Obby Khan

Last updated

Obby Khan
MLA
Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage
In office
January 30, 2023 –October 18, 2023

Ibrahim "Obby" Khan (born 8 October 1980) is a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and former professional Canadian football centre who played for nine seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Renegades, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Calgary Stampeders.

Contents

In March 2022, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba to represent the riding of Fort Whyte. He was elected in a by-election, following the resignation of former Premier Brian Pallister, narrowly beating Willard Reaves, the Liberal candidate and another former Winnipeg Blue Bomber. [1]

Early years

Ibrahim "Obby" Khan was born on 8 October 1980 in Ottawa, Ontario, to a Muslim-Canadian family of Pakistani heritage. For high-school, Khan attended Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School and played football and rugby. He also played minor football for the Gloucester Dukes.

In university, Khan played CIS football with the Simon Fraser Clan, winning the J. P. Metras Trophy as the top lineman in Canadian university football in 2003. The following year, Khan was one of three Canadians to participate in the 2004 East-West Shrine Game, an all-star game for graduating college players, mainly from the United States.

Professional football career

Khan was selected with the second overall pick of the 2004 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Renegades and signed with the team on 19 May 2004. [2] He dressed for the Renegades during the first two games of the 2004 CFL season but did not see action. In Game 3 versus Edmonton, he saw the first live action of his CFL career. In Game 7 versus Calgary, he got the first start of his pro career at right guard. In Game 8 at BC, he started for the second time in as many weeks against the Lions. In Game 9 versus Hamilton he backed-up Mike Sutherland at right guard. He also had a special teams' tackle. In Game 10 versus Edmonton, he backed-up Alexandre Gauthier at left tackle and had a special teams' tackle. In Game 11 versus Montreal, Khan began the game as a back-up and filled in well for centre George Hudson when he went down with a back injury. He started Game 12 versus BC he started as centre against the Lions.

Khan started five of 15 games for the Ottawa Renegades in the 2005 CFL season, sitting out three games due to injury. He was one of the 'Gades most versatile offensive linemen, seeing playing time at guard, centre and tackle.

In the 2006 CFL season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers acquired Khan as their first selection in the Ottawa Dispersal Draft. He was the only member of the Blue Bombers’ offensive line to start all 18 regular season games as well as the football club's East Semifinal contest with the Toronto Argonauts. Khan had never played centre at the pro level until being shifted there during training camp. Khan's solid play helped running back Charles Roberts rush for a league-leading 1,609 yards on 303 carries. His contributions did not go unnoticed. Khan was named the co-winner of the CJOB Offensive Player of the Game Award in Week 8 versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He and the rest of the Bombers' offensive line turned in another performance in the East Semifinal. The Big Blue rushed for 200 yards, including 179 by Roberts, in a losing cause. Khan was recognized in the CFL's post-season awards as the Bombers' nominee as Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

On 25 April 2012, Khan announced his retirement after eight seasons in the Canadian Football League. [3]

On 14 August 2012, the Calgary Stampeders announced that Khan had come out of retirement and signed with the team. He was released by the Stampeders on 11 March 2013. [4]

Post-football career

Khan owns and operates Shawarma Khan, a Winnipeg-based halal shawarma restaurant. [5] Shawarma Khan now has four locations within Winnipeg: Exchange District, Pembina Highway, Graham Avenue, and a concession stand at Investors Group Field under the name "Shawarma Khan In a Snap".

Khan also co-created and co-owns Green Carrot Juice Company, a fresh cold-press juice business in three Winnipeg locations: Osborne Village, Airport, and Tuxedo.

In November 2020, Khan and business partner Ali Esmail launched GoodLocal.ca, an online marketplace for local Winnipeg businesses. GoodLocal, which co-owner Esmail wanted to name LoveLocalMarket, started out in the basement of Shawarma Khan (Graham Ave) and had 100 vendors. Good Local later increased their vendor count to 388, and generated $850,000 in sales. [6] [7] On 26 November 2021, the company opened its first physical location in Winnipeg's Exchange District. [7]

Political career

In January 2022, Khan sought the nomination of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba's candidate in 2022 by-election in Fort Whyte. [8] On 12 February 2022, Khan won the nomination vote for the Fort Whyte by-election that was scheduled to take place on March 22 of that year. [9] [10]

On March 4, 2022, opposition parties questioned a $500,000 grant that was awarded to Khan's business Good Local as part of a $1.5-million provincial program aimed to promote shop local efforts. [11] Of the $1.5 million, $500,000 was given to Khan's business, $409,000 was spent on various programs through the chamber of commerce, while $536,000 remained unspent. [6] Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, credited the grant for creating nine full-time jobs and eighteen part-time jobs at GoodLocal. [12] Liberal leader Dougald Lamont questioned whether the process for awarding this grant was fair; he also cited other business that did not receive financial aid from the government. [13] The PC Party responded to the accusations of favouritism by listing other financial programs that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. [13]

On 22 March 2022, Khan defeated Liberal candidate Willard Reaves, both retired Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in an unusually close race for what had previously been a safe seat for the Progressive Conservatives, having previously been represented by two PC leaders (Pallister and, before him, Hugh McFadyen). This result was the first time a Progressive Conservative candidate had failed to receive an outright majority of votes in the riding, and the result was reported as a "wakeup call" for the PCs by the Winnipeg Sun . [1] [14]

Khan's election made him the first Muslim elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Khan stated that the result was "a huge honour" noting that he was "one of the first East Indians to play in the CFL, now the first Canadian Muslim to be elected [to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly]." [15]

Khan was re-elected in the 2023 provincial election. On October 24, 2023, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Finance and as the Shadow Minister for the Manitoba Public Service.

On 21 August 2024, Khan announced his intent to run for leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba]] in the upcoming party leadership race. [16]

Electoral record

2023 Manitoba general election : Fort Whyte
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Obby Khan 5,44247.87−9.32$45,057.75
Liberal Willard Reaves 4,21337.06+19.44$19,578.06
New Democratic Trudy Schroeder1,71415.08−2.81$0.00
Total valid votes/Expense limit11,36999.61–$66,506.00
Total rejected and declined ballots450.39–
Turnout11,41464.37+4.02
Eligible voters17,732
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −14.38
Source(s)
Source: Elections Manitoba [17] [18] [19]
Manitoba provincial by-election, March 22, 2022: Fort Whyte
Resignation of Brian Pallister
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Obby Khan3,05042.51-14.68
Liberal Willard Reaves 2,85339.77+22.53
New Democratic Trudy Schroeder1,11215.50-2.38
Independent Patrick Allard1011.41—
Green Nicolas Geddert550.77-6.00
Total valid votes7,174
Total rejected ballots150.21-0.33
Turnout7,18942.62-14.57
Eligible voters15,907—-0.29
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -18.61
Source: Elections Manitoba [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Pallister</span> 22nd Premier of Manitoba (2016-2021)

Brian William Pallister is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd premier of Manitoba from 2016 until 2021. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 2012 to 2021. He had been a cabinet minister in the provincial government of Gary Filmon and a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 2000 to 2008.

Sharon Carstairs is a Canadian politician and former Senator.

The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba has had several contested races to determine its leadership. These have all occurred by voting at delegated conventions. The results are listed below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Maguire</span> Canadian politician

Larry Maguire is a politician and activist farmer in Manitoba, Canada. Formerly a Progressive Conservative MLA in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, he was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on November 25, 2013. He is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada and sits on the House Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. During the 43rd Canadian Parliament Maguire's Private member's bill, Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act was adopted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rod Bruinooge</span> Canadian politician

Rod E. Bruinooge is an Indigenous Canadian politician, businessman, and filmmaker. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Winnipeg South in the 2006 federal election, and was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians from 2006 until the fall of 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Whyte</span> Provincial electoral district in Manitoba, Canada

Fort Whyte is a provincial electoral division in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was created in 1999, after the provincial electoral boundaries commission determined that southwestern Winnipeg had experienced enough population growth to deserve an extra seat. Fort Whyte was created from territory formerly belonging to the divisions of Tuxedo, Fort Garry and St. Norbert.

The West Division is one of the two regional divisions of the Canadian Football League (CFL), its counterpart being the East Division.

The 2005 CFL season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.

The 2003 CFL season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season. The pre-season began on May 30, 2003 and the regular season started on June 17, 2003. Taylor Field in Regina, Saskatchewan hosted the 91st Grey Cup on November 16, with the Edmonton Eskimos defeating the Montreal Alouettes 34–22.

The 2002 CFL season is considered to be the 49th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 45th Canadian Football League season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugh McFadyen</span> Canadian politician

Hugh Daniel McFadyen is a lawyer and politician in Manitoba, Canada. From 2006 to 2012, he was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, and Leader of the Opposition in the Manitoba legislature.

The 2006 CFL season is considered to be the 53rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 49th Canadian Football League season.

The 1960 CFL season is considered to be the seventh season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the third Canadian Football League season.

Willard Sheldon Reaves is an American-Canadian former professional gridiron football running back and politician. Reaves played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Canadian Football League (CFL), and for the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Redskins in the National Football League (NFL). Reaves previously served as the deputy leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. He was twice a Manitoba Liberal Party candidate for the division of Fort Whyte in 2022 and 2023.

The following is a list of BC Lions all time records and statistics current to the 2023 CFL season. Single game records and streaks that occur during the 2024 CFL season are also included. Each category lists the top five players, where known, except for when the fifth place player is tied in which case all players with the same number are listed. Games and seasons played lists the top ten players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markus Howell</span> Canadian gridiron football player and coach (born 1975)

Markus Howell is the receivers coach for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is a former professional Canadian football wide receiver and kick returner who played for 11 years for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ottawa Renegades, and Calgary Stampeders. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 CFL Draft by the Blue Bombers. He won a Grey Cup championship in 2008. He played college football at Texas Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Manitoba general election</span> Provincial election

The 2023 Manitoba general election was held on October 3, 2023, to elect 57 members to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. The incumbent Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, led by Premier of Manitoba Heather Stefanson, had attempted to win a third term in government, having previously won the 2016 and 2019 elections under the leadership of Brian Pallister. The New Democratic Party of Manitoba, led by Wab Kinew, formed a majority government, defeating the two-term Progressive Conservative government. Following the election, Kinew became the first First Nations person to become premier of a Canadian province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Lalama</span> Canadian gridiron football player and coach

D. J. Lalama is a former professional Canadian football linebacker and is the linebackers coach for the Manitoba Bisons football team of U Sports.

References

  1. 1 2 Kives, Bartley (March 23, 2022). "No real winners in Fort Whyte: How every party lost something in Manitoba byelection". CBC . Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Khan and Azzi are on board". oursportscentral.com. Ottawa Renegades. May 19, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bombers' C Khan announces retirement". Sportsnet. April 25, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Stamps sign four with NFL experience, release Obby Khan". Calgary Herald . March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  5. ↑ Kirbyson, Geoff (12 June 2013). "Jun 2013: No mad dash for concessions". Winnipeg Free Press.
  6. 1 2 Silva, Danielle Da (2022-03-04). "Liberal leader throws flag on province's $500K pandemic business grant to former Bomber, future Tory candidate". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  7. 1 2 "The supply chain crunch is actually helping some local businesses | CBC News".
  8. ↑ "Former Bombers OL Obby Khan seeking PC Party nomination in Fort Whyte constituency". 3DownNation. January 6, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Obby Khan representing PCs in Fort Whyte by-election". CTV News Winnipeg. February 22, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Fort Whyte by-election announced, vote scheduled for March 22". CTV News Winnipeg. February 22, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Manitoba Liberals complain of favouritism after future PC candidate's business supported with $500K grant". CBC News. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Manitoba Liberals complain of favouritism after future PC candidate's business supported with $500K grant". MSN.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  13. 1 2 "PCs squash Liberal claim that they gave special treatment when awarding grants". winnipegsun.com. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Stelter: PCs get wakeup call in Fort Whyte byelection". winnipegsun. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ↑ Bernhardt, Darren (March 23, 2022). "'A huge honour': Obby Khan nearly moved to tears as 1st Muslim MLA in Manitoba history". CBC . Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  16. ↑ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-pc-party-obby-khan-1.7299933 [ bare URL ]
  17. ↑ "Summary of Votes Received" (PDF). Elections Manitoba . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "CANDIDATE ELECTION RETURNS GENERAL ELECTION 2023". Elections Manitoba . Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  19. ↑ "2023 GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE AND REGISTERED PARTY ELECTION EXPENSE LIMITS - FINAL EXPENSE LIMIT" (PDF). Elections Manitoba . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Election Night Results Fort Whyte". Elections Manitoba . 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  21. ↑ "2022". Elections Manitoba . Retrieved 22 March 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.