(Ottawa) He has been an influential Toronto-area minister in the Trudeau government since the July cabinet reshuffle. But Arif Virani's heart remains in Montreal, where he came with his parents as refugees from Uganda in 1972.
Published at 12:57 am. Updated at 06:00.
Above all, the Minister of Justice's heart vibrates to the rhythm of the successes and setbacks of the Montreal Canadiens. Because even though he moved to the Queen City three years after his arrival in Canada when he was still very young, he remains an unconditional supporter of the holy flannel. Supporting the Toronto Maple Leafs is out of the question, even though many residents of his team would view supporting an opposing team from an opposing province as lese majeste.
“It's dangerous for a man from Toronto to say you're a Canadiens fan. But after three elections, I now have enough confidence to admit it! » says Arif Varini in very good French.
The Canadian's love was passed on to him by his father. He also remembers certain Saturday nights listening to Hockey Night with his father. Then he learned to love the lyrical flights of fancy of the Canadian's legendary describer of games, René Lecavalier. His father's favorite player was none other than Yvan Cournoyer. He saw and idolized several Canadian stars in the 1970s and 1980s.
PHOTO MICHEL GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Yvan Cournoyer in 1971
Furthermore, in the fall of 2022, when the House of Commons honored the members of Team Canada on the 50th anniversary of their Century Series victory against the Soviet Union, Arif Virani invited his father to attend the event from the stands reserved for the public. He then took measures to allow his father to be photographed in the company of his idol Yvan Cournoyer.
I love hockey. My team is still the Montreal Canadiens. I have very fond memories of us being together, me and my dad, watching the Montreal Canadiens on Radio-Canada, Channel 11, on a black and white TV in Toronto.
Arif Virani, Federal Minister of Justice
The love of hockey was evident from the first day of the Virani family's arrival in Montreal in 1972, made possible thanks to a refugee admission policy implemented by the government of Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Arif Virani was not yet a year old. His parents told him that they, along with other Ugandan and Asian refugees, were awaiting instructions from immigration officials while staying at a military base in Montreal. The officers suddenly disappeared, only to return a few minutes later with champagne in hand and handing out glasses to those who wanted them.
“People said, 'It's paradise here.' We are greeted with champagne.” But later they realized that everyone was celebrating Canada’s victory over the Soviet Union. They told them: “We have to celebrate. We won the eighth game. We won the series of the century!” says the minister with a smile. “The entry into ice hockey took place immediately. »
PHOTO SEAN KILPATRICK, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
Federal Minister of Justice Arif Virani
After his arrival, the small family settled in an apartment in Longueuil. His father quickly found a job at a sporting goods store on Peel Street in Montreal that paid him $60 a week. His father owned a sports store in Uganda. He also captained the local cricket team and played tennis. One fine day, colleagues at the store invited him to watch a Canadian game against the Boston Bruins. Guy Lafleur taking on Bobby Orr. The forum audience goes wild as soon as things get hot on the ice. The foundation for the love of ice hockey was laid, even though the sport was little known in Uganda.
When hockey rhymes with culture
In an interview, Minister Arif Virani demonstrates an impressive knowledge of hockey's influence on the fate of the nation of Quebec.
“I also appreciate the history of this team and the impact that great players like Maurice Richard have had on Quebec society. The Canadian is more than a team. It's a model, it's a symbol. But we cannot understand this unless we have lived in Quebec,” the minister said.
PHOTO ROGER ST-JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
Maurice Richard
“Maurice Richard wasn’t just a good goalscorer. He was a symbol, a hero for an entire culture, an entire nation. When he had his famous argument and Clarence Campbell, the Toronto man, the English-speaking man who suspended him, that sparked the Forum riot [en 1955] “, he emphasizes.
Basically, if you know hockey, you also know a lot about Quebec.
Arif Virani, Federal Minister of Justice
“I appreciate the culture of Quebec and [je comprends] the challenge of protecting the language. I read about the Quiet Revolution and the movement against the power of the Catholic Church. I may not be from Quebec, but I have a bit more in-depth and in-depth knowledge than other MPs from Toronto! ” he says smiling.
Montreal had a notable influence on Minister Virani's life. At the age of 18, he returned to the city to pursue a bachelor's degree in history and political science at McGill University. There he met Justin Trudeau for the first time. “We were with the debate team at McGill. » Later, after studying law in Toronto, he also worked as an investigator at the Human and Youth Rights Commission in Montreal.
Their paths crossed again in 2013 when Mr. Virani decided to run for the Liberal Party nomination in Parkdale-High Park in Toronto. Two years later he found himself in the House of Commons with a new prime minister, Justin Trudeau.