Canadian politician Rachna Singh who was newly appointed as Minister of Education and Child Care in British Columbia has made history, becoming the first South Asian woman and second Punjabi to hold the ministerial post.
Rachna who moved from India to Canada in 2001, was first elected as MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers in May 2017 and re-elected in October 2020.
She was the convener of the Special Committee to Appoint a Police Complaint Commissioner and the Special Committee to Appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner.
She has worked as a drug and alcohol counsellor, a support worker for women facing domestic violence, and a community activist. She has also worked to improve worker’s rights as a representative with the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Rachna has two children and is married to radio journalist Gurpreet Singh.
Soon after she became minister, her partner Gurpreet Singh took to Twitter to congratulate her.
He wrote: “Yes Minister. My fabulous partner and hero @RachnaSinghNDP is now the Minister of Education, becoming the first South Asian woman and second Punjabi after Moe Sihota to hold this important portfolio.”
