literary society and became an [[Amateur theatre|actor and playwright]] in a Punjabi theatre group.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
By the early 1980s, the [[Khalistan movement]], led by Sikhs demanding a homeland for themselves within India, had become very active, attracting support from many of the [[Punjabi Canadians|Indian Sikh diaspora in Canada]]. The movement soon developed into the [[Punjab insurgency]], which polarised the Sikh community in Canada between Khalistani separatists and those supporting continued union with India. The agitation of the Sikhs in general further increased following the Indian Army&amp;#039;s [[Operation Blue Star|1984 assault on the Harmandar Sahib complex and Akaal Takht]], and the [[Assassination of Indira Gandhi|assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi]] by her Sikh bodyguards later that year. This was followed by the [[Air India Flight 182|bombing of Air India Flight 182]] in 1985, which was linked to Canadian Khalistani militants.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
While Sohi and his family opposed the human rights abuses committed by the Indian government, they remained moderate and anti-fundamentalist like most Sikhs. Describing himself as a &amp;quot;secular individual&amp;quot;, Sohi did not wear a turban and grow his hair.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; The theatre group Sohi was involved in opposed both fundamentalism and the repressive actions of the Indian government.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Sohi married his wife Sarbjeet in 1993.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Together they have one daughter, Seerat, a freelance basketball columnist.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite tweet |number=886428766808850432 |user=AmarjeetSohiYEG |title=My daughter Seerat Sohi&amp;#039;s take on first India-born NBA playing Satnam Singh. https://twitter.com/damiantrillard/status/886022409676931072 |author=Amarjeet Sohi}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Seerat Sohi |url=https://release.sports.yahoo.com/author/seerat-sohi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517204153/https://release.sports.yahoo.com/author/seerat-sohi/ |archive-date=2021-05-17 |access-date=2021-05-17 |website=[[Yahoo! Sports]]}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Detention in India==&lt;br /&gt;
In April 1988, Sohi returned to India to study with Punjabi playwright and reformer [[Gursharan Singh (theatre director)|Gursharan Singh]] and to visit family in Punjab.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=McClure |first=Matthew |date=1988-12-19 |title=Edmonton man in Indian jail under anti-terrorist law |pages=1 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67824912/edmonton-journal/ |access-date=2021-05-19 |via=Newspapers.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; He soon joined an activist group advocating land reform in [[Bihar]], one of India&amp;#039;s poorest states. That November, Sohi went to a village in Bihar to organize a local protest, but was arrested on November 15,&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Sadava |first=Mike |date=1989-02-15 |title=Family of jailed Sikh urges Ottawa to do more |pages=47 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67999479/edmonton-journal/ |access-date=2021-05-19 |via=Newspapers.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; the night before when police raided the village. Sohi believed he was arrested due to his Sikh and Canadian background, which was linked with terrorism.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Immediately after his arrest, Sohi was taken to a local police station, where he was interrogated and tortured for the next week with repeated beatings, sleep deprivation and threats against his family.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Retson |first=Don |date=1988-12-20 |title=Gov&amp;#039;t unable to learn more about local man in Indian jail |pages=11 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77949770/govt-unable-to-learn-more-about-local/ |access-date=2021-05-19}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; When he told his story to a district magistrate who had arrived to question him, she believed him and stopped the interrogations, permitting him to present his case in court though he was denied legal counsel.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; As Sohi had kept his Indian citizenship, he was denied access to Canadian diplomatic officers and held under India&amp;#039;s [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]] (TADA). An anti-terrorism law passed as a result of the Punjab insurgency, it allowed suspects to be [[Indefinite detention|detained for up to two years without being charged]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:2&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; State authorities falsely accused Sohi of being a trained Khalistan fundamentalist who had arrived in Bihar to train [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)|Naxalite]] insurgents, claiming that his arrest established the presence of an international terrorist network and that he had been arrested in possession of a gun and ammunition supplied by Pakistan; the state [[director general of police]] issued a statement to &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Hindu]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; to that effect.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;{{Better source needed|date=May 2021}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After his court appearance, Sohi was transferred to Gaya Central Prison in the city of [[Gaya, India|Gaya]], where he was kept in solitary confinement for the next 18 months. He was placed in a cell with a small window and no bed, and slept on a single blanket on the floor. &amp;quot;The food was horrible. A couple of chapatis in the morning. Some lentil stew in the evening with a couple of rotis. No vegetables or any meat.&amp;quot;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;  After four months, his father and brother were allowed to visit.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Sohi managed to maintain his reason by making friends with the prison guards, and got a message out to the local newspapers through one of them, announcing he was going on a [[hunger strike]] for better food and library privileges. After a week on strike, Sohi&amp;#039;s family were permitted to send him money, which he used to buy food from outside the prison. He was also allowed to use the prison library, which he credited for &amp;quot;[keeping him] alive&amp;quot; in prison.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Indian and Canadian journalists and activists, including members of [[Amnesty International]], soon picked up Sohi&amp;#039;s story. Through [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] MP and [[human rights defender]] [[David Kilgour]], Sohi&amp;#039;s brother and sister-in-law pressured the Canadian government to exercise influence. The [[Global Affairs Canada|Canadian External Affairs ministry]] responded by stating they could not assist Sohi as he was only a [[Permanent residency in Canada|landed immigrant]] in Canada and thus regarded by Indian authorities as an Indian national.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:1&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; Following an investigation, the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service]] informed the Indian government that Sohi posed no threat. Sohi believed that the [[Bihar Police]] wanted to save themselves embarrassment, and thus persisted in claiming Sohi to be a terrorist, charging him with links to Pakistani terrorists, Naxalite insurgents, and the [[Tamil Tigers]]. Finally, the [[1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|1990 legislative elections in Bihar]] brought a change of government, and a new state prosecutor reviewed Sohi&amp;#039;s case, ordering it to be dismissed as there was &amp;quot;a lack of evidence against Mr. Sohi and also his prosecution is against [the] public policy of the state.&amp;quot; After 21 months in prison, 18 of them in solitary, Sohi was released to his parents&amp;#039; home in Punjab on July 9, 1990. After thanking those in Bihar who had helped him, Sohi returned to Edmonton.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;background&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Paula Simons |date=February 14, 2015 |title=City councillor Amarjeet Sohi recalls his imprisonment in India in the 1980s |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/city-councillor-amarjeet-sohi-recalls-his-imprisonment-in-india-in-the-1980s}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Return to Edmonton and entry into municipal politics ==&lt;br /&gt;
After returning to Edmonton, Sohi returned to being a taxi driver, before moving on to become a bus driver for the [[Edmonton Transit Service]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; He became a spokesperson for the Local 569 of the [[Amalgamated Transit Union]]; in 2000 he advocated for drivers of disability buses to receive fair benefits.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Gilmour |first=Bob |date=2000-03-03 |title=DATS drivers oppose city&amp;#039;s contracts with cabs |pages=22 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77948992/dats-drivers-oppose-citys-contracts/ |access-date=2021-05-19}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Thomas |first=Don |date=2000-03-05 |title=DATS riders rally to support drivers |pages=17 |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77948896/dats-riders-rally-to-support-drivers/ |access-date=2021-05-19}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sohi also became active in politics, campaigning for the [[New Democratic Party|NDP]] and for then Liberal MP David Kilgour.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In Amarjeet Sohi&amp;#039;s first municipal campaign in the [[2004 Edmonton municipal election]], he finished fourth behind incumbents Dave Thiele and Terry Cavanagh, along with Chinwe Okelu.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Results 1945 to 2013 |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/public-files/assets/document?path=Chapter_13_-_Results_1945_to_2013.pdf |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=City of Edmonton}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sohi&amp;#039;s second campaign in the [[2007 Edmonton municipal election|2007 elections]] was successful, winning a Council seat in Ward 6.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=2007 Municipal Election Results |url=http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/municipal_elections/2007-municipal-election-results.aspx |website=edmonton.ca}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; On the City Council, Sohi has served as a member of the [[Edmonton Police Commission]], as vice president of the [[Alberta Urban Municipalities Association]], and as Council sponsor for Safedmonton, a citywide committee working on community solutions for crime prevention.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;edmonton.ca&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Ward 12 - Amarjeet Sohi |url=http://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/city_organization/ward-12-councillor.aspx |website=edmonton.ca}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sohi carried this work forward as advisor to the REACH Edmonton Council for Safe Communities.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Reach Edmonton |url=http://www.reachedmonton.ca/public |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150802132935/http://reachedmonton.ca/public |archive-date=2015-08-02 |access-date=2015-07-29 |website=reachedmonton.ca}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Sohi also held the Council portfolio for [[Multiculturalism in Canada|Multiculturalism]], and has championed the Racism Free Edmonton initiative. He has also sponsored or co-sponsored Council initiatives on Seniors and on Poverty Elimination, and co-launched an initiative to end [[gender-based violence]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;edmonton.ca&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
After completing two terms as a councillor, it was widely acknowledged that Sohi was contemplating a mayoral run in the [[2013 Edmonton municipal election|2013 municipal election]]. Sohi ultimately announced that he would not enter the race and would instead seek re-election for his Ward 12 seat.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Mertz&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Mertz |first=Emily |date=28 May 2013 |title=UPDATE: Councillor Sohi will not run for Edmonton mayor |work=Global News |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/593710/councillor-sohi-to-announce-edmonton-election-plans/ |access-date=20 July 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Awards===&lt;br /&gt;
During his time on Council, Sohi has received several awards in recognition of his community leadership. He has received the Edmonton Interfaith Advocate Award and the [[John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights|John Humphrey Centre]]&amp;#039;s Human Rights Advocate Award for promoting welcoming and inclusive communities.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Human Rights Awards |url=http://www.jhcentre.org/our-projects/human-rights-awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716190238/http://www.jhcentre.org/our-projects/human-rights-awards |archive-date=2015-07-16 |access-date=2015-07-16 |website=jhcentre.org}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In 2015, Sohi received the Man of Honour, Exemplary Leadership Award from the [[Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation]] in recognition of his work to end gender discrimination and violence&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Cease Men of Honour |url=http://lkibblewhite.wix.com/ceasemenofhonor}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers Recognizing Immigrant Success in Edmonton (RISE) Lifetime Achievement award.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=RISE Awards Brings Out Immigrant Successes |url=http://www.diversitymag.ca/rise-awards-brings-out-immigrant-successes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716202310/http://www.diversitymag.ca/rise-awards-brings-out-immigrant-successes/ |archive-date=2015-07-16 |website=diversitymag.ca}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Federal politics==&lt;br /&gt;
{{see also|2015 Canadian federal election}}&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2015, Sohi was approached by the federal [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal Party]] to run as a Member of Parliament in the newly created [[Electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Edmonton Mill Woods]]. He felt the need to bring up his imprisonment before it could be used against him politically, and thus contacted the [[Edmonton Journal]] reporter [[Paula Simons]], who agreed to help report the story.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt; He was acclaimed as a candidate the next month, and officially launched his campaign in June 2015 at a large rally with Liberal leader [[Justin Trudeau]] in Mill Woods.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |date=12 February 2015 |title=Amarjeet Sohi to be acclaimed Liberal candidate for Millwoods |work=cbc.ca |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/amarjeet-sohi-to-be-acclaimed-liberal-candidate-for-millwoods-1.2955491}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Ryan Tumilty |date=June 4, 2015 |title=Liberal leader Justin Trudeau gives boost to Amarjeet Sohi campaign launch |work=Metro |url=http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/1388258/liberal-leader-justin-trudeau-gives-boost-to-amarjeet-sohi-campaign-launch/ |url-status=dead |access-date=July 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716161426/http://metronews.ca/news/edmonton/1388258/liberal-leader-justin-trudeau-gives-boost-to-amarjeet-sohi-campaign-launch/ |archive-date=July 16, 2015}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sohi&amp;#039;s campaign emphasized the importance of federal leadership to address big-city and infrastructure challenges.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Matt Dykstra |date=July 10, 2015 |title=Alberta Federation of Labour President running for federal NDP nomination |work=Edmonton Sun |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/07/10/alberta-federation-of-labour-president-running-for-federal-ndp-nomination}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Sohi was also sharply critical of the Harper government&amp;#039;s approach to citizenship, multiculturalism, and immigration policy.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Dave Lazzarino |date=June 11, 2015 |title=Edmonton city councillor calls banning niqabs is a &amp;#039;slippery slope&amp;#039; |work=Edmonton Sun |url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/2015/06/11/edmonton-city-councillor-calls-banning-head-scarves-is-a-slippery-slope}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=PM should respond to &amp;#039;whities&amp;#039; comment: Candidate |url=http://www.theobserver.ca/2015/03/09/harper-should-respond-to-tory-mps-whities-comment-liberal-candidate |website=Sarnia Observer}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |date=11 July 2015 |title=Tim Uppal has &amp;#039;no answers&amp;#039; for parents separated from daughter |work=cbc.ca |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/tim-uppal-has-no-answers-for-parents-separated-from-daughter-1.3147760}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The nomination contest in Edmonton Mill Woods was the subject of a minor controversy prior to Sohi&amp;#039;s acclamation. Varinder Bhullar was disqualified following alleged violations of Liberal Party membership rules.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;theglobeandmail.com&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI |date=January 29, 2015 |title=Bhullar blames &amp;#039;dirty tricks&amp;#039; for Liberal ballot bust |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/bhullar-blames-dirty-tricks-for-liberal-ballot-bust/article22713961/}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;huffingtonpost.ca&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Althia Raj |date=February 2, 2015 |title=Varinder Bhullar, Edmonton Liberal, Accuses Party Of Breaking Open Nominations Pledge |work=The Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/02/liberals-open-nominations-varinder-bhullar_n_6591726.html}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; Bhullar claimed the party disqualified him after he refused to step aside in favor of Sohi, the party&amp;#039;s preferred candidate.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;theglobeandmail.com&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;huffingtonpost.ca&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
On October 19, 2015, after a longer than average 78-day federal election campaign, Sohi was declared elected as MP for Edmonton Mill Woods. Per the initial count, Sohi received 41.2% of the popular vote and won by a margin of 79 votes.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite news |last=Elise Stolte |date=October 20, 2015 |title=Liberal Amarjeet Sohi pulls out a squeaker in Edmonton Mill Woods |work=Edmonton Journal |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/liberal-amarjeet-sohi-pulls-out-a-squeaker-in-edmonton-mill-woods}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]] candidate [[Tim Uppal]] successfully argued for a judicial recount of the results. The recount was held on October 29 and increased Sohi&amp;#039;s margin of victory to 92 votes.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Paige |first=Parsons |date=2015-10-29 |title=Liberal candidate Amarjeet Sohi declared winner following Edmonton Mill Woods recount |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/liberal-candidate-amerjeet-sohi-declared-winner-following-edmonton-mill-woods-recount |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=[[Edmonton Journal]]}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; After being elected as MP, Sohi was criticized for accepting a {{CAD|46000}} severance package from the City of Edmonton. He defended the move, saying that he did not determine the amount, which was based on his years of service with Edmonton City Council.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Le Couteur |first=Mike |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Minister accepted $46K severance package from Edmonton city hall |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2498495/minister-accepted-46k-severance-package-from-edmonton-city-hall/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204232843/http://globalnews.ca/news/2498495/minister-accepted-46k-severance-package-from-edmonton-city-hall/ |archive-date=2016-02-04 |access-date=2021-06-05 |website=[[Global News]] |language=en-US}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |last=Robb |first=Trevor |date=February 8, 2016 |title=Former Edmonton councillor Sohi says he earned severance |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/former-edmonton-councillor-sohi-says-he-earned-severance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210110803/http://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/former-edmonton-councillor-sohi-says-he-earned-severance |archive-date=2016-02-10 |access-date=2021-06-05 |website=[[Edmonton Journal]] |language=en-CA}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Sohi and Trudeau in 2018.jpeg|thumb|Sohi and Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] (left) in 2018]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Minister of Infrastructure and Communities===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Expand section|date=June 2022}}&lt;br /&gt;
Sohi took on the Infrastructure and Communities portfolio in [[Justin Trudeau]]&amp;#039;s first [[29th Canadian Ministry|Cabinet]] on November 4, 2015.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Full list of Justin Trudeau&amp;#039;s cabinet |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/full-list-of-justin-trudeau-s-cabinet-1.3300699 |website=CBC News}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Minister of Natural Resources ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Expand section|date=June 2022}}&lt;br /&gt;
Sohi took over the Natural Resources profile from [[Jim Carr]] on July 18, 2018.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |date=2018-07-18 |title=Mixed reactions as Edmonton&amp;#039;s Amarjeet Sohi appointed to pipeline portfolio |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/amarjeet-sohi-cabinet-shuffle-natural-resources-trans-mountain-pipeline-1.4752338 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720163413/http://www.cbc.ca:80/news/canada/edmonton/amarjeet-sohi-cabinet-shuffle-natural-resources-trans-mountain-pipeline-1.4752338 |archive-date=2018-07-20 |access-date=2021-12-12 |website=[[CBC News]]}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In the 2019 election, Sohi was defeated by [[Tim Uppal]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Electoral record==&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot; |[[2021 Edmonton municipal election|2021 Edmonton mayoral election]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;background:#ddf; width:200px;&amp;quot; |Candidate&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;background:#ddf; width:50px;&amp;quot; |Vote&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{Cite web |title=Unofficial 2021 Election Results {{!}} City of Edmonton |url=https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/municipal_elections/unofficial-2021-election-results |access-date=2021-10-19 |website=www.edmonton.ca}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
! style=&amp;quot;background:#ddf; width:30px;&amp;quot; | %&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Amarjeet Sohi&lt;br /&gt;
|105,497&lt;br /&gt;
|45.09&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|[[Mike Nickel]]&lt;br /&gt;
|59,189&lt;br /&gt;
|25.30&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Kim Krushell&lt;br /&gt;
|40,337&lt;br /&gt;
|17.24&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Michael Oshry&lt;br /&gt;
|14,469&lt;br /&gt;
|6.18&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Cheryll Watson&lt;br /&gt;
|6,780&lt;br /&gt;
|2.90%&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
|Rick Comrie&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Edmonton Mill Woods}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{2015 Canadian federal election/Edmonton Mill Woods}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist|30em}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
*[https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18422 Library of Parliament profile]&lt;br /&gt;
*[http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Amarjeet-Sohi(89163) MP profile]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{s-start}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=29}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{ministry box cabinet posts&lt;br /&gt;
| post2preceded = [[Jim Carr]]&lt;br /&gt;
| post2         = [[Minister of Natural Resources]]&lt;br /&gt;
| post2years    = July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019&lt;br /&gt;
| post2note     = &lt;br /&gt;
| post2followed = [[Seamus O&amp;#039;Regan]]&lt;br /&gt;
| post1preceded = Ministry Created&lt;br /&gt;
| post1         = [[Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]]&lt;br /&gt;
| post1years    = November 4, 2015 – July 18, 2018&lt;br /&gt;
| post1note     = &lt;br /&gt;
| post1followed = [[François-Philippe Champagne]]&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{s-end}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{EdmontonMayors}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Justin Trudeau Ministry}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{CA-Ministers of Natural Resources}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sohi, Amarjeet}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:1964 births]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Living people]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Canadian people of Indian descent]]&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Mayors of Edmonton]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Members of the 29th Canadian Ministry]]&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:Members of the King&amp;#039;s Privy Council for Canada]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:People from Sangrur district]]&lt;br /&gt;
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[[Category:Amateur theatre]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:21st-century Canadian politicians]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Foreign-born Canadian politicians]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>Akash30</name></author>
	</entry>
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