REGINA PASQUA – Offering a role model to immigrants, a Canadian Muslim has made history in Saskatchewan Canadian province after being elected as the first Muslim member to the provincial legislature.

“[It’s a] very good lesson for the immigrants as the land of opportunity,” Muhammad Fiaz, who will soon be sworn in as a Saskatchewan Party MLA for Regina Pasqua, told CBC on Tuesday, April 5.

“The sky is the goal, you can achieve it.”

Born and raised in Pakistan, Fiaz immigrated to Toronto 20 years ago and has been in Saskatchewan since 2008.

Operating a small business in Canada, he said he had been thinking about running for office a long time.

“I had the plan, but it was a big challenge,” he said.

After being elected to the provincial legislature, he said he wants to represent all of his constituents as well as being a role model for other recent immigrants.

“I’m very excited and pleased,” Wall told reporters at the Legislative Building.

“I’m happy that the legislature will begin at least to make small steps toward being more reflective of Saskatchewan, the diversity of Saskatchewan.”

Muslims represent 3.2% of Canada’s total population.

Muslims are the fastest growing religious community in Canada, according to the country’s statistical agency, Statistics Canada.

Canada’s Muslim population increased by 82 percent over the past decade – from about 579,000 in 2001 to more than 1 million in 2011.