Doly Begum has made history. Born in Moulvibazar, Bangladesh and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, she became the first Bangladeshi-Canadian elected to a Canadian legislature when she won the Scarborough Southwest riding for the Ontario New Democratic Party in 2018 at age 29, defeating a 15-year Liberal incumbent. She went on to win three consecutive terms and rise to the role of Deputy Leader of the Ontario NDP.
In February 2026, she resigned her seat and was nominated as the federal Liberal candidate for the Scarborough Southwest byelection to be held on April 13, 2026, a move that surprised many within her former party and sparked debate among political observers.
During her time at Queen’s Park, Doly built a legislative portfolio centered on housing affordability, transit expansion, healthcare access, foreign credential recognition, workers’ rights, and newcomer integration, issues closely tied to Scarborough’s diverse, working-class communities.
As Doly steps onto the federal stage, her career continues to draw both admiration and scrutiny, making her one of the most closely watched figures in both local and national politics. In this exclusive interview with Nawrin Sultana, Doly discusses her political transition and her vision for the future of Scarborough Southwest.
Nawrin: You built your political identity as an NDP voice for the working people of Scarborough. What specifically changed in your values or in the political landscape that made the Liberal Party the better vehicle for those same people? And,what would you say to the NDP voters who put you in Queen's Park three times?
Doly: I’ve been knocking on doors and having this conversation every day. For eight years, I held open office hours every Friday morning because listening to Scarborough Southwest has always been central to my work.
While we accomplished meaningful things provincially, we’re now facing a national moment of crisis, affordability challenges and broader economic threats. I believe we need leadership that can strengthen our economy while protecting working people locally.
That’s why I chose to join Prime Minister Mark Carney. I believe he has the vision to build a stronger, more resilient economy while investing in what families need, affordability, stability, opportunity.
To the NDP voters who supported me three times: my core mission hasn’t changed. I entered politics to serve Scarborough Southwest. This decision is about continuing that work at a level where I believe I can deliver more for my community and my country.
Nawrin: You're the first Bangladeshi-Canadian ever elected to a Canadian legislature. Eight years later, do you feel that symbolic weight has translated into systemic change for your community or is representation still just a starting point?
Doly: I’ve spent nearly a decade in elected office and over two decades in community work. So I want to be clear, my identity is not symbolic. No one’s identity should be reduced to symbolism.
My lived experience informs how I approach issues like cost of living, transit, healthcare, and immigration- issues that directly impact our communities. That perspective has shaped real legislative advocacy and tangible work on the ground.
Representation is never the end goal, it’s a beginning. What matters is what you do with that platform. I’m proud of the work my team and I have done, and I will continue building on it. For me, it has always been about delivering results, not carrying a label.
Nawrin: Prime Minister Mark Carney has emphasized fiscal restraint, adjustments to immigration levels, and increased defence spending. You spent eight years as an NDP MPP advocating for expanded public services. What assurances did you seek before joining his caucus? And if government policy conflicts with your core values, how would you navigate that tension?
Doly: What impressed me is the government’s commitment to core social democratic priorities- healthcare expansion, pharmacare, dental care, affordable childcare, and reliable transit. These are issues I’ve fought for throughout my career.
Affordability is the defining challenge right now. Families are struggling with rent, groceries, and childcare costs. I believe this government understands that and is focused on easing those pressures.
As an MP, my responsibility would be to bring the voices of Scarborough Southwest to Ottawa. If there are tensions or disagreements, my role is to advocate for my community and ensure their concerns are heard within caucus. That’s how I’ve always approached leadership- through dialogue, not division.
Nawrin: Bangladesh ranked as one of the top three source countries in asylum applications in 2024 data. Many of those claims cited persecution under Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government, a government that no longer exists. Your own Liberal government opened the pathways- visitor visas, work permits, and study permits that enabled many of these arrivals. Canada's unemployment rate is now at its highest in a decade as a direct consequence. So now that Bangladesh has a new government, will your government formally reassess the pending asylum applications whose legal basis has collapsed? Do you accept that your own party's immigration policies contributed to the unemployment and housing crisis, hurting the settled Bangladeshi-Canadians you represent? And how do you ensure Canada is smart enough to separate a genuine refugee from someone gaming the system without punishing people with real claims?
Doly: Asylum applications are assessed individually and continuously. A change in government abroad doesn’t automatically invalidate a claim- each case depends on specific facts and legal criteria at the time of assessment.
I’m not an immigration lawyer, but I do believe strongly that we must avoid generalizing entire groups of people. Many asylum seekers arrive under vulnerable circumstances. Canada has a rigorous adjudication process to assess claims fairly.
At the same time, we must protect the integrity of our system. That balance- compassion and accountability -- is essential. I have confidence that the federal process, including independent decision-makers, is designed to evaluate cases carefully.
As the daughter of immigrants, I’m mindful of how rhetoric can unfairly stigmatize communities. We must ensure policies are evidence-based, fair, and humane — without assuming bad faith or punishing those with legitimate claims.
Nawrin: Scarborough has historically been underserved compared to downtown Toronto. As an MP, not an MPP, how do you convince Ottawa that Scarborough's priorities aren't just local colour but national imperatives?
Doly: Scarborough isn’t “local colour.” It’s one of the largest and most diverse communities in the country- large enough to be one of Canada’s biggest cities on its own.
Its priorities- transit, housing, affordability, newcomer integration, reflect national challenges. When we invest in communities like Scarborough, we strengthen Canada’s workforce, economy, and social fabric.
My role as MP would be to frame Scarborough’s needs not as local requests, but as part of Canada’s broader economic and social strategy.
Nawrin: The Bangladeshi-Canadian community has had a few dedicated political activists for years, but frankly, none of them were polished enough to represent us at the legislative level. You were the exception who broke the glass ceiling. In your own words, what made you different and where do you see the gap in our community that still needs to be addressed to produce more leaders like you?
Doly: I would be very careful about diminishing the work of leaders who came before me. Many people in our community have worked tirelessly for decades.
For example, my late husband, Rizuan Rahman, was instrumental in uniting the community and helping build the Shaheed Minar at Dentonia Park- a symbol of cultural pride. He and many others laid the foundation for future leaders.
If I broke a glass ceiling, it’s because I stood on the shoulders of those who came before me. My 2018 campaign was powered by hundreds of volunteers across communities. Leadership is collective.
When I first walked into the legislature in 2018, I remember looking at the portraits and wondering if I belonged. That feeling is real for many first- and second-generation Canadians. If my presence makes a young person feel they belong in those spaces that matters deeply to me.
The goal isn’t to produce “another me.” It’s to build systems where many more young people from our community feel empowered, prepared, and supported to lead.
Nawrin Sultana is a Bangladeshi-Canadian marketing consultant, blending her cultural roots with a global perspective. nawrin.sultana@gmail.com.