RAVI PARMAR
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Political party: How long have you been a member?
13 years
Do you live in the riding, and if so, for how long? If not, what is your connection to the riding?
Yes, I have lived in Langford since 2004.
What is your occupation, and for how long?
I’ve been the MLA in this community since 2023, and prior to that I served as a School Trustee and Chair of the Sooke School District Board of Education.
What do you believe is the biggest issue facing your community and why?
Langford-Highlands is one of the fastest-growing communities in BC. It needs an MLA who’s ready to roll up their sleeves and deliver—more schools, affordable homes, a stronger healthcare system, and better transit and infrastructure to keep people moving.
Over the past year, continuing John Horgan’s legacy, I’ve worked alongside David Eby to deliver the largest expansion of new schools in the Sooke School District’s history. We’ve built over 1,000 affordable homes, delivered hundreds of new accessible and affordable childcare spaces, opened a new mental health hub, and introduced the largest transit expansion the Westshore has ever seen.
What actions or efforts have you taken to learn the concerns of your constituents?
I learned from my mentors that before taking action, it’s important to spend time listening and learning. When I became your MLA last year, I made it a priority to meet with local government, Indigenous rights holders, community leaders, local businesses, and people from all walks of life to better understand the challenges and opportunities in our community. I continued knocking on doors and engaged directly with residents. This community has a long history of being served by dedicated MLAs, and I’ve done my best to honour that tradition of service and continue the important work that’s been done.
What do you want to see improved in British Columbia in four, eight and 20 years?
What I believe most is that a strong community is built on the foundation of opportunity, equality, and compassion. I believe that everyone should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background or circumstances. I believe in a government that listens, acts with integrity, and puts people first—ensuring access to quality healthcare, education, and affordable housing. I believe that with the right support, every person can thrive, and that it’s our responsibility to create an environment where everyone has the tools and resources to build a better life.
How would you go about addressing contentious issues within your riding?
No one should shy away from the difficult issues facing their communities, and as MLA, my job is to roll up my sleeves and take action on the big challenges of our time. From day one, I made it my goal to truly understand what my constituents needed most. I owe much of my approach to my mentors, John Horgan, Moe Sihota and Frank Mitchell, who taught me that my first responsibility is to look after the people in my community. I am committed to never backing down from the unique challenges that impact the community of Langford-Highlands.
Would you vote against your party and leader if it were best for your constituents?
The people of Langford-Highlands are my top priority. David Eby understands this, and his vision for the province aligns with my values and core beliefs. We’re focused on getting more homes built, lowering costs, and hiring more doctors and nurses.
I’m proud to be running with David Eby and the BC NDP because we share fundamental values. Unlike John Rustad, who openly stated that he encourages his candidates to vote however they want on “controversial” issues like abortion, vaccines, or environmental issues. These are too important to be left to individual whims and require strong, principled leadership.
Why do you think you are qualified to do this job?
I’ve called Langford-Highlands home for over 20 years. I grew up in this community, graduated from the old Belmont—you remember, the one held together with duct tape—and I’ve built a proven track record as a former school board chair and now as your MLA, standing up for our community and delivering results.
You can count on me, David Eby, and the BC NDP team to take action on housing, healthcare, and affordability, and to stand up against powerful interests for you and your family.
On October 19th, or during the advance polls, I hope to have earned your vote.
Why are you running – what’s your motivation?
When John Rustad’s government was last in power, I saw how our growing community was shortchanged. They didn’t build the infrastructure or expand the services we deserved. Representing and working for people has been my calling ever since I organized a school walk-out to draw attention to the poor state of my high school. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the power of people and standing up for what’s right, and that commitment has never left me.
If re-elected, I promise that Langford-Highlands will continue to have a full-time voice and be well represented at the table.​
ABOUT LANGFORD-HIGHLANDS
Langford-Highlands is a new riding for the 2024 election. It encompasses much of the former Langford-Juan de Fuca riding, though the Juan de Fuca portion is now part of Juan de Fuca-Malahat.
Langford-Juan de Fuca was the riding of former NDP premier John Horgan, who captured almost 68 per cent of the vote in 2020. New Democrat Ravi Parmar’s win in a 2023 byelection wasn’t quite so large, but he still took 53 per cent of the vote.
THE CANDIDATES IN LANGFORD-HIGHLANDS
The candidates this election are:
- Green candidate Erin Cassels, who works in hospitality management
- Conservative Mike Harris, a carpenter and small business owner
- New Democrat Ravi Parmar, an MLA and former school board trustee
See the full list of Vancouver Island candidates here. We are posting the candidate questionnaires riding by riding.
ABOUT THE PROFILES
We asked readers what they wanted to ask candidates and used those answers to help shape our election coverage, including candidate questionnaires.
The answers are presented as submitted by the candidates, edited only for length if they exceeded the word limit they were given. We did not correct grammar, spelling or typos.
See an error or something that needs to be changed? You can report it to [email protected] or use the report a typo link below.
