Prime Minister Stephen Harper and His Excellency David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, are joined by members of the new Ministry at Rideau Hall
NEW MINISTRY TO GOVERN FOR ALL CANADIANS
Economy remains number one priority
OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of a new federal Ministry that will lead the way in keeping Canada moving toward greater security and stability.
“With a renewed mandate and a national majority, Canadians can count on this Government to pursue measures that create jobs and growth, support seniors, protect our health-care system, fight against crime and reduce and eliminate the deficit,” said the Prime Minister.
“Our low-tax plan for jobs and growth will strengthen the financial security of hard-wording Canadians and help ensure Canada continues to be one of the top-performing advanced economies in the world,” the Prime Minister said.
“The new Ministry is fundamentally about stability and continuity. It represents the right mix of experience and new blood. It is the right group of men and women to lead the job of keeping Canada moving forward towards greater prosperity,” added the Prime Minister.
“The new Cabinet team has strong representation from all regions, and it will hit the ground running,” concluded Prime Minister Harper.
Backgrounders Attached
The Canadian Ministry
Biographies
Cabinet Committee Mandates and Memberships
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PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
THE CANADIAN MINISTRY
(by order of precedence)
The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper
Prime Minister
The Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The Honourable Marjory LeBreton
Leader of the Government in the Senate
The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of National Defence
The Honourable Vic Toews
Minister of Public Safety
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women
The Honourable Diane Finley
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation
The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Honourable Tony Clement
President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
The Honourable James Michael Flaherty
Minister of Finance
The Honourable Peter Van Loan
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
The Honourable Jason Kenney
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
The Honourable Christian Paradis
Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
The Honourable James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
The Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
The Honourable Peter Kent
Minister of the Environment
The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Labour
The Honourable Gail Shea
Minister of National Revenue
The Honourable John Duncan
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
The Honourable Steven Blaney
Minister of Veterans Affairs
The Honourable Edward Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
The Honourable Joe Oliver
Minister of Natural Resources
The Honourable Peter Penashue
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada
The Honourable Julian Fantino
Associate Minister of National Defence
The Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
The Honourable Gordon O’Connor
Minister of State and Chief Government Whip
The Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
The Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs)
The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)
The Honourable Steven John Fletcher
Minister of State (Transport)
The Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)
The Honourable Ted Menzies
Minister of State (Finance)
The Honourable Tim Uppal
Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
The Honourable Alice Wong
Minister of State (Seniors)
The Honourable Bal Gosal
Minister of State (Sport)
Backgrounder/BIOGRAPHIES
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The Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Niagara Falls (Ontario)
Robert Nicholson was first elected to Parliament in 1984 and re-elected in 1988, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was named Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform in February 2006, and in January 2007, he was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
During his first term in Parliament, Mr. Nicholson served as Minister for Science and Minister responsible for Small Business. He also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Mr. Nicholson was also active in municipal politics and was elected to the Niagara Regional Council in 1997, 2000 and 2003.
A practising lawyer before entering politics, Mr. Nicholson has a law degree from the University of Windsor, and he is a member of the Upper Canada Law Society.
Mr. Nicholson is married to Arlene and is the father of three children.
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The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay
Minister of National Defence
Central Nova (Nova Scotia)
Peter MacKay was first elected to Parliament in 1997. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, he was named Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. In August 2007, he was named Minister of National Defence while continuing to serve as Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. He was again named Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway in October 2008.
In his first five years in the House of Commons, Mr. MacKay served as House Leader for the Progressive Conservative caucus.
On May 31, 2003, he became Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In March 2004, he was named Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and was renamed Deputy Leader following the June 2004 election.
Before entering politics, Mr. MacKay had a private law practice in New Glasgow, specializing in criminal and family law. In 1993, he accepted an appointment as Crown Attorney for the Central Region of Nova Scotia. He prosecuted cases at all levels, including youth and provincial courts as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mr. MacKay has served on volunteer boards including New Leaf and Tearmann House. As well, he has been active in Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the Pictou County Senior Rugby Club and the YMCA.
After graduating from Acadia University, Mr. MacKay went on to study law at Dalhousie University. He was called to the Nova Scotia Bar in June 1991.
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The Honourable Vic Toews
Minister of Public Safety
Provencher (Manitoba)
Vic Toews was first elected to the House of Commons in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, Mr. Toews was appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. He was named President of the Treasury Board in January 2007 and again in October 2008. In January 2010, he was appointed Minister of Public Safety.
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Mr. Toews was active in Manitoba provincial politics. In 1995, he was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Rossmere and shortly thereafter, he was appointed Minister of Labour. From 1997 until September 1999, he served as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for the Province of Manitoba.
Mr. Toews practised law with the Manitoba provincial Department of Justice from 1976 to 1991. In 1987, Mr. Toews was appointed Director of Constitutional Law for the Province of Manitoba. He acted as legal counsel to the Premier of Manitoba at the Meech Lake Accord discussions in 1990. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1991.
Mr. Toews graduated from the University of Winnipeg and received his law degree from the University of Manitoba.
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The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women
Edmonton–Spruce Grove (Alberta)
Rona Ambrose was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, she was appointed Minister of the Environment and in January 2007, she was named Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. Following the 2008 election, she was named Minister of Labour as well as minister responsible for northern Alberta. In January 2010, Ms. Ambrose became Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and in April 2010, she was also named Minister for Status of Women.
As Environment Minister, she introduced the Clean Air Act and was also an early leader in calling for a new international agreement, which includes all major emitters, a position now adopted by the international community in the Copenhagen Accord.
As Minister of Labour, she helped resolve strikes at Via Rail, Ottawa’s public transit system and the Canadian National Railway.
Prior to serving in Parliament, Ms. Ambrose worked in the Government of Alberta’s Department of International and Intergovernmental Relations. She has also worked in the private sector as a public policy consultant.
Her community service has included involvement in organizations working to end violence against women, including the Status of Women’s Action Group, the Victoria Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Crisis Centre, and the Edmonton Women’s Shelter.
Ms. Ambrose holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria and a master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Alberta.
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The Honourable Diane Finley
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Haldimand–Norfolk (Ontario)
Diane Finley was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, she was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and in January 2007, she was named Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. She was appointed Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in October 2008.
Ms. Finley began her professional career as an administrator at the University of Western Ontario’s French Immersion School. Prior to her election, she held several senior positions in both the public and private sectors encompassing health care, transportation, agricultural equipment manufacturing, printing and publishing, and aviation.
In addition, Ms. Finley has been active with a number of organizations, including the Brant Community Care Access Centre, the National Standards Committee of the Paramedic Association of Canada, the Ambulance Service Alliance of Ontario, the Ontario Government Health Policy Advisory Council, and the Thyroid Foundation of Canada.
Ms. Finley has a bachelor’s degree in administrative studies and a master’s in business administration from the University of Western Ontario.
She resides in Simcoe with her husband Doug.
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The Honourable Beverley J. Oda
Minister of International Cooperation
Durham (Ontario)
Beverley Oda was first elected to Parliament in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, she was appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women and in August 2007, she was named Minister of International Cooperation, a position she again held after the 2008 election.
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Ms. Oda spent more than two decades working in public and private broadcasting. She began her broadcasting career at TVOntario in 1973. In 1976, Ms. Oda moved to the field of commercial broadcasting. From 1987 to 1993, she served as a commissioner with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. In 1999, she was appointed senior Vice President, Industry Affairs, at CTV.
Ms. Oda has served as Chair of the Lakeridge Health Hospital Network. She has also been Co-Chair of a national Task Force on Diversity on Canadian Television. In 2003, she was inducted into the Canadian Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Ms. Oda is a graduate of the University of Toronto.
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The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ottawa West–Nepean (Ontario)
John Baird was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, Mr. Baird was sworn in as President of the Treasury Board. In this role, he introduced and successfully steered the new Federal Accountability Act through both Houses of Parliament. In January 2007, he was named Minister of the Environment and, in October 2008, he became Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, where he spearheaded the design, negotiation and delivery of some 12,000 infrastructure stimulus projects across the country. In August 2010, he was named Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. From November 2010 to January 2011, he undertook additional responsibilities as Minister of the Environment.
Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Baird was a member of Ontario’s provincial legislature, where he represented the constituency of Nepean-Carleton from 1995 to 2005. During that time, he served as Minister of Community and Social Services, Energy, Francophone Affairs, Children and Youth Services, and as Government House Leader.
Mr. Baird is a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion, an honorary member of the Kiwanis Club of Nepean, and a lifetime member of Canada’s largest Association for Community Living. In 2008, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. Maclean’s Magazine and the Historica-Dominion Institute named him 2010 Parliamentarian of the Year, after a vote by his colleagues in all parties in the House of Commons.
Mr. Baird holds a Bachelor of Arts in political studies from Queen’s University.
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The Honourable Tony Clement
President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Parry Sound–Muskoka (Ontario)
Tony Clement was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. On February 6, 2006, he was appointed Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario. In October 2008, he was appointed Minister of Industry.
Prior to running for federal office, Mr. Clement was a member of Ontario’s provincial legislature from 1995 to 2003, representing Brampton South (later, Brampton West–Mississauga). He served as Minister of Transportation; Minister of the Environment; Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Prior to his election, he was counsel to a national law firm.
Mr. Clement holds a bachelor of arts in political science and a law degree from the University of Toronto.
Mr. Clement is a recipient of the Courage in Public Policy Award from the Canadian Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of Canada. The award was given to him in recognition of his leadership in supporting the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation.
Mr. Clement resides in Port Sydney with his wife Lynne and their three children.
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The Honourable James Michael Flaherty
Minister of Finance
Whitby–Oshawa (Ontario)
Jim Flaherty was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. He was appointed Minister of Finance in February 2006.
From 1995 to 2005, Mr. Flaherty served as a member of the Ontario legislature representing Whitby–Ajax. During this period, he held many positions, including Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Attorney General and Minister of Labour.
He graduated from Princeton University and Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 1975 and practised law for more than 20 years before entering politics.
Mr. Flaherty is married to Christine Elliot . They live in Whitby with their triplet sons.
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The Honourable Peter Van Loan
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
York–Simcoe (Ontario)
Peter Van Loan was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. Mr. Van Loan was appointed President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport in November 2006, and was named Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform in January 2007. He was appointed Minister of Public Safety in October 2008 and Minister of International Trade in January 2010.
Prior to entering public life, Mr. Van Loan worked as partner and chair of the Planning and Development Law Group with the national law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP. He has also been an adjunct professor of planning at the University of Toronto.
Mr. Van Loan has been active in the community, serving as a member of the Georgina Economic Development Committee, a former executive member of the Canadian Bar Association – Ontario, Municipal Section, and a member of the Ontario Brownfields Advisory Panel.
Mr. Van Loan obtained a master of science degree in planning and a master of arts in international relations from the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.
He is married to Cheryl and they have two children.
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The Honourable Jason Kenney
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Calgary Southeast (Alberta)
Jason Kenney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 and re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2011. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and, in January 2007, was appointed Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity). In October 2008, Mr. Kenney was appointed Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Mr. Kenney was Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and a member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Prior to seeking election, Mr. Kenney served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Mr. Kenney is a graduate of Notre Dame College. He also studied at the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San Francisco.
He resides in Calgary.
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The Honourable Gerry Ritz
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Battlefords–Lloydminster (Saskatchewan)
Gerry Ritz was first elected to Parliament in 1997. He was re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was named Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) in January 2007 and appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board in August 2007.
During the course of his career, Mr. Ritz has run his own farming operation, owned and operated a general contracting business and co-owned a weekly newspaper.
Mr. Ritz also has a long history of community involvement including work with the Rosetown Economic Development Committee, the Knights of Columbus and coaching children’s hockey.
Mr. Ritz and his wife, Judy, live at Brightsand Lake. They have two children.
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The Honourable Christian Paradis
Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Megantic–L’Erable (Quebec)
Christian Paradis was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and re-elected in 2008 and 2011. Mr. Paradis was appointed Secretary of State (Agriculture) in January 2007. He was appointed Minister of Public Works and Government Services in June 2008 and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec in October 2008. In January 2010, he was named Minister of Natural Resources in addition to his responsibilities for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.
Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. Paradis had a legal practice specializing in corporate law.
He has been actively involved in several support groups and charitable organizations, including the Rotary Club of Thetford Mines.
Mr. Paradis graduated from the Universite de Sherbrooke in civil law and holds a graduate degree in corporate law from Universite Laval.
Mr. Paradis and his wife Julie have three children.
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The Honourable James Moore
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Port Moody–Westwood–Port Coquitlam (British Columbia)
James Moore was first elected to the House of Commons in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In June 2008, he was appointed Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages). In October 2008, he was appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages.
Mr. Moore had previously been appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services in February 2006, and was additionally named Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver Whistler Olympics in April 2006. Prior to his appointment to the Ministry, Mr. Moore served as a member of the standing committees on Government Operations and Estimates, on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on Transport, and on Environment and Sustainable Development.
In addition to his community and political work, Mr. Moore also has extensive experience in broadcasting, including once launching his own talk show.
Mr. Moore is a graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia.
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The Honourable Denis Lebel
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Roberval–Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec)
Denis Lebel was first elected to the House of Commons in 2007 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2011. Mr. Lebel was appointed Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec in 2008.
Mr. Lebel has served on a number of parliamentary committees, as well as on the executive committees of the Canada–Europe and Canada–France parliamentary associations.
Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Lebel was Mayor of Roberval from 2000 to 2007 and was a member of the board of directors, executive board and forest committee of the Union des municipalites du Quebec. He also chaired the Caucus des municipalites voisines des Premieres Nations and sat on the board of directors of Infrastructure Quebec.
Mr. Lebel and his wife, Danielle, have two children.
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The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Nunavut (Nunavut)
Leona Aglukkaq was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. She was appointed Minister of Health in October 2008.
Prior to entering federal politics, Ms. Aglukkaq represented the district of Nattilik in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly beginning in 2004. She served as the territorial Minister of Finance and House Leader. She also held the post of Minister of Health and Social Services.
Ms. Aglukkaq has served in numerous roles in the governments of both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut including that of Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and Deputy Minister for Culture, Language, Elders and Youth. She has served on the Arctic College Board of Governors, the Nunavut Impact Review Board and the Northwest Territories Science Institute.
Ms. Aglukkaq resides in Gjoa Haven and Iqaluit, Nunavut, with her husband, Robert, and their son.
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The Honourable Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Fredericton (New Brunswick)
Keith Ashfield was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. In October 2008, he was appointed Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency). In January 2010, he was appointed Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway.
Prior to his election, Mr. Ashfield served in the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly. From 1999 to 2003, he served as Deputy Speaker of the Legislature and as provincial Minister of Natural Resources from 2003 to 2006.
Prior to entering politics, Mr. Ashfield was active in local, provincial and national school trustee associations. He has also held senior positions in local companies, and has owned and operated his own businesses.
Mr. Ashfield studied business administration at the University of New Brunswick.
He resides in Lincoln, New Brunswick. He is married to Judy and they have two children.
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The Honourable Peter Kent
Minister of the Environment
Thornhill (Ontario)
Peter Kent was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. In October 2008, he was appointed Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) and appointed Minister of the Environment in January 2011.
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Mr. Kent was a broadcast journalist, having spent more than 40 years working as a writer, reporter, producer, anchor and senior executive in Canada, the United States and around the world. Internationally, he covered stories that shaped the 20th century, including momentous events such as the Yom Kippur War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the end of the Cold War.
Mr. Kent has a long record of community service. He was a member of the board of ParticipACTION, the Ontario Cabinet of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Honest Reporting Canada, and The Accessible Channel. Mr. Kent has also served as a mentor with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council and remains an active supporter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Toronto Conservatory of Music, the Canadian Opera Company, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Mr. Kent is married to Cilla and they have a daughter.
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The Honourable Lisa Raitt
Minister of Labour
Halton (Ontario)
Lisa Raitt was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. She was appointed Minister of Natural Resources in October 2008 and Minister of Labour in January 2010.
Prior to her election to the House of Commons, Ms. Raitt was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Port Authority (TPA). She had previously served as the TPA’s general counsel and harbourmaster.
As a lawyer, Ms. Raitt specialized in the areas of intellectual property, commercial litigation and shipping arbitration.
She is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and holds a master of science degree from the University of Guelph. She earned her law degree from Osgoode Hall at York University.
Ms. Raitt is an active member of her community. She volunteered as a Halton canvasser and fundraiser for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, and for her children’s hockey, soccer and gymnastics organizations. In 2002, Ms. Raitt was invited to become a member of the Canadian chapter of the worldwide Young Presidents’ Organization.
Ms. Raitt resides in Oakville and is the mother of two boys.
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The Honourable Gail Shea
Minister of National Revenue
Egmont (Prince Edward Island)
Gail Shea was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. She was appointed Minister of Fisheries and Oceans in October 2008.
Prior to her election to the House of Commons, Ms. Shea was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island. She was first elected in April 2000 and was appointed to the provincial cabinet as Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs where she was responsible for the Status of Women, the Worker’s Compensation Board and the Island Waste Management Corporation. From 2002 to 2007, Ms. Shea served as Minister of Transportation and Public Works.
Prior to entering politics, Ms. Shea managed a small family business for 15 years.
Ms. Shea has long been active in her community. She served as vice-president and treasurer of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #6. She has also served as a school trustee and former president of the local Home and School Association. Ms. Shea’s long record of volunteerism includes involvement in her local community festival, sports teams and church. A passionate advocate for seniors, she has also run a tax preparation program for seniors.
Ms. Shea is married to Russell and has five children.
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The Honourable John Duncan
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Vancouver Island North (British Columbia)
John Duncan was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2011. From 2006 to 2007, Mr. Duncan was Pacific Region Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. From 2008 to 2010, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In August 2010, Mr. Duncan was appointed Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians, and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Mr. Duncan previously held a number of opposition critic positions, including Indian Affairs and Northern Development, International Trade and Natural Resources.
From 1972 until his election to Parliament in 1993, he worked in the coastal B.C. forest industry.
Mr. Duncan attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Faculty of Forestry in 1972.
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The Honourable Steven Blaney
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Levis–Bellechasse (Quebec)
First elected to the House of Commons in 2006, Steven Blaney was re-elected in 2008 and 2011.
After his election, Mr. Blaney was appointed Vice-Chair of the Conservative caucus of Quebec and in October 2008, he became Chair. He served on the standing committees on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and on Environment and Sustainable Development. In light of the importance of the mission in Afghanistan, Mr. Blaney later joined the National Defence Committee and participated in a visit to Kandahar in January 2006.
On May 31, 2007, Mr. Blaney became Chair of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, which strives to promote linguistic duality throughout the country. He is also a member of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association.
After he graduated from the Universite de Sherbrooke, Mr. Blaney became a civil engineer in 1988 and then obtained a Master of Business Administration in 2002 in Levis. After his studies, he worked as a consultant, an entrepreneur and an advisor for urban infrastructure and environmental technologies.
Mr. Blaney is married to Marie Bouchard and has two children.
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The Honourable Edward Fast
Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Abbotsford (British Columbia)
Edward Fast was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006, and was re-elected in 2008 and 2011.
Prior to his appointment to the Ministry, Mr. Fast served as a member of the standing committees on Canadian Heritage and on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Mr. Fast’s Private Member’s Bill C-277 to amend the Criminal Code to increase the maximum sentence for luring children over the Internet for sexual purposes from 5 to 10 years in prison, received Royal Assent in 2007 and became the law of Canada.
In 1985, Mr. Fast was elected to the Abbotsford School Board and served two terms. In 1996, he was elected to Abbotsford City Council where he served for nine years. During that time, he served variously as deputy mayor and chair of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission.
After graduating from law school at the University of British Columbia in 1982, he started his own law firm, Linley Welwood.
Mr. Fast and his wife, Annette, have lived in Abbotsford for over 29 years and have four daughters.
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The Honourable Joe Oliver
Minister of Natural Resources
Eglinton–Lawrence (Ontario)
Joe Oliver was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in May 2011.
Mr. Oliver began his investment banking career at Merrill Lynch, and served in senior positions at other investment dealers and as Executive Director of the Ontario Securities Commission. He was then appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada. He also played a prominent role as Chair of the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Securities Associations and as Chair of the Consultative Committee of the International Association of Securities Commissions. A graduate of the Directors Education Program at the Rotman School of Management, he was also a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators and sat on the board of the Canadian Securities Institute Research Foundation.
Mr. Oliver is an active member of his community and volunteers for various charities in Canada and abroad. He served as Chair of the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada for four years and continues to be an active volunteer at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Mr. Oliver obtained both his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Civil Law at McGill University. He was called to the Quebec Bar and later graduated with an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
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The Honourable Peter Penashue
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada
Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador)
Peter Penashue was first elected to the House of Commons in May 2011 and is the first Innu Member of Parliament.
Mr. Penashue has played a number of leadership roles in his community. He held positions with the Band Council and the Naskapi Montagnais Innu, including Land Claims Director, Executive Director and Financial Administrator. At the age of 26, Mr. Penashue was elected President of the Innu Nation. He also served as Grand Chief from 1990 to 1997 and from 1999 to 2004, and as Deputy Grand Chief from 2007 to 2010. He is also a successful entrepreneur.
Mr. Penashue has been recognized as one of the leading spokespersons for Innu rights and interests. He contributed to the recognition of Innu rights, the evolution of relationships with the federal and provincial governments, and the negotiation of settlements for land claims and self-government.
Peter Penashue was born and raised in the Innu community of Labrador. He graduated from Brother Rice High School in St. John’s and pursued studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
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The Honourable Julian Fantino
Associate Minister of National Defence
Vaughan (Ontario)
Julian Fantino was elected to the House of Commons in November 2010 and re-elected in 2011. In January 2011, Mr. Fantino was appointed Minister of State (Seniors).
Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. Fantino served almost 40 years in law enforcement. He was Chief of the York Regional Police and of the Toronto Police Service. He served as Ontario’s Commissioner of Emergency Preparedness and as Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. Mr. Fantino is also the past President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the past Vice-President at Large of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Mr. Fantino is active in local and international victim rights groups, including as an honorary member of Canadian Crime Victim Foundation. He is involved in community organizations, including programs to make organized sports accessible to disadvantaged children; supports the Hospice Vaughan; and participates on the board of Vaughan’s Villa Leonardo Gambin long-term care facility.
He and his wife, Liviana, have two children.
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The Honourable Bernard Valcourt
Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie)
Madawaska–Restigouche (New Brunswick)
Bernard Valcourt was first elected to the House of Commons in 1984 and re-elected in 1988 and 2011. He was appointed in 1984 as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and to the Minister of State (Science and Technology). Mr. Valcourt subsequently served in the Twenty-Fourth and the Twenty-Fifth Parliaments as Minister of State (Small Businesses and Tourism), Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development), Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Minister of Employment and Immigration and Minister of Labour.
Mr. Valcourt was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick as the member for Edmundston where he served as Leader of the Opposition until 1997 and member until 1999.
Mr. Valcourt is a barrister and solicitor and practised law in Edmundston, New Brunswick.
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The Honourable Gordon O’Connor
Minister of State and Chief Government Whip
Carleton–Mississippi Mills (Ontario)
Gordon O’Connor was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was appointed Minister of National Defence in February 2006, Minister of National Revenue in August 2007 and Minister of State and Chief Government Whip in October 2008.
Before being elected to Parliament, Mr. O’Connor served Canada as a military officer for over 30 years, joining the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Armour Branch, and retiring at the rank of Brigadier General. One of Mr. O’Connor’s last appointments before retirement included responsibility for planning the future structure of the Canadian Forces.
Mr. O’Connor has also had an active career in the private sector, including time spent as the owner of a small business.
Mr. O’Connor has received degrees from Concordia and York universities.
Mr. O’Connor has been a resident of Kanata for over 20 years. He is married and is the father of two children.
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The Honourable Maxime Bernier
Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Beauce (Quebec)
Maxime Bernier was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006 and was re-elected in 2008 and 2011. In February 2006, Mr. Bernier was appointed Minister of Industry and, in August 2007, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, Mr. Bernier was vice-president of the Standard Life of Canada insurance company and manager of corporate and international relations at the Commission des valeurs mobilieres du Quebec. As a consultant, he provided advice on the legislation of financial institutions and the development of regulations governing that sector.
Mr. Bernier is a lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in commerce. He was a member of the board of the Montreal Economic Institute and is a member of several charitable organizations.
He was born and raised in Beauce.
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The Honourable Diane Ablonczy
Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs)
Calgary–Nose Hill (Alberta)
Diane Ablonczy was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. Ms. Ablonczy was appointed Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) in August 2007 and then Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) in October 2008. In January 2010, she was appointed Minister of State (Seniors) and, in January 2011, she was appointed Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs).
She previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Ms. Ablonczy has been a member of several committees of the House of Commons, including the standing committees on Citizenship and Immigration, Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and Health. She has also served on the House of Commons Finance Committee.
Prior to entering political life, Ms. Ablonczy enjoyed a varied career, which included experiences ranging from teaching junior high school to managing a grain farm operation to building a successful law practice.
Ms. Ablonczy was named Honorary President of the Hoy Sun Association of Calgary, which represents members of the local Chinese and Vietnamese communities.
Ms. Ablonczy graduated from the University of Calgary and has degrees in education and law.
She is married to Ron and has one daughter, four step-children and five grandchildren.
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The Honourable Lynne Yelich
Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)
Blackstrap (Saskatchewan)
Lynne Yelich was first elected to the House of Commons in 2000 and re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in February 2006. She was appointed Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification) in October 2008.
Prior to her appointment to the Ministry, Ms. Yelich was a member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. She has also been a member of the standing committees on the Status of Women, on Transport, on Government Operations and Estimates, and on Citizenship and Immigration.
Prior to her election, Ms. Yelich and her husband owned and ran a successful farming operation on the outskirts of Kenaston, Saskatchewan.
In addition to her long history of political involvement, Ms. Yelich remains active in local church and community activities.
She resides in Kenaston with her husband Matthew. They have two daughters.
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The Honourable Steven John Fletcher
Minister of State (Transport)
Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia (Manitoba)
Steven Fletcher was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health in February 2006 and, in October 2008, he was appointed Minister of State (Democratic Reform).
Prior to entering politics, Mr. Fletcher worked as an engineer in the mining industry.
Mr. Fletcher is the first permanently disabled Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons.
He was twice elected the President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and has played a leading role in many community organizations.
Mr. Fletcher has a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor of science degree in engineering.
He lives in Winnipeg.
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The Honourable Gary Goodyear
Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)
Cambridge (Ontario)
Gary Goodyear was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He was appointed Minister of State (Science and Technology) in October 2008, and Minister of State (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) in August 2009.
Prior to entering federal politics, Dr. Goodyear practised chiropractic medicine and worked as an advisor to investment firms in the biomedical industry.
Dr. Goodyear was a co-designer of a three-year post-graduate sports fellowship program. He also co-authored “Practice Guidelines” and was Public Relations Director and Past President for the College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences in Toronto. Dr. Goodyear has taught at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and the University of Waterloo. He has worked with many athletes, both amateur and professional, including serving as medical services chair for the Ontario Special Olympics.
Dr. Goodyear attended the University of Waterloo specializing in kinesiology and psychology before graduating from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College.
He is married to Valerie and they have two children.
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The Honourable Ted Menzies
Minister of State (Finance)
Macleod (Alberta)
Ted Menzies was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and was re-elected in 2006, 2008 and 2011. In October 2007, Mr. Menzies was sworn in as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Previously, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation and the Minister of International Trade. He was appointed Minister of State (Finance) in January 2011.
Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. Menzies worked in the areas of agriculture and international trade. He held the post of President of the Canadian Agri-Food and Trade Alliance and was Vice-President of the Grain Growers of Canada. He has owned and operated a farm for more than 30 years.
Mr. Menzies has played an active role in municipal, provincial, national and international boards and committees, including the Appeal Board for the Alberta Financial Services Corporation and Lions Clubs International.
He and his wife, Sandy, have two children.
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The Honourable Tim Uppal
Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
Edmonton—Sherwood Park (Alberta)
Tim Uppal was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008 and re-elected in 2011. Prior to being appointed to the Ministry, Mr. Uppal served on the standing committees for Health, and Citizenship and Immigration.
In his professional career, Mr. Uppal served as a senior advisor for the Conservative Party of Canada and was a residential mortgage manager with TD Canada Trust.
Mr. Uppal has a long history of community involvement, which was recognized when he was named The Outstanding Young Edmontonian for 2005 by the Junior Chamber of Commerce and when he was awarded an Alberta Centennial Medallion from the Government of Alberta. He is an active member of the Sherwood Park Centennial Rotary Club and was also a member of the Capital Health Community Council and the City of Edmonton Chief of Police Advisory Council.
Mr. Uppal and his wife, Kiran, have one daughter.
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The Honourable Alice Wong
Minister of State (Seniors)
Richmond (British Columbia)
Alice Wong was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008. She was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism in November 2008.
Prior to entering federal politics, Ms. Wong operated several family businesses, including one specializing in research and education. She has worked as manager of international programs at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, as well as coordinator of the Centre for Small Business and manager of international projects at Vancouver Community College. She has also been a college lecturer and instructor at schools in Hong Kong and has extensive field experience in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Ms. Wong has served as a vice-president of several local community organizations and was a member of a number of local boards. She is also a guest host of current affairs programs on local Chinese and multicultural radio and television.
Ms. Wong moved to Canada 31 years ago from Hong Kong. She received her PhD in curriculum and instruction in 1993 from the University of British Columbia.
Ms. Wong and her husband, Enoch, have been married for over 25 years.
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The Honourable Bal Gosal
Minister of State (Sport)
Bramalea–Gore–Malton (Ontario)
Bal Gosal was elected to the House of Commons for the first time in May 2011.
Mr. Gosal has worked as a commercial insurance broker with London Life and was actively involved in financial planning. In 2004, he became associated with Goodison Insurance and Financial Services in Brampton.
Mr. Gosal has been a member of the Peel Regional Police Services Board and Peel Children’s Aid Society and served as a member of the Brampton Board of Trade Marketing Committee.
Mr. Gosal and his wife, Pawanjit, have three children and live in Brampton.
