Belent Mathew, a 51-year-old legal consultant hailing from Kochi, Kerala, has emerged as a prominent figure in Canada’s upcoming federal elections. Contesting from the Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East riding on a Conservative Party ticket, Mathew stands as the sole Malayali candidate in this high-stakes electoral race. He is up against Liberal Party incumbent Salma Zahid, a Pakistani Canadian politician. If successful, Mathew will become the first Malayali immigrant to directly enter the Canadian Parliament, following in the footsteps of Joe Daniel, who was elected in 2011 but had only ancestral links to Kerala.
Born in Mamangalam to retired HMT employee Mathew Chittamkott and Elsy Mathew, Belent graduated in Mathematics from St. Albert’s College, Ernakulam. He spent a decade working in Kuwait before migrating to Canada in 2008, where he later established a legal consultancy firm with his wife, Teena. Known for his deep involvement in the Malayali community, Mathew played active roles in organizations like the Durham Malayalee Association, Toronto Malayalee Samajam, and Canadian Cochin Club. His public service credentials were particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when he contributed significantly to community welfare efforts.
Mathew’s political journey began with the Conservative Party during Andrew Scheer’s leadership and gained traction under Erin O’Toole and Pierre Poilievre. The newly formed riding he is contesting in has a population of over 1.1 lakh, nearly 20% of whom are of South Asian descent. Although the constituency has been a Liberal bastion for the past three terms, rising anti-incumbency sentiments in this snap election may work in Mathew’s favor. However, issues like mounting U.S. tariffs and the influence of Liberal leader Mark Carney—who has positioned himself as a strong opponent of Donald Trump—could present electoral challenges for the Conservatives.
