Harjit Sajjan

The Honourable

Harjit Sajjan

PC OMM MSM CD MP
Sajjan in 2023
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada
In office
July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBill Blair
Succeeded byDominic LeBlanc
Minister of Emergency Preparedness
In office
July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBill Blair
Succeeded byDavid McGuinty
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
In office
October 26, 2021 – March 14, 2025
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition discontinued
Minister of International Development
In office
October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byKarina Gould
Succeeded byAhmed Hussen
Minister of National Defence
In office
November 4, 2015 – October 26, 2021
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJason Kenney
Succeeded byAnita Anand
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Acting
February 12, 2019 – March 1, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJody Wilson-Raybould
Succeeded byLawrence MacAulay
Member of Parliament
for Vancouver South
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byWai Young
Personal details
Born
Harjit Singh Sajjan

(1970-09-06) September 6, 1970 (age 56)
Bombeli, Punjab, India
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)
Kuljit Kaur
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
ResidenceVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionPolice officer
Military service
Allegiance Canada
Branch/service Canadian Army
Years of service1989–2015
Rank Lieutenant-Colonel
UnitThe British Columbia Regiment
CommandsThe British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
Battles/wars
Awards
Police career
Current statusRetired
DepartmentVancouver Police Department
RankDetective

Harjit Singh Sajjan PC OMM MSM CD MP (born September 6, 1970) is a Canadian Liberal politician. He was the Canadian Minister of National Defence. Sajjan is also a Member of Parliament representing the Vancouver South riding. He was a decorated lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces. Before becoming a politician he spent 11 years as a police officer and detective.

As a teenager, Sajjan was baptised as a Sikh.

References

  1. ↑ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. ↑ Pugliese, David (10 November 2015). "Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan released from military — so he doesn't have to take orders from generals". National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Postmedia News. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Laurent Lagneau (November 7, 2015). "Un Sikh nommé ministre de la Défense au Canada". Zone Militaire. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. ↑ Tamara Baluja (4 November 2015). "Harjit Sajjan: Meet Canada's new 'badass' defence minister". CBC/Radio-Canada. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Agence France-Presse (7 November 2015). "Sikh warrior Harjit Sajjan will draw on combat experience in Bosnia and Afghanistan in new role as Canadian defence minister". South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Canada's New Defense Minister Made His Own Gas Mask to Work With His Sikh Beard". Foreign Policy. Retrieved August 31, 2023.