Hawa Yahia Mire, a candidate for parliament in Canada’s September 20 election, is blazing a trail that she hopes other Somali Canadian women will follow.
“We are both thriving and struggling in a new place,” Mire said in an interview about Canada’s growing Somali immigrant community.
“It is important that as many Somali young women as possible see themselves in Canadian politics. I would encourage all readers in Somalia to push those they know living here in Canada to run for public office and imagine a new world for themselves.”
Mire, who is running on behalf of the leftist New Democratic Party in a Toronto-area constituency, is one of two Somali-born immigrants seeking seats for the first time in the next parliament. The other is Hibo Mohamed, who is representing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s centrist Liberal Party in a constituency in the western province of Alberta.
Neither would be the first Somali Canadian to make it into parliament. That honor has gone to Ahmed Hussen, currently a Cabinet minister in the Trudeau government dealing with families, children and social development, and the incumbent in the Toronto seat being contested by Mire. He is seeking reelection.
Another Somali Canadian, former refugee Ali Duale was elected on behalf of the Liberal Party just weeks ago to the provincial legislature in the Atlantic coastal province of Nova Scotia.
And Somali-born Faisal Hassan sits in the provincial legislature of Ontario, which includes the national capital city of Ottawa, where the Somali diaspora has become one of the most robust immigrant groups.
“For many of us who were born in Somalia but came here to Canada as children, we’ve known a rich cultural heritage inside of a new home,” Mire told VOA when asked about what she hopes to accomplish if she is elected.
“There are many young people in Canada working hard to build themselves a future, a future that is made challenging by unaffordable housing, low employment opportunities and challenges around how Somalis are perceived in this country and others across the world.”
Despite Canada’s reputation as a country that welcomes immigrants, Somali-born residents are often victims of xenophobic anti-immigrant sentiment, and, Mire said, politics is not always a welcoming place for women of color.
“As someone new to politics, I’m actively aware that this system was not designed for people like me — for women, for immigrants, for Black people in general,” Mire said. “As a result, I feel, politics hasn’t always been able to adequately serve our communities. I’m excited to do this work because that needs to change — and I’m hoping to be part of that change.”
Somali immigrants have also found success in politics in the United States.
“While serving as the U.S. ambassador to Somalia, I visited many towns and cities in the United States,” said former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz in an interview. “I was always struck by the leadership roles many Somali Americans have obtained and the respect they had from local officials.”
Mire said Ilhan Omar, a member of the U.S. Congress from Minnesota and perhaps the most widely known Somali American politician, has been an inspiration for her.
“I am learning from leaders who have come before me and broken that mold, people like Ilhan Omar. I know from my brief time already there is still so much work to do,” she said.
But politics is not the only avenue to success in a new country, said Osman Ali, executive director of the Somali Canadian Association of Etobicoke, who described Canada as “a beautiful county” and “a nice place to raise children.”
“If you are young, strong and willing to work, every country loves you. Not only Canada,” Ali told VOA.
“What I suggest to you is, you have to think of what you bring to Canada. If you don’t have any trade, learn something. Learn how to drive; get your driver’s license. Learn something.”
Ali added: “So if you do not have enough education, you can contribute to the labor side of Canada. If you have education, improve yourself. Improve your English language. Improve your computer skills.”
FREDERICTON – A look at David Coon, leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick:
Born: Oct. 28, 1956.
Early years: Born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he spent about three decades as an environmental advocate.
Education: A trained biologist, he graduated with a bachelor of science from McGill University in Montreal in 1978.
Family: He and his wife Janice Harvey have two daughters, Caroline and Laura.
Before politics: Worked as an environmental educator, organizer, activist and manager for 33 years, mainly with the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.
Politics: Joined the Green Party of Canada in May 2006 and was elected leader of the New Brunswick Green Party in September 2012. Won a seat in the legislature in 2014 — a first for the province’s Greens.
Quote: “It was despicable. He’s clearly decided to take the low road in this campaign, to adopt some Trump-lite fearmongering.” — David Coon on Sept. 12, 2024, reacting to Blaine Higgs’s claim that the federal government had decided to send 4,600 asylum seekers to New Brunswick.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
FREDERICTON – A look at Blaine Higgs, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick.
Born: March 1, 1954.
Early years: The son of a customs officer, he grew up in Forest City, N.B., near the Canada-U.S. border.
Education: Graduated from the University of New Brunswick with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1977.
Family: Married his high-school sweetheart, Marcia, and settled in Saint John, N.B., where they had four daughters: Lindsey, Laura, Sarah and Rachel.
Before politics: Hired by Irving Oil a week after he graduated from university and was eventually promoted to director of distribution. Worked for 33 years at the company.
Politics: Elected to the legislature in 2010 and later served as finance minister under former Progressive Conservative Premier David Alward. Elected Tory leader in 2016 and has been premier since 2018.
Quote: “I’ve always felt parents should play the main role in raising children. No one is denying gender diversity is real. But we need to figure out how to manage it.” — Blaine Higgs in a year-end interview in 2023, explaining changes to school policies about gender identity.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
OTTAWA – The pressing issues of climate change and food security join more familiar ones like violent extremism and espionage on a new list of Canada’s intelligence priorities.
The federal government says publishing the list of priorities for the first time is an important step toward greater transparency.
The government revises the priorities every two years, based on recommendations from the national security adviser and the intelligence community.
Once the priorities are reviewed and approved by the federal cabinet, key ministers issue directives to federal agencies that produce intelligence.
Among the priorities are the security of global health, food, water and biodiversity, as well as the issues of climate change and global sustainability.
The new list also includes foreign interference and malign influence, cyberthreats, infrastructure security, Arctic sovereignty, border integrity and transnational organized crime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 19, 2024.
