Yasir Aqvi

Attorney General Of Ontario

- Sidra sheikh

Can you please briefly describe your political journey?

My political journey started before I was able to vote, at home witnessing political activism by my parents. Their engagement in political process underscored to me the importance of treating everyone fairly and the benefits of serving your community. But when my father was imprisoned for organizing a pro-democracy rally in Karachi, Pakistan, I learned that democracy is not a given — you have to fight for it. You have to fight to protect it and engage with everyone to build the kind of community that you want to see. These principles have guided me not only through my political journey, but throughout my life as well.

What are the major responsibilities of being the Attorney General of Ontario?

My job as the Attorney General is to ensure that our justice system reflects the vibrant communities that make up our province and protect our most vulnerable. And though this job allows me to work on so many interesting issues — from banning ticket bots, to reform land-use planning appeal system and to protect human rights — at the core, my responsibility is to preserve our legal system and uphold the rule of law.

What are your plans for the future?