Sasha Ramnarine is the Liberal Party of Canada candidate in New Westminster-Burnaby. He’s volunteered with the federal Liberals for about five years and is seeking political office for the first time.
How long have you lived in New West?
I lived in the former riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam for 30 years. That was my home riding. When the new representation order came through, my house in Coquitlam got cut off. I have been here for a few months now. I got a place here in New West before I got the nomination.
What is your occupation?
I am a business lawyer. I work exclusively for small businesses and start-up companies.
Why do you think you are uniquely qualified to represent the riding?
The key thing is actually the drive to make a positive difference. I have a lot of skills in advocacy and social justice that make me someone that will actually work with the community to make positive change. I have done a lot of work in social justice in my past. Some examples: I have worked in the Downtown Eastside with a task force called the Downtown Eastside Task Force with the Vancouver Board of Trade. We helped advocate for the system of care to be improved for high-risk youths. I have also done work for an organization called the Eco-Justice Environmental Law Clinic at the University of Ottawa, which is where I went to law school. I worked on the First Nations’ right to safe drinking water. At the present, I mentor new immigrants and refugees with MOSAIC B.C. I also chair the Small Business Council events committee, which I help promote and set up educational seminars for small businesses. This is to help Mom and Pop, or it could be tech-start-up or entrepreneurs, it’s a wide range, but small businesses, to help them with whatever they need. It’s the qualitative aspects – how do you run your businesses, how do you draw up a business plan, how do I go out and network, etc.
What would be your top priority if you were elected as an MP for New Westminster-Burnaby?
My top priority within the principle of ensuring the individual voices of our riding are heard in Ottawa is to make bold investments into infrastructure here in New Westminster-Burnaby. I will work with the province and cities of New West and Burnaby, to boldly invest to ease congestion and gridlock here in New West by investing into better roads, more buses and SkyTrain, better bridges, including money towards a new Pattullo Bridge. This will also include meeting with other neighbouring municipalities to discuss congestion and better infrastructure in those areas to ensure that traffic eases down in New West. Infrastructure investment will include investments into green infrastructure, such as waste-water facilities, climate and seismic infrastructure investments, and clean technology and energy. A part of this is social infrastructure such as investing into affordable housing via a national housing strategy, more and better senior facilities, and child care spaces. All of such will grow the economy locally in New West, create jobs and improve the lives of people living in New West-Burnaby.
What accomplishment in your life are you proudest of?
It’s my journey. I have had to work very hard throughout my life to get where I am. I started working when I was nine years old. It was a positive thing. I helped out with my family restaurant. Eventually as I got older, in my teenage years, I started running a business. That’s why I had to develop strong business skills. All throughout university, I had to work close to 50 hours a week, taking full-time classes. I did so because I had to get the education that I wanted. I had to do that because of rising costs in tuition. I needed to get by. I wanted a business degree and also go to law school. That was all in the vision. I had to do that and I did it. … At the time, I didn’t feel like I was doing a lot. I was really good at managing my time. That’s one of the accomplishments I’m really proud of. I had to work hard and I was able to accomplish my goals, within a time period, too.
