FIVE FILIPINO CANADIANS VIE FOR CITY COUNCIL AND FEDERAL MP ELECTORAL SEATS

 

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
July 9, 2021
 


For the past 26 years, after the retirement of former Liberal Member of Parliament( Dr.) Rey Pagtakhan in 2004, the Filipino Canadian political communities across Canada have been concentrating and creating interesting conversations and movements toward establishing new directions and actions for meaningful and determined participation in the halls of parliamentary democracy, that is, getting reasonably nominated, elected, and engaged in articulating a voice in all levels of political governance and representation in the country.

Interestingly, for quite some time, information reaching the community is becoming more challenging to those engaged in making plans and showing interest in entering the municipal, provincial, and federal nomination and election processes. A sizeable number of courageous and ambitious Filipino Canadians are already being encouraged and selected as solid candidates and nominees for election though comparatively fewer than those from other ethnic or racialized groups.

Among the identified Filipino Canadians at this point, are two female candidates in the City of Montreal Council, and 3 MP official & nomination candidates in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) political landscape. There are many political developments, news analyses, and signs of an upcoming federal election floating everywhere. The Liberal government could "drop the writ", and everyone wants to be prepared. The 5 Filipino Canadians who are running and very hopeful to be elected in the soon-to-be-called Federal election in September 2021 and the Montreal civic election on November 7, 2021, are into campaign mode reaching out and promoting their platforms and pledges.

MONTREAL CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES



France Stohner is running for City Councilor under the Courage--- Équipe Sue Montgomery Party in the Snowdon electoral district of the borough of Cote-des-Neiges-- Notre Dame-de-Grace, Montreal in the coming November 2021 civic elections. Stohner is the first Filipina to run whose district has a huge Filipino Canadian community. If elected, she would be the first visible minority to sit on the council of the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough. She would also be the first Filipina to hold a public office in Quebec. Born in the Philippines, Stohner is a mother to a 17-month-old son



Stephanie Evangelista, a Filipino Canadian, is the City Councillor candidate for the  Darlington district in the  Cote des Neiges - Notre Dame de Grace Borough under the Ensemble Montreal. A McGill University political science graduate, she is the current Director of Communications of the Filipino Heritage Month Society and has worked with organizations in the Black, Jewish, Tamil, and Bangladeshi communities. Stephanie speaks four languages and brings a wealth of experience in issues on housing and intercultural relations. Many believe that Stephanie Evangelista would be one of the 2 women of Filipino heritage to be elected to the Montreal City Council. The Filipino population comprises some 36,000 persons in the Borough or over 20% of the entire population.

When elected, City Councillor candidates Stephanie Evangelista for Darlington District under the Ensemble Montreal Party and France Stohner for Snowdon District with Courage--- Équipe Sue Montgomery Party will both articulate voices for their respective communities and for all the diverse communities in Montreal.

MP ELECTION AND NOMINATION CANDIDATES



Dr. Phil de Luna is the acclaimed Green Party Member of Parliament(MP) candidate for Toronto-St. Paul's, Ontario. Phil has a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering- the University of Toronto, Master of Science in Chemistry- University of Ottawa, and BSc. Honours Chemistry from the University of Windsor. He was born in Taiwan to Filipino parents and grew up in Windsor, Ontario. As a young scientist and cleantech entrepreneur, he is currently on leave as Program Director at the National Research Council of Canada.



Paul Jonathan Saguil is seeking the federal Liberal MP nomination for Brampton Centre. Saguil and his family came to Canada from the Philippines in 1991 and settled in Brampton. He is a BA (Honours)- Philosophy degree graduate of York University and the Osgoode Hall Law School. A member of the Law Society of Ontario, Saguil is an award-winning lawyer who has defended minority rights before the Supreme Court of Canada. He is an openly proud gay 39-year old individual and solidly supports BIPOC and queer youths. Paul currently works for TD Bank Group and sits on a number of boards and advisory groups.



Elizabeth R. Quinto has declared her MP nomination candidacy for Kitchener South-Hespeler in Cambridge. If nominated and elected, Quinto would be the first-ever Filipino Canadian Member of Parliament from Ontario and the first Filipino Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons. A holder of BA( Honours) in Political Science degree from the University of Waterloo, Elizabeth completed a law degree and passed the State of Michigan bar exams. She is also a solicitor, barrister, and notary public in Ontario. Quinto strongly advocates that "Filipino-Canadians need a voice in Parliament and women need a continued voice" in the House of Commons." At 38 years old, she is a proud member of the LGBTQ21A+ community.