Moe Sihota
Encyclopedia
Munmohan Singh "Moe" Sihota (born 1955) is a former Canadian broadcaster and politician.
He was born in Duncan, British Columbia
and attended St. George's Boys School, Vancouver, on scholarship. He obtained a bachelor of social work from the University of British Columbia
in 1977, was awarded a scholarship to Warwick School of Economics, London, 1981 and a bachelor of laws from the University of Victoria
in 1982. He was a social worker in White Rock
in 1978-79 and practised law in Esquimalt
in 1984.
His political career began during his undergraduate years at UBC:
He served in several cabinet posts under the New Democratic governments of Mike Harcourt
, Glen Clark
and Ujjal Dosanjh
, but was forced to resign from cabinet
several times.
He resigned as Minister of Labour in 1995 after the Law Society of BC suspended his licence to practise for 18 months, due to finding him guilty of professional misconduct. He was reinstated to Cabinet in 1996, but resigned again that December for making a phone call to the Motor Carrier Commission, a quasi-judicial body, on behalf of former Vancouver MP Herb Dhaliwal, whom he had appointed to the B.C. Hydro board of directors. He was cleared of wrongdoing and once again reinstated to cabinet.
During his career, he created 200 new Provincial Parks, extended Workers Compensation Coverage to farmworkers and changed BC logging practices.He also served on the Board of Directors of BC Hydro and Power Authourity, Insurance Corporation of BC, Workers Compensation Board and the BC Buildings Corporation.
After retiring from politics and following the NDP's defeat in the, 2001 provincial election
, Sihota became a television host for The New VI
(formerly A-Channel now A) in Victoria
. He left the station in 2004 when his phone-in show, VILand Voices, was cancelled due to re-organization. He currently provides political commentary for CBC Radio's Early Edition Political Panel.
Since 2004, Sihota has pursued several business opportunities and is currently a part-owner and director of the Northern Bear Golf Club (Edmonton, AB), Four Points Sheraton (Victoria, BC) and Walton's Lakefront Resort (Osoyoos, BC).
Sihota currently lives in Victoria, British Columbia and is married with two children, Rajan and Karina.
In November 2009, he was elected to the position of President of the BC New Democratic Party. In October 2010, it was revealed that Sihota is being paid a salary for his position as President, with payments from The Canadian Union of Public Employees, United Steelworkers and the BC Federation of Labour.
He was born in Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
and attended St. George's Boys School, Vancouver, on scholarship. He obtained a bachelor of social work from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1977, was awarded a scholarship to Warwick School of Economics, London, 1981 and a bachelor of laws from the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in 1982. He was a social worker in White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
in 1978-79 and practised law in Esquimalt
Esquimalt, British Columbia
The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, to the west by Esquimalt Harbour and Royal Roads, to the northwest by the...
in 1984.
His political career began during his undergraduate years at UBC:
- Ombudsman, UBC (1975).
- Vice president, UBC, Board of Governors (1977).
- President, Young New Democrats (1978).
- President, Federal Riding of Cowichan/Malahat/The Islands (1981–84).
- Successfully managed election campaigns for Frank Mitchell (1983) and Jim Manly (1984).
- Alderman, Esquimalt (1984)
- Elected M.L.A. for Esquimalt/Port Renfrew (1986).
- The first Indian-Canadian to be elected to any federal or provincial riding and the first Indian-Canadian cabinet minister in a province of Canada.
He served in several cabinet posts under the New Democratic governments of Mike Harcourt
Mike Harcourt
Michael Franklin Harcourt served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th mayor of BC's major city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986....
, Glen Clark
Glen Clark
Glen David Clark is a politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.-Early life and education:...
and Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dev Singh Dosanjh, PC, QC, is a Sikh Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as 33rd Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 including a stint as Minister of Health from 2004 until 2006 when the party lost...
, but was forced to resign from cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
several times.
He resigned as Minister of Labour in 1995 after the Law Society of BC suspended his licence to practise for 18 months, due to finding him guilty of professional misconduct. He was reinstated to Cabinet in 1996, but resigned again that December for making a phone call to the Motor Carrier Commission, a quasi-judicial body, on behalf of former Vancouver MP Herb Dhaliwal, whom he had appointed to the B.C. Hydro board of directors. He was cleared of wrongdoing and once again reinstated to cabinet.
During his career, he created 200 new Provincial Parks, extended Workers Compensation Coverage to farmworkers and changed BC logging practices.He also served on the Board of Directors of BC Hydro and Power Authourity, Insurance Corporation of BC, Workers Compensation Board and the BC Buildings Corporation.
After retiring from politics and following the NDP's defeat in the, 2001 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 2001
The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001...
, Sihota became a television host for The New VI
CIVI-TV
CIVI-DT, also known as CTV Two Vancouver Island, is a television station based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Currently owned by Bell Media, the station serves the Vancouver Island area, and operates as part of the CTV Two system...
(formerly A-Channel now A) in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. He left the station in 2004 when his phone-in show, VILand Voices, was cancelled due to re-organization. He currently provides political commentary for CBC Radio's Early Edition Political Panel.
Since 2004, Sihota has pursued several business opportunities and is currently a part-owner and director of the Northern Bear Golf Club (Edmonton, AB), Four Points Sheraton (Victoria, BC) and Walton's Lakefront Resort (Osoyoos, BC).
Sihota currently lives in Victoria, British Columbia and is married with two children, Rajan and Karina.
In November 2009, he was elected to the position of President of the BC New Democratic Party. In October 2010, it was revealed that Sihota is being paid a salary for his position as President, with payments from The Canadian Union of Public Employees, United Steelworkers and the BC Federation of Labour.