Adrienne Clarkson profiles NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaiesan.

Rathika says that many in the Tamil community are very politicized because they were forced to leave a country that for two generations suffered from civil war and unrest, but that others want to disengage when they come to Canada; they’ve already had too much politics. She wants to show them that politics is differ-ent in Canada: constructive and inclusive. Rathika identifies with other women who come from the Subcontinent – India, Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as Sri Lanka – and she is keen about getting other women from the communities she knows – Filipinas, for example – to run for elected office, because that’s how we’ll be properly represented in our parliaments and legislatures. She is the voice of the newest of Canada, and that voice is strong, loud and clear.