# Gagan Sikand

Gagan Sikand is a Canadian politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for the Greater Toronto Area riding of Mississauga—Streetsville from 2015 to 2021. He served as a member of the Liberal Party.

## Background

Sikand attended the University of Toronto. He completed an Honours B.A. with a double major in crime and deviance and philosophy with a minor in anthropology. He obtained an LLB Law degree from Brunel Law School in London, England. He worked for the provincial office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Born in Toronto, he has lived in Mississauga for over 30 years and in the riding of Mississauga-Streetsville for 29 years.

## Politics

In the 2015 federal election, Sikand ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Mississauga—Streetsville. He defeated Conservative incumbent Brad Butt by 4,171 votes. He was a backbench supporter of the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He sat on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament. On April 18, 2018 he was named Co-Chair of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament.
On February 26, 2016, he introduced a Private Member's Bill that would allow police to use a device that could detect the presence of alcohol for a car driver without having to administer a breathalyzer test. As of September 21, 2016, the bill has passed first reading and is being consider by the house.
On June 13, 2016 he was named Caucus Liaison for the Ontario Young Liberals.
In 2017, Sikand abstained during the vote for Motion 103 to condemn Islamophobia. All other Liberal MPs present voted in favor of the motion.
On October 20, 2020, Sikand took a medical leave of absence from Parliament, the leave was approved by the Chief Government Whip.
On August 15, 2021, Sikand announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the next election.

## Electoral record

vte2019 Canadian federal election: Mississauga—Streetsville :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Gagan Sikand | 29,618 | 50.4 | +2.56 | $84,567.48 |
| | Conservative | Ghada Melek | 19,474 | 33.1 | -7.3 | $69,794.85 |
| | New Democratic | Samir Girguis | 6,036 | 10.3 | +1.3 | $12,072.67 |
| | Green | Chris Hill | 2,688 | 4.6 | +2.29 | $1,396.80 |
| | People's | Thomas McIver | 706 | 1.2 | | $0.00 |
| | Animal Protection | Natalie Spizzirri | 243 | 0.4 | | $1,762.35 |
| Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | Total valid votes/expense limit | 58,765 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 437 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 59,202 | 67.6 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 87,557 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | Swing | +4.93 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Gagan Sikand | 26,792 | 47.8 | +12.81 | – |
| | Conservative | Brad Butt | 22,621 | 40.4 | -5.72 | – |
| | New Democratic | Fayaz Karim | 5,040 | 9.0 | -6.0 | – |
| | Green | Chris Hill | 1,293 | 2.3 | -1.36 | – |
| | Christian Heritage | Yegor Tarazevich | 253 | 0.5 | – | – |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 55,999 | 100.0 | | $219,652.47 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 217 | – | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 56,216 | 67.6% | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 83,122 |
| | Liberal gain from Conservative | Liberal gain from Conservative | Swing | Swing | +9.26% |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||