The Green Party of Canada is pleased to announce Pooja Malhotra as the Party\u2019s new Shadow Cabinet Critic for Immigration and Refugees.
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Pooja Malhotra is a community organizer, former lecturer, and medical copywriter with lived experience of Canada\u2019s immigration system and a deep commitment to justice, compassion, and collective action. Born and raised in India, Pooja immigrated to Canada in 2019, a country she now proudly calls home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cImmigration policy must be rooted in dignity, fairness, and respect for human rights,\u201d said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. \u201cPooja brings lived experience, moral clarity, and a strong record of community engagement to this role. She understands that welcoming newcomers is not just an economic issue, but a question of who we are as a country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Politically engaged from a young age, Pooja grew up marching alongside her mother in protests against corruption and inequality. Before immigrating, she earned degrees in Design in India and the United Kingdom, exploring connections between cultures, clothing, and community; later teaching as a senior lecturer. Her academic work introduced her to Indigenous design traditions, including those of the Coast Salish peoples, inspiring her move to Canada and deepening her commitment to reconciliation and justice.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pooja supported vaccine rollout efforts and community responses, while also engaging in anti-racism organizing and learning from Indigenous-led movements for Truth and Reconciliation. Since October 2023, she has helped organize grassroots actions with community and peace organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, focused on solidarity, community care, and principled opposition to violence and injustice.
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\u201cAs an immigrant myself, I know how deeply immigration and refugee policies shape people\u2019s lives, their safety, their families, and their sense of belonging,\u201d said Pooja Malhotra. \u201cI\u2019m honoured to take on this role and to advocate for an immigration system grounded in compassion, human rights, and climate justice.\u201d
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Having witnessed the impacts of climate change firsthand, Pooja brings an intersectional perspective to the role, recognizing the deep links between environmental breakdown, displacement, and global inequality. As Immigration and Refugee Critic, she will work to advance policies that uphold Canada\u2019s humanitarian obligations, protect migrant and refugee rights, and build a more just and welcoming society.
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