Police officer Jessy Sahota is the Conservative Party’s candidate for Delta.
A decorated member of the Delta Police Department, international athlete and volunteer sports coach, Sahota was the first candidate to declare their intention to run, announcing his campaign in early February of 2024.
Since then Sahota — occasionally flanked by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre — has spent considerable time out door-knocking in the riding and attending various events as the local face of the party.
Sahota — who recently married his high-school sweetheart, local Realtor Ikjot Sandhu — said in a statement that he is not entering politics because of opportunity, but rather an “immense frustration” with the direction this country is heading in under the Liberal government.
"I am proud to be running with Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada as the candidate for Delta. After 10 years of the Carney-Trudeau Liberal giveaways, it's time for a change,” Sahota said in an emailed statement to the Reporter.
“I will fight for Delta in Ottawa to unlock our full potential. We must reduce costs for households and businesses by axing taxes and cutting red tape, grow our economy, keep criminals off our streets and promote public safety. Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada have a strong plan to always put Canada First, and I know that by working together we will deliver better results for our community."
In his position as a youth liaison officer with the DPDs Youth Liaison Team (YLT), Sahota works with at-risk and high-risk youth in the community, many of whom have gang affiliations, to stabilize them by establishing positive connections with police, their schools, counsellors and mentors, according to a bio provided by his campaign.
As part of the team, Sahota uses trauma-informed practices as the guiding principle and, alongside his teammates, assesses each case individually for further follow-up, engagement and action — the criminal justice system is to be used as a last resort.
Since 2009, Sahota has also invested countless hours with Yo Bro | Yo Girl Youth Initiative, an outreach program for Lower Mainland youth at risk of involvement in drugs and gangs.
In 2022, Sahota was recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police as one of the world's top 40 police officers under 40, and his police service and volunteering efforts earned him a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee award in 2023.
A multi-sport athlete, Sahota has clinched national and international accolades in wrestling, jiu-jitsu and kabaddi. He is a three-time Canadian National Champion in wrestling, and has won three gold medals in wrestling at the World Police and Fire Games, most recently in 2023.
Sahota and his brother, Paul, both coach wrestling at North Delta Secondary and Tamanawis Secondary in Surrey, leading their athletes to numerous provincial/regional championships.
In 2022, Sahota started the DPD Wrestling Club in conjunction with a local high school, through which he is “developing positive police and youth relationships, thus increasing public safety and reducing crime, victimization and recidivism,” according to his bio.
To date, two other candidates have said they are running to be Delta's member of Parliament: Delta Chamber of Commerce executive director Jill McKight with the Liberal Party, and educator and entrepreneur Natasa Sirotic with the People's Party of Canada.
The nomination process for candidates closes Monday, April 7, and a complete list of confirmed candidates will be announced two days later, on Wednesday, April 9.
Canadians go to the polls on Monday, April 28, with advance voting from April 18-21 and mail-in options.
— with a file from Tom Zillich
