When Malalai Halimi was a young girl in Afghanistan, she arrived at school one morning only to be sent straight back home. The Taliban had barred women from studying, and her family lived in fear. Halimi recalls seeing her mother in tears that day, devastated by the loss of her job and her daughter’s right to education.
Today, Halimi could hardly have imagined then that she would not only immigrate to Canada but also run for public office. As the Liberal candidate for Dufferin-Caledon in Ontario, Halimi says her lived experiences inspire her to help others, especially women, mothers, and children. “It means so much, and I really want to help people,” she said.
Halimi is among a number of immigrant candidates running in Monday’s federal election, offering stories that speak to resilience, opportunity, and a renewed vision for Canada’s future.
While immigration has been discussed during the campaign, it has not taken center stage amid more urgent concerns over a U.S. trade war and annexation threats from President Donald Trump. Still, the issue remains close to voters’ hearts. A November 2024 federal survey found that 54 per cent of Canadians believed the country was admitting too many immigrants, though concern eased when they learned of Ottawa’s plans to moderate intake numbers starting in 2025.
The perception that immigration is tied to Canada’s housing crisis and broader economic anxieties has fueled debates across the political spectrum. Cost-of-living pressures were part of what motivated NDP candidate Jose de Lima to seek election in the riding of Cambridge. De Lima, who came to Canada from Brazil at age eight with his mother, remembers relying on emergency shelters and food banks while adjusting to a new life. “Many of the things that gave me life and hope — and allowed me to go from an emergency shelter to running for Parliament at 26 — are the very things that governments need to protect,” he said.
Conservative candidates were contacted for comment on this story but did not respond.
For Liberal incumbent Arielle Kayabaga, who is seeking re-election in London West, ensuring that newcomers feel welcomed and supported remains a key priority. Kayabaga fled the civil war in Burundi with her family, arriving in Canada in 2002. She credits settlement services and the embrace of the francophone community for helping her succeed. “Canada once fought for me, so I’m always ready and prepared to fight for Canada,” she said.
The Liberal platform proposes capping the number of temporary workers and international students to below five per cent of Canada’s population by 2027, while stabilizing permanent resident admissions at under one per cent beyond that point. The Conservatives have pledged to align immigration levels with housing, healthcare, and job market capacity. The NDP’s platform does not focus heavily on immigration, though Leader Jagmeet Singh has stressed its importance for economic growth.
Halimi acknowledged encountering anti-immigrant attitudes during her campaign, but she remains determined to stand up for Canada’s multicultural values. “If I am, as an immigrant, running for public office, it shows there is opportunity in this country,” she said.
Whatever the outcome on Monday, for many immigrant candidates, this election represents a turning point — not just for their political futures, but for the future of Canada’s inclusive identity.