A veteran journalist with over two decades of experience, Johal started his career with 980 CKNW in 1991 before joining BCTV in 1994. In his role as Senior Reporter, he covered a wide range of stories . He became the BC Correspondent for Global National in 2005. Johal was later appointed Global News’Asia Bureau Chief in 2008. Based in Beijing, he traveled extensively in China, he was also based in New Delhi, India, where he covered major stories throughout the region.

In 2017, Johal was elected MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. He is also the recipient of numerous awards from the Jack Webster Foundation and Radio Television Digital News Association. In 2019 and 2020, Vancouver Magazine included him in its Power 50 list of residents shaping the city.