MLA from Surrey Green Timbers Rachna Singh comes from a family of educators in India where she learned that everyone is equal and no one should be left behind. She applied those principles during her tenure as Parliament Secretary for Anti Racism initiatives and now she is all set to expand that ideology into education system
By Surbhi Gogia
“Life comes full circle,” said proud Rachana Singh, who was recently appointed as BC’s minister of education and child care in Premier David Eby’s cabinet. The MLA from Surrey Green Timbers, Singh comes from a family of educators. Both her parents were teachers back in India and her sister teaches in a school in America. “I was the only one in my family who was not actively involved in teaching. But I feel so proud to work in this noble field now.”
Although Singh did not work as an educator, she brings with her the values she inherited from her family regarding education. “My family believed in equality and felt no one should be left behind. These principals helped me work on removing systematic racism in my previous portfolio working for Anti Racism initiatives.”
It was under Singh that historic Anti-Racism Data Act became a law. And now as the minister of education and child care, she wants to expand those principles in education system. “Our school community is very diverse. Every child has different needs. As the education minister my commitment would be to provide support every child needs to fill in those gaps and remove barriers to tap his/her talent.”
When asked what would be her priority as an education minister, she said it will be a big responsibility. “Our government and previous Minister have invested a lot of resources on education since 2017 and will continue to do the same in the coming years.”
She said improving education in Surrey has been a priority for the NDP government since every day the city attracts so many new immigrants. “Be it new school constructions, increasing seats, or seismic updates, the government has done a lot and I am very proud of that work.”
Becoming first South Asian woman of color to get this portfolio is a big achievement she feels. “A community that was not allowed to vote now has a representation in legislature and also the representation at key portfolio.”
Singh moved to Canada with her family in 2001. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election[1] and was re-elected in 2020 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Surrey-Green Timbers as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party caucus.[1]
Prior to her election to the legislature, Singh worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor. She became active in her labour union local, and eventually became a National Representative (staff) for the Canadian Union of Public Employees representing workers through advocacy in grievance handling, labour arbitrations, organizing, community and political activism and helping advise local unions on matters of internal administration.
Niki Sharma is the first woman of colour to serve as British Columbia’s Attorney General in the entire history of our province.
BC’s new Attorney General
@NikiSharma2
and Education Minister
@RachnaSinghNDP
have become the first South Asian women to hold such important and powerful portfolios.
Austin Kelly
@An_AustinKelly
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23h
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@An_AustinKelly
Rachna Singh was also parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives so that kind of experience in schools is going to be fantastic. 2/5
Austin Kelly
@An_AustinKelly
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23h
Bruce Ralston as minister of forestry makes complete sense. He was minister for mines, energy and resources and low carbon innovation and I think he excels in less exciting, more numbers based roles. I don’t expect any major changes. 3/5
Austin Kelly
@An_AustinKelly
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23h
Harry Bains has been a great minister of labour the past few years and I’m sure he’ll continue that trend. Most major unions have signed new agreements with the gov’t semi-recently. 4/5
Austin Kelly
@An_AustinKelly
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23h
And obviously not from Surrey, but Farnworth will still be the minister receiving the policing report for Surrey and making the call on if we’ll be sticking with the RCMP or ramping up the transition to the SPS. No idea what way it will go, I’ve heard mixed things. 5/5
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