Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi asked to consider running in federal election

EDMONTON — The mayor of Alberta’s capital city, who climbed the ladder of success from bus driver to government minister, says he’s been asked to return to the Liberal party as a member of Parliament.

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi was a Liberal MP from 2015 to 2019 and served as a cabinet minister during former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s first term.

Sohi became mayor two years after losing his seat in 2019 to Conservative candidate Tim Uppal.

In a statement on Friday, he said he has been asked to join the party once again.

“I have been asked if I would consider putting my name forward to run with the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election,” Sohi said.

“I will continue to stand up for Edmonton and serve my city, and I will have more to say about my political future in the coming days.”

His comment comes after he appeared Thursday at a news conference with Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Carney is set to call an election on Sunday that would send Canadians to the polls as soon as April 28.

When asked about his thoughts on Sohi as a possible candidate, the Liberal leader said he holds great respect for him.

“I’m a great admirer of Mayor Sohi,” he said Thursday. “One thing about him is that he’s a public servant and he will continue to serve Edmontonians, Albertans and, I hope, Canadians as well.”

In a Friday blog post, Sohi said he felt optimistic about what the future will bring despite the “unprecedented times” Canada is facing, given its trade war with the United States.

“For me, Canada is a special place where a working-class immigrant like me can unlock his potential, have a good life and serve his fellow Canadians,” he said.

Before Sohi’s election as mayor, he served as an Edmonton city councillor and once worked as a bus driver.

Edmonton has nine federal ridings and one of those seats is occupied by Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2025.

Aaron Sousa, The Canadian Press