THREAD: When we moved to Alberta in 2002, my first job was working for the two person NDP caucus led by Raj Pannu. He wasn’t young then (70+), he had a thick accent, and an academic’s tendency to want to explain everything when a short quip was better suited for the moment. More… - ThreadSky

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louarab.bsky.social • 62 days ago

THREAD: When we moved to Alberta in 2002, my first job was working for the two person NDP caucus led by Raj Pannu.

He wasn’t young then (70+), he had a thick accent, and an academic’s tendency to want to explain everything when a short quip was better suited for the moment.

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louarab.bsky.social•62 days ago

But behind the quiet, friendly gentleman (which was 100% real) Raj had killer instincts. Along with Brian Mason & tiny crew of staff, we HUSTLED for coverage, we ruthlessly attacked the Tory government of the day, we got headlines & press a tiny band of lefties might not expect in monolithic AB.

louarab.bsky.social•62 days ago

We used jokes, props, gimmicks…anything that got attention. When the PC energy minister told consumers to “put on a sweater” (gas bills were skyrocketing) Raj and Brian got knitting needles and started stitching in the house. The media ran with it.

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louarab.bsky.social•62 days ago

CBC did a feature on our caucus, and how two MLAs made the massive government run in circles. The Liberals hated us.

Raj was game for all of it. I think he was as surprised as anyone to find himself at the centre of the circus we were trying to create.

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louarab.bsky.social•62 days ago

But he happily played along, and managed to do it all with dignity, kindness and thoughtfulness.

I cherish those memories. Thank you Raj, for all your service and for letting me play a small role in all of it.

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