Harjit Sajjan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Harjit Sajjan PC OMM MSM CD MP
Sajjan in 2023
President of the King's Privy Council for Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Bill Blair
Minister of Emergency Preparedness
Incumbent
Assumed office July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Bill Blair
Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
Incumbent
Assumed office October 26, 2021
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Minister of International Development
In office October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Karina Gould
Succeeded by	Ahmed Hussen
Minister of National Defence
In office November 4, 2015 – October 26, 2021
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Jason Kenney
Succeeded by	Anita Anand
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Acting February 12, 2019 – March 1, 2019
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Jody Wilson-Raybould
Succeeded by	Lawrence MacAulay
Member of Parliament for Vancouver South
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	Wai Young
Personal details
Born	Harjit Singh Sajjan (1970-09-06) September 6, 1970 (age 54) Bombeli, Punjab, India
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Kuljit Kaur ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	2
Residences	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Police officer
Military service
Allegiance	Canada
Branch/service	Canadian Army
Years of service	1989–2015
Rank	Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit	The British Columbia Regiment
Commands	The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own)
Battles/wars	Bosnian War War in Afghanistan Operation Medusa
Awards	Order of Military Merit Meritorious Service Medal Canadian Forces' Decoration South-West Asia Service Medal General Campaign Star Commendation Medal NATO Service Medal Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal
Police career
Current status	Retired
Department	Vancouver Police Department
Rank	Detective

Harjit Singh Sajjan was born on September 6, 1970. He is a Canadian politician and a veteran of the Canadian Army. Since July 26, 2023, he has been the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada.

Mr. Sajjan is a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He represents the area of Vancouver South in British Columbia as a Member of Parliament (MP). He first became an MP after the 2015 election.

Before becoming a politician, Mr. Sajjan worked as a detective for the Vancouver Police Department. He also served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian Army. He was Canada's first Sikh Minister of National Defence. He was also the first Sikh Canadian to lead a Canadian Army reserve regiment.

In 2017, Mr. Sajjan apologized for how he described his role in Operation Medusa. This was a military operation in Afghanistan in 2006. In 2021, the House of Commons voted to criticize him for these claims.

Early Life and Family

Harjit Sajjan was born in Bombeli, a village in Punjab, India. His father was a police officer in India. In 1976, when Harjit was five, he moved to Canada with his mother and older sister. They joined his father, who had moved to British Columbia two years earlier.

His family worked hard to build their new life in Canada. His mother often worked on berry farms in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia during the summer. Harjit and his sister would often help her. He grew up in South Vancouver.

In 1996, Harjit Sajjan married Kuljit Kaur, who is a doctor. They have two children, a son named Arjun and a daughter named Jeevut. When he was a teenager, he was baptized as a Sikh. He felt this helped him avoid bad influences.

Military and Police Work

Harjit Sajjan has a long history of serving his country and community. He worked as both a soldier and a police officer.

Serving in the Army

Mr. Sajjan joined The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own) in 1989. He started as a trooper and became an officer in 1991. He eventually reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

He served overseas four times. He went once to Bosnia and Herzegovina and three times to Afghanistan. During his first time in Afghanistan in 2006, he helped plan parts of Operation Medusa. This was a major military operation. His leaders praised his work during this time.

After returning from Afghanistan, he continued to serve as a reservist. He also started a business. It taught military personnel how to gather intelligence. In 2011, he became the first Sikh to lead a Canadian Army reserve regiment.

Working as a Police Officer

After his time in Bosnia, Mr. Sajjan began an 11-year career with the Vancouver Police Department. He worked as a detective in the gang crimes unit. This unit focused on investigating organized crime. He took breaks from his police work to serve in Afghanistan.

Awards and Inventions

Mr. Sajjan has received several awards for his service. In 2012, he was given the Meritorious Service Medal. This was for helping to reduce the Taliban's influence in Afghanistan. He also received the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. He was also given the Order of Military Merit award. He served as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Because of his Sikh beliefs, he keeps his facial hair. This made it hard to use standard military gas masks. So, Mr. Sajjan invented his own gas mask that worked with his beard. He received a patent for it in 1996.

Entering Politics

After a distinguished career in the military and police, Harjit Sajjan decided to enter politics.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Sajjan speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum in 2016

In the 2015 federal election, Mr. Sajjan was elected as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver South. He won against the previous MP, Wai Young.

Important Government Roles

On November 4, 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Mr. Sajjan to the federal Cabinet. He became the Minister of National Defence. He held this important role until October 26, 2021.

For a short time in February 2019, he also served as the acting minister of Veterans Affairs. This was after the previous minister resigned.

Recent Roles and Public Life

Sajjan with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in 2018

From October 2021 to July 2023, Mr. Sajjan served as the Minister of International Development. In this role, he helped manage Canada's aid to other countries. He was also the Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

Since July 26, 2023, Mr. Sajjan has taken on new responsibilities. He is now the Minister of Emergency Preparedness. This means he helps Canada prepare for and respond to emergencies. He is also the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada.