Raj Pannu
Encyclopedia
Raj Pannu is a Canadian
educator and politician, who led the Alberta New Democratic Party
from 2000 to 2004.
Pannu was born in Punjab, India
completing an undergraduate degree before immigrating to Canada
in 1962. He settled in Whitecourt
, Alberta
, where he worked as a high school teacher until 1964.
In 1964 he moved to Edmonton
to work on a graduate program, completing a Ph.D.
in sociology
in 1973. He taught at York University
for one year (1968–69) before returning to the University of Alberta
, where he taught for 27 years until his retirement in 1996. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta.
He entered provincial politics in 1997 when he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
representing the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona
. Raj became leader in February 2000 after the previous leader, Pam Barrett
, retired from politics.
Pannu ran a high-profile campaign in the 2001 Alberta election
. T-shirt
s emblazoned with the slogan "Raj Against the Machine", as well as a reputation as a "likeable and honest politician" contributed to his popularity and made him a leader well respected by supporters and non-supporters alike.
He announced on July 13, 2004 that he was resigning as party leader. Fellow MLA Brian Mason
, the deputy leader, became interim leader. Mason was formally elected leader in a leadership convention
held on September 18. However, he sought re-election as an MLA in the 26th Alberta general election
, and was re-elected by a wide margin.
On June 14, 2006, he announced his retirement from Alberta politics at the dissolution of the legislature, which took place in February 2008.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
educator and politician, who led the Alberta New Democratic Party
Alberta New Democratic Party
The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
from 2000 to 2004.
Pannu was born in Punjab, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
completing an undergraduate degree before immigrating to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1962. He settled in Whitecourt
Whitecourt, Alberta
Whitecourt is a town in Alberta, Canada within Woodlands County. It is located northwest of Edmonton and southeast of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 43 and Highway 32 and has an elevation of ....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, where he worked as a high school teacher until 1964.
In 1964 he moved to Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
to work on a graduate program, completing a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in 1973. He taught at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
for one year (1968–69) before returning to the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, where he taught for 27 years until his retirement in 1996. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta.
He entered provincial politics in 1997 when he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
representing the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona
Edmonton-Strathcona (provincial electoral district)
Edmonton-Strathcona is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It shares the same name as the federal electoral district of Edmonton—Strathcona....
. Raj became leader in February 2000 after the previous leader, Pam Barrett
Pam Barrett
Pam Barrett was a politician who left politics in February 2000, after having a life-changing near-death experience.-Early political career:...
, retired from politics.
Pannu ran a high-profile campaign in the 2001 Alberta election
Alberta general election, 2001
The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s emblazoned with the slogan "Raj Against the Machine", as well as a reputation as a "likeable and honest politician" contributed to his popularity and made him a leader well respected by supporters and non-supporters alike.
He announced on July 13, 2004 that he was resigning as party leader. Fellow MLA Brian Mason
Brian Mason
Brian Mason is a Canadian politician and leader of the Alberta New Democrats . Mason was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood in a 2001 byelection, and his career in politics spans more than 20 years.Mason first became politically active...
, the deputy leader, became interim leader. Mason was formally elected leader in a leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
held on September 18. However, he sought re-election as an MLA in the 26th Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 2004
The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, and was re-elected by a wide margin.
On June 14, 2006, he announced his retirement from Alberta politics at the dissolution of the legislature, which took place in February 2008.