"Dr. Raj Pannu was elected to his third term as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Edmonton-Strathcona on November 22, 2004, Dr. Pannu assumed leadership of the Alberta New Democrats on February 2nd, 2000, a position which he held until July 13, 2004.In addition, he held several important critic portfolios including Health, Justice, Human Rights, Environment and Learning. Since he was first elected in 1997, Dr. Pannu has served as a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Special Standing Committee on Members’ Services. He is currently a member of Standing Committees on Private Bills, and Privileges and Elections, Standing Orders and Printing.
Dr. Pannu was born in Punjab, India and immigrated to Canada in 1962. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a Ph.D in Sociology in 1973. He was a school teacher in rural Alberta and in Edmonton in the early 1960s before becoming a Professor in the University of Alberta’s departments of Educational Policy Studies and Sociology. He was a professor there for almost 30 years, between 1969 and 1996.
Dr. Pannu is a participant in the Citizens for Quality Communities Edmonton organization.
Dr. Pannu and his wife, Swinder, have lived in the Strathcona area for over 32 years. Their daughter Savi, is a student in Edmonton."
--Naana
