Bangla Press Desk: Doly Begum has scripted history as a Canadian citizen of Bangladeshi origin, securing another seat for her new Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons in a byelection in the Toronto-area riding of Scarborough Southwest.
The results of the vote on Monday night paves the way for Doly, who was previously elected the member of provincial parliament (MPP) in the Ontario provincial polls of 2018 and 2022, to join the federal government.
The former New Democrat MPP, who left Queen's Park and her party to run for the federal Liberals, easily won the byelection, bagging nearly 70 percent of the votes, reports bdnews24.com, citing CBC News.
The results come despite only a third of eligible voters exercising their franchise in the election contested by eight aspirants.
Her win keeps the riding Liberal following the departure of longtime MP Bill Blair, who will join as an envoy to the United Kingdom.
It also cinches a thin majority government for Prime Minister Mark Carney, who congratulated her on social media.
“Doly has fought fiercely and effectively to build a better future for her community, and her tireless voice and experience will help build a stronger and more just Canada for all,” he posted.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said he is keen to work with Doly on Parliament Hill.
Needing 172 seats to form a majority, Liberal candidates won in all three federal byelections and managed to secure 174 seats in government.
"Tonight, we celebrate something so powerful ... a community coming together, putting aside their differences to choose hope, compassion, and progress," Doly told a gathering after the victory.
She was a provincial politician representing Scarborough Southwest as an NDP party member just two months ago.
In 2018, she was first elected at the age of 29 and named the youngest New Democrat in the party's caucus. Doly was later appointed deputy party leader.
Many provincial party members were surprised when she resigned to run as a Liberal candidate in the federal byelection. The move also garnered heavy criticism from the federal NDP.
In mid-2022, she was elected as an MPP in Ontario for the second consecutive term.
Doly previously served in leadership roles in several local organisations, including the Scarborough Health Coalition and the Warden Woods Community Centre.
Graduating from the University of Toronto, she earned a Master’s degree in Development, Administration and Planning from University College London.
Her parents are from Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila.
