Update, October 7, 2026: Kahlon announced on September 22, 2026 that he would not seek re-election in the October 24 vote. Todd Schierling is the NDP candidate for Delta North.
Ravi Kahlon's path to politics started on the field hockey pitch. Introduced to the sport by his father and grandfather, he became a two-time Olympian for Team Canada and a Delta Sports Hall of Fame inductee. He was first elected in 2017 as the NDP MLA for Delta North, the riding immediately south of Surrey.
His cabinet resume is one of the longest on this list. He has held the jobs and economic growth, housing and municipal affairs, and housing portfolios, after an earlier stint guiding the province's post-COVID economic recovery as Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. Before cabinet he served as parliamentary secretary for sport and multiculturalism and for forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development. His final portfolio was health: a September 2026 government release identified him as Minister of Health as he announced more than $33 million for emergency care and diagnostics at Surrey Memorial Hospital, including a dedicated triage team, an emergency department satellite centre and two CT scanners.
Before politics he spent seven years in banking and six years as Director of Stakeholder Relations with the NDP caucus. He has stayed close to community sport as a volunteer board member with the Delta Parks and Recreation Committee and Men's High Performance Field Hockey BC, and as a certified coach mentoring North Delta youth in field hockey and soccer. Born and raised in Victoria, he lives in North Delta with his wife and son.
On September 22, 2026, the day the legislature was dissolved, Kahlon announced he would not seek re-election in the October 24 vote, news outlets reported, saying it was time for the next champion of North Delta to step forward. He has endorsed Todd Schierling, a longtime Surrey Fire Service firefighter, as the NDP's Delta North candidate, StudioX News reported, and Premier David Eby praised his cabinet record across the jobs, housing and health portfolios.
Delta North is not technically a Surrey riding, but its economy, roads and communities are woven into Surrey's daily life, which is why he makes this list.
Editor's note: the legislature was dissolved on September 22, 2026 and a provincial election was called for October 24, 2026. Offices above reflect the 43rd Parliament.
This profile is part of Apna News' Candidates series, introducing the people who represent Surrey and its neighbouring communities. Apna News is Surrey's new multilingual news platform. If you spot something to correct or add, reach us at info@apnanews.ca.
Official links: Government bio
