Salma Zahid (born May 26, 1970) is a Canadian politician, who was elected as a member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding of Scarborough Centre in the 2015 Canadian federal election.
Early life and career Zahid was born in Coventry, England. She holds a master's degree in educational management and administration from the University of London’s Institute of Education, and an MBA from Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan. She is a Pakistani Canadian, mother of two, and has resided in Scarborough since 2000. She is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Zahid was a community organizer and worked for the Government of Ontario in multiple positions before running in the election.
Political career Zahid was elected in the 2015 Canadian federal election as a member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre. She succeeded Conservative MP Roxanne James. While in the 42nd Parliament, Zahid had the role of Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, where she was a spokesperson for racialized women.
In February 2018, Zahid announced that she was taking medical leave to treat her Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This was used by the Scarborough Centre Conservative Party of Canada Riding Association Vice President to sell memberships via robocall. While recovering from chemotherapy treatment, Zahid wore a hijab for personal reasons, saying that she had grown closer to her Islamic faith while facing cancer. In May 2018, she became the first MP to wear a hijab in the House of Commons. Zahid received some negative reactions to the hijab, to which she responded by highlighting the personal nature of her decision. In July 2018, after completing six rounds of chemotherapy, Zahid was cancer-free and returned to her job.
Zahid was re-nominated to run in Scarborough Centre for the Liberals in the 2019 Canadian federal election.
As chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group, Zahid received criticism after a publisher of Holocaust denialism attended a Palestinian solidarity event the group hosted in November 2022. In response, she condemned the man's views and denied involvement in inviting him. She has also received criticism for her position on the Gaza war, which stepped out of longstanding tradition of Canadian and Liberal Party MPs' political support for the State of Israel. In January 2024, Zahid called on her colleagues in the House of Commons to support South Africa's application to prosecute Israel for genocide.
In August 2026, it was announced that police were investigating a suspected arson at Zahid's home after her car and another vehicle were set on fire. Both vehicles were destroyed.
Election results
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