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Former Vancouver Mayor and Edmonton Mayor to Run as Liberal Candidates


Former Liberal cabinet minister and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, along with former Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, are set to run as candidates for the federal Liberals in the upcoming election.

Sohi revealed his candidacy for the newly formed riding of Edmonton Southeast. The 61-year-old previously served as a Liberal MP and cabinet minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Meanwhile, Robertson will be competing in Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby, a new electoral district predominantly replacing Vancouver South, currently held by outgoing Liberal MP Harjit Sajjan, who announced he would not seek re-election and endorsed Robertson.

The federal election was called on March 23 by Prime Minister Mark Carney, with Canadians set to vote on April 28, six months earlier than expected.

Amarjeet Sohi

Sohi has taken an unpaid leave from his mayoral duties to launch his federal campaign, citing the need to respond to President Trump’s tariff campaign against Canada as a key motivation for his return to federal politics.
In a statement posted on social media on March 23, Sohi emphasized the importance of the upcoming election in defending Canadian sovereignty, economy, and workers from external threats.

Last week, Sohi confirmed that he had been approached by the Liberal party to stand as a candidate in the election. Prior to his political career, Sohi worked as a city transit driver and served as a city councillor before becoming an MP and eventually the mayor of Edmonton.

Other candidates contesting in Sohi’s riding include Jagsharan Singh Mahal (Conservative Party), Harpreet Grewal (NDP), Carrie McLaren (Green Party), and Martin Schuetza (PPC).

Edmonton consists of nine federal ridings, with one currently held by Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson shake hands after a news conference in Vancouver on Dec. 17, 2015. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson shake hands after a news conference in Vancouver on Dec. 17, 2015. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Gregor Robertson

Robertson, aged 60, a former Vancouver mayor from 2008 to 2018, is returning to politics with his federal campaign. He previously served as an MLA with the B.C. NDP.

Approached by Carney to run, Robertson expressed his commitment to serve the Vancouver Fraserview–South Burnaby constituency with dedication.

After his tenure as mayor, Robertson focused on climate issues, holding various positions within the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to address the climate crisis.

Robertson will face competition from Conservative candidate Edward Wong and NDP candidate Manoj Bhangu in the upcoming election.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.



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