June 14, 2022 | Category: Government Updates

Edmonton, AB—On June 14, Rajan Sawhney stepped down from her role as Alberta's Minister of Transportation to join the leadership contest for the United Conservative Party. Premier Jason Kenney has appointed Hon. Prasad Panda as the Acting Minister of Transportation. He will also continue to serve as Alberta's Minister of Infrastructure. 

Minister Panda was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in a by-election on September 3, 2015 as the MLA for Calgary-Foothills. He was re-elected on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for the newly formed riding of Calgary-Edgemont. 

WESTAC would like to thank Hon. Rajan Sawhney, former Minister of Transportation, for her valued contributions to the Council for the past year.

 

Hon. Prasad Panda Biography

Minister Panda was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in a by-election on September 3rd, 2015 as the MLA for Calgary-Foothills. Mr. Panda was re-elected on April 16, 2019, as the MLA for the newly formed riding of Calgary-Edgemont.

Born in Sangam Jagarlamudi, Andhra Pradesh, India, Panda has lived in the constituency of Calgary-Edgemont for 15 years. An active member of his community, his volunteer experience includes serving as president of the Telugu Association of Calgary and as the first vice-president of the India-Canada Association of Calgary. Panda organizes an annual Food Drive for Calgary Veterans.

A professional engineer by trade, Mr. Panda holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of APEGA. He previously worked in the energy sector for 28 years, during which time he held Senior Management Positions with Reliance Industries Ltd. and Suncor Energy Inc. Panda was a key member of the Project Management Teams that built world-scale projects worth over $100 Billion Dollars, including Petroleum, Petrochemical, Power, Pipelines, and Marine Infrastructure and Oil Sands Development projects.

During the last Legislature, Panda was a member of the Legislative Standing Committees on Public Accounts, Resource Stewardship and Alberta’s Economic Future and served as the Official Opposition Critic for Energy and Economic Development and Trade.

Prasad Panda was appointed as Alberta’s Infrastructure Minister on April 30, 2019, and was appointed acting Minister of Transportation on June 14, 2022.

 

About WESTAC

The Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC) is a council of organizations in the transportation sector represented by senior decision-makers. WESTAC’s members span all aspects of freight transportation in Canada. They include carriers and logistics providers, ports and terminals, shippers, labour unions, and three levels of government. Members represent a significant share of the western Canadian economy. We focus on critical issues that affect Western Canada’s freight transportation network to ensure that it is safe, efficient, reliable and competitive.