Jigar Patel, NDP

Personal details. Name, age, hometown

Jigar Patel, 45, born in Amedabad, India.

Tell us about yourself

I am a small business owner, and I take great pride in growing the economy and increasing employment in Regina. I am also active in the community, organizing blood drives and I regularly volunteer with the food bank.

What’s a little-known fact about you?

I am actually a mechanical engineer by training!

Why should voters hire you?

I’m committed, hard-working, and I will really work for the people of Regina-Lewvan, to make their lives more affordable and healthier.

Who should we call for a reference?

Barbara Dedi.

What is your greatest strength? What is your greatest weakness?

My greatest strength is my work ethic. This summer, I worked every single day, talking to voters and community members. My greatest weakness is also my work ethic, because at times I will push myself too hard. I’m working on pacing myself, to ensure I am my most helpful self.

Where do you stand on:

Gun laws? New Democrats have always worked to make sure that our gun laws strike a good balance between public safety and the ability for lawful firearm owners to hunt and shoot recreationally without unnecessary red tape. While the Liberals and Conservatives continue to play politics with firearms legislation and public safety, we’re committed to sensible legislation that will keep communities safe and work for lawful firearms owners.

We have always appreciated the advocacy of law-abiding firearms owners who made the case that the regulations and laws that are adopted should not create an overbearing burden and a cumbersome system on sports shooting, hunting, or other activities that take place in communities across the country. Our approach will always ensure that we balance the needs of lawful gun owners with the need to crack down on illegal gun crimes and gangs in the big cities.

The need for more pipelines? New Democrats always have the backs of energy workers. They power our communities and they power our economy across the country as well. While we acknowledge the importance of getting our products to market, the climate crisis requires serious and immediate action. Our plan fights the climate crisis while growing our economy and creating new opportunities for our energy workers and communities at the same time. By redirecting billions of dollars we current spend subsidizing big fossil fuel companies, we’ll create over 300,000 good new green jobs in everything from construction to green energy.

Our priority is in making sure that public money is invested in renewable energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, tidal), and that we’re developing the needed energy infrastructure, and getting Canadians trained up for these good jobs when they come.

New Democrats believe that we can tackle the climate change crisis head on, but that we can do in a way that economically benefits provinces and regions that currently produce and depend upon revenues from the fossil fuel sector. No community and workers should be left behind.

Western alienation? Western alienation is real, but it doesn’t have to be. A federal government that cares about the challenges faced by each and every citizen, in each and every region, is what is needed in Ottawa. New Democrats know this.

Saskatchewan is the birthplace of Canada’s NDP, and our party is a product of western alienation. We know that farmers, resources workers, Indigenous people, and families deserve a stronger voice at the table. The Liberals are the party of the corporate elite. They stand with big pharmaceutical companies, the banks and insurance companies, and their rich friends. The Conservatives talk a good game, but just like the Liberals, when they get in power their only priority is cutting taxes for corporations and the rich.

New Democrats will never forget our roots, and unlike Liberals and Conservatives who only fight for their rich and powerful friends, we’ll never stop fighting for western farmers and everyday families.

China? What should our approach be with some of our markets blocked? China is a global economic superpower that touches nearly every sector of the Canadian economy. China is a very important country for Canada., and deteriorating relations with the Chinese are very concerning We share strong demographic, cultural, economic and other ties, and the diplomatic crisis between our countries must be resolved.

The decision of the Chinese government to stop accepting or delaying some Canadian products like canola is very concerning and unjustifiable. Trudeau and the Liberals have done nothing to defend our farmers and our jobs against these unfair trade policies. He’s only made things worse.

New Democrats believe that our federal government must uphold Canadian values — at home and abroad. We must stand up for human rights, the safe return of our detained citizens, and the resumption of normal trade relations and access to the Chinese market for Canadians farmers and manufacturers. Should we be elected to govern, New Democrats will work hard and in good faith to do just that.

Are we facing a climate change crisis? Is carbon tax the answer? The scientific evidence is clear. Whether we like it or not, the world is experiencing rapid climate change. The effects of climate change upon our society have been enormous, as we have experienced; a rapid increase in global temperatures; floods, droughts, and forest fires; and an increase in the frequency and intensity of severe weather events like hurricanes, and heat waves. We must act now to ensure that the earth remains habitable, and that our society can continue to function as we would like without fear of environmental or economic disaster. To do so, we must put a price on carbon emissions, but punishing families without taxing our biggest polluters is not the right answer.

Canadians want to do their part to fight climate change — but they’re also struggling with the rising cost of living. The Liberals promised to make big polluters and wealthy corporations pay their fair share, but behind closed doors in Ottawa they caved to their lobbyist friends and let the biggest polluter of the hook. Unlike the Liberals, we’ll work to make life more affordable for everyday families while ensuing that we tackle the climate crisis at the same time.

It’s a day off and you can do anything you want. What would it be?

As a small business owner, I know that free time is hard to come by. But, in the moments when I get it, I like to spend time with my wife Nisha and my daughter Shikha. The three of us enjoy going to different community events, visiting with people from other communities. We enjoy celebrating other cultures, and try to be citizens of the world.

Who inspires you?

Mahatma Gandhi inspires me. He saw systemic injustice and did something about it. He inspires me to run for office, to fight for everyday Canadians.

What is your hidden talent?

I would say organizing. Since I was 19, I have been working on political campaigns. I enjoy organizing supporters, volunteers, big functions; really anything where I can make a difference.

What do you wish you could do but can’t?

I wish I could run in the CIBC Run for The Cure. Unfortunately, I had to have leg surgery, meaning I will never be able to run.

Who are the three people, dead or alive, that you’d love to have dinner with?

That’s easy. Tommy Douglas, Jack Layton, and Mahatma Gandhi. These three men knew the importance of activism and standing up for what you believe in.

How do you take your coffee?

My go-to is a double-double from Tim’s. After my first round of canvassing is done around noon, I need something to help keep me going. Once I have the rich Tim’s flavour, I’m ready to get back to canvassing.

What’s the one album you’d take with you on a desert island? What embarrassing song do you admit to on your playlist?

That’s a tough one. I would have to go with The Poet’s Dead by Rah Rah, a good Regina band. My friend, Marshall Burns, is actually the lead singer. One embarrassing song has to be Honeybee by Blake Shelton. My wife Nisha always rolls her eyes at me when I play that song.

What is your guilty pleasure?

I have to say that my guilty pleasure is giving gifts to my daughter. Nisha says that I’m spoiling her, but I cannot help it. She means the entire world to me, and giving her too many gifts is my way of showing her.

What is the last book you read?

When I’m facing trying times, like running for office, I like reading The Secrets of Life by Stuart Wilde to keep myself grounded.

What is your favourite TV show? What are you binge watching?

My daughter and I enjoy watching Mr. Bean. Sometimes we will just sit on the couch and watch it for hours, laughing hysterically at his antics.

What is your all-time favourite movie?

The Kid by Charlie Chaplin.