Federal Government Contacts

Health
Minister: Patty Hajdu
Parliamentary Secretary: Darren Fisher
Conservative Critic: Marilyn Gladu
Bloc Québecois Critic: Luc Thériault
NDP Critic: Don Davies

Innovation, Science and Industry
Minister: Navdeep Bains
Parliamentary Secretary (Science): William Amos
Parliamentary Secretary (Innovation and Industry): Ali Ehsassi
Conservative Critic (Industry and Economic Development): Michelle Rempel Garner
Bloc Québecois Critic (Innovation and Science): Louise Charbonneau
NDP Critic: Brian Masse

Finance
Minister: Bill Morneau
Parliamentary Secretary: Sean Fraser
Conservative Critic: Pierre Poilievre
Bloc Québecois Critic: Gabriel Ste-Marie
NDP Critic: Peter Julian

Environment and Climate Change
Minister: Jonathan Wilkinson
Parliamentary Secretary (Canada Water Agency): Terry Duguid
Conservative Critic: Kerry-Lynne Findlay
Bloc Québecois Critics: Kristina Michaud (Climate Change) and Monique Pauzé (Environment)
NDP Critic: Laurel Collins

Diversity and Inclusion and Youth
Minister: Bardish Chagger
Parliamentary Secretary: Adam van Koeverden
Conservative Critic: Raquel Dancho
Bloc Québecois Critic (Status of Women and Gender Equality): Andréanne Larouche
NDP Critic: Lindsay Mathyssen

House of Commons Standing Committees
Coming soon

The Honourable Anita Anand
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
MP, Oakville (Ontario)

The Honourable Anita Anand is a devoted leader with a proven record of service. In her Oakville community, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Lighthouse Foundation for Grieving Children, the Oakville Hospital Foundation, and Oakville Hydro Electricity Distribution Inc.

For the past two decades, Minister Anand has been a legal academic, employed most recently as a Professor of Law at the University of Toronto where she held the J.R. Kimber Chair in Investor Protection and Corporate Governance. She served as Associate Dean and was a member of the Governing Board of Massey College and the Director of Policy and Research at the Capital Markets Research Institute, Rotman School of Management. She has also taught law at Yale Law School, Queen’s University, and Western University.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
MP, Mississauga—Malton (Ontario)

The Honourable Navdeep Bains has served as Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and was the Parliamentary Secretary to former Prime Minister Paul Martin. Previously, he was the critic for Public Works and Government Services, the Treasury Board, International Trade, Natural Resources, and Small Business and Tourism.

Minister Bains has deep roots in his community, as a longtime resident of both Mississauga and Brampton, and has strong ties to the social and cultural associations of Mississauga—Malton. He has been active in a variety of community organizations, as a board member for the Mississauga Food Bank and an Ontario board member with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He has also worked with JDRF, a diabetes research foundation, and the Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation.

Minister Bains has received a number of awards recognizing his work in promoting diversity within his community, and he holds a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Finance.

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
MP, Toronto—St. Paul’s (Ontario)

Prior to her election in 1997, The Honourable Carolyn Bennett was a family physician and a founding partner of Bedford Medical Associates in downtown Toronto. She was also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Her fight to save the Women’s College Hospital of Toronto inspired her to enter politics.

Minister Bennett speaks passionately about Canada and Canadians’ participation in the democratic process. She advocates for health, the environment, women’s involvement in politics, and persons with disabilities. She is also known for her strong support of Israel.

In 1986, she received the Royal Life Saving Society’s Service Cross – a Commonwealth Honour Award recognizing her more than 20 years of distinguished service. In 2002, she was the recipient of the coveted EVE Award for contributing to the advancement of women in politics, and in 2003, she received the first-ever Champion of Mental Health Award from the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health. She was also the first recipient of the National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion in Canada, and was the co-author of Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake Their Health Care System.

The Honourable Bill Blair
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
MP, Scarborough Southwest (Ontario)

The Honourable Bill Blair has demonstrated his ability to unite and engage others through his numerous roles in provincial, national, and international policing forums. He served as President of both the Ontario and Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police, receiving the distinction of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. He is the proud recipient of the 2011 Beth Sholom Brotherhood Humanitarian Award, and was honoured in 2013 by the Canadian Tamil Congress for his leadership and tremendous service to the people of Toronto.

Minister Blair is dedicated to many social causes, having worked with some of Toronto’s most respected and effective organizations such as Covenant House, the United Way, and the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. He also served on the Board of Directors of the former Scarborough Hospital Foundation (now the Scarborough Health Network Foundation), and was Vice-Patron of the Good Neighbours’ Club, a day centre for elderly homeless men now called Haven Toronto.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu
Minister of Health
MP, Thunder Bay—Superior North (Ontario)

The Honourable Patty Hajdu was elected as Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North in 2015. She was appointed to cabinet by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and served as Minister of Status of Women from November 2015 until January 2017, when she was appointed as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

Minister Hajdu previously worked in public health and focused on drug policy, youth development and homelessness. Prior to her election, she ran the largest homeless shelter in Northwestern Ontario.

She is a compassionate advocate for Thunder Bay-Superior North and all of Canada, believing that a more inclusive country benefits everyone. As Member of Parliament and Minister, she remains firmly focused on ensuring every Canadian has a fair shot at success.

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
MP, South Shore—St. Margarets (Nova Scotia)

Prior to entering politics, The Honourable Bernadette Jordan was a development officer for the Health Services Foundation in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, where she spent eight years as part of a team raising millions of dollars for health care in the region. She has been involved in her community for years, holding positions such as President of the Atlantic Community Newspapers Association and Chair of the Earth Day Challenge Committee.

The Honourable David Lametti
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
MP, LaSalle—Émard—Verdun (Quebec)

A proud resident of Montréal for over 30 years, The Honourable David Lametti was born and raised in Port Colborne, Ontario. As the child of Italian immigrants, his parents’ story is one of generational sacrifice: they left their home and came to Canada so that their children could have a better life than they did. Minister Lametti believes that his parents’ hard work and commitment to education gave him the opportunity to succeed.

Before entering politics, Minister Lametti was a Professor of Law at McGill University for nearly 20 years, and established himself as an accomplished legal academic and expert in property and intellectual property law.

As the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Minister Lametti demonstrated a strong understanding of the health research and health innovation continuum, and of the importance of developing policies that are comprehensive and supportive of all components of a functioning innovation system from research to development, market validation, and delivery into the market.

The Honourable Mary Ng
Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
MP, Markham—Thornhill (Ontario)

The Honourable Mary Ng is a devoted community leader who has always believed in the power of public service. She has 20 years of experience in the areas of education, women’s leadership, job creation, and entrepreneurship.

Minister Ng immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong with her family, and grew up learning about the struggle and eventual success that many new immigrants experience in Canada.

Her years working for the Ontario Public Service, Ryerson University, and the Ontario Ministry of Education led to her being recognized as one of Canada’s top-performing public sector leaders. She later served as Director of Appointments for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Honourable Filomena Tassi
Minister of Labour
MP, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas (Ontario)

The Honourable Filomena Tassi obtained a Bachelor of Laws from Western University in 1986. She also has a Master of Religious Education and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education.

Driven by her profound sense of civic duty, Minister Tassi has been highly involved in her community. She is a past board member of both St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Catholic Youth Organization, and has volunteered her time with other local initiatives and organizations. Minister Tassi served as a Catholic school board trustee, and was the recipient of the 2010 Brian J. Halferty Award, presented by the Catholic School Chaplains of Ontario for exemplary service.

Mr. René Arseneault
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official LanguagesMP, Madawaska—Restigouche (New Brunswick)

A lifelong resident of the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche, Mr. René Arseneault has a deep-understanding of local issues and the interests of his fellow residents. Fully bilingual, he now wants to be the voice that defends his community in the House of Commons.

A lawyer specializing in corporate law and civil litigation for more than 20 years, Mr. Arseneault established his own practice in 1996 with his spouse, Michèle Pelletier. He is also a singer-songwriter who in 1989 won the Prix du public [people’s choice award] at the Gala de la chanson de Caraquet.

Mr. Arseneault has been involved in his community for over 25 years. In addition to providing pro bono legal services, Mr. Arseneault has sat on the board of directors for numerous non-profit organizations, and he is quick to share his artistic talents at fundraisers for community organizations. He co-founded the Balmoral Economic Development Association, Fondation École Régionale BDES inc. and Coopérative Radio Restigouche ltée – which he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors. Mr. Arseneault has also been involved in youth sports development, specifically as a soccer and volleyball coach and assistant coach, and as a volunteer at the Jeux de l’Acadie.

Mr. Chris Bittle
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
MP, St. Catherines (Ontario)

Mr. Chris Bittle was previously a civil litigator with Lancaster, Brooks and Welch LLP, specializing in commercial disputes, real estate litigation, defamation, and landlord-tenant matters.

Mr. Bittle was the Chair of Quest Community Health Centre Board of Directors – a local non-profit organization committed to providing quality primary health care and social services to the residents of the Greater St. Catharines area. His work at Quest has made him a strong advocate for sustainable health care.

Ms. Julie Dabrusin
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
MP, Toronto—Danforth (Ontario)

Since assuming her role as a federal representative of our community, Ms. Julie Dabrusin has served on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, which tabled its final report in February 2016. Ms. Dabrusin currently is the Chair of Heritage Committee, where she advocates for those working within Canada’s creative and cultural industries and who comprise an integral part of the vibrant Toronto-Danforth community. Julie is a member of Public Safety Committee as well. A proponent of active transportation, Julie is also a founding member of the All-Party Bike Caucus and a proud advocate for active and public transportation funding.

After launching the Danforth Hunger Squad for Second Harvest, Ms. Dabrusin witnessed first-hand the effects of income inequality and how it impedes Canadians’ access to nutritious food. In Ottawa, as Chair of the Liberal Food Policy Caucus and a participant in the All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus, Julie is working alongside her colleagues to tackle food insecurity and food-related issues.

Mr. Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change (Canada Water Agency)
MP, Winnipeg South (Manitoba)

Mr. Terry Duguid is a strong advocate on environmental and public health issues. He has served as a board member for Concordia Hospital and is the founding president of the International Centre for Infectious Diseases, a non-profit organization established to support and enhance the mandate of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Ms. Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs
MP, Labrador (Newfoundland and Labrador)

In 2003, Ms. Yvonne Jones was the first female in the province to be appointed Minister of Fisheries & Aquaculture. She was also the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women.

Ms. Jones began her career as a journalist and has worked throughout the province as a news reporter. She also carried out contract work as a researcher with Memorial University and as a Resource Employment Counselor with Human Resources Development Canada.

Through her volunteer work with the Battle Harbour Development Corporation, the Combined Councils of Labrador, the NunatuKavut and various literacy groups and councils, Ms. Jones played a significant role in improving the quality of life not only for the people of her district, but for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ms. Kamal Khera
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development
MP, Brampton West (Ontario)

Ms. Kamal Khera is a registered nurse, community volunteer and a political activist. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with Honours and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing with Honours.

Ms. Khera gained diverse experience within the field of Health through her professional experience with Centre of Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Peel Family Shelter, and William Osler Health Centre. Ms. Khera previously worked as a Registered Nurse in the Oncology Unit at St Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, which gave her a deep understanding of the issues that impact individuals every day.

Mr. Stéphane Lauzon
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors
MP, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation (Quebec)

Mr. Stéphane Lauzon has previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, as well as the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities.

After working at Canadian International Paper in the 1980s, Mr. Lauzon decided to return to school in 1992 to complete a teaching certificate and then worked in the field of vocational training for over 20 years. He became a City of Gatineau municipal councillor in November 2009. Recently, he managed construction projects at a company that he started himself, in addition to his duties as municipal councillor.

These duties included sitting on the Capital Property and Budget Committee, the Standing Committee on Housing, and the Committee on Seniors. In 2012 he became Chair of the Sports, Recreation and Community Life Committee and was Vice-Chair of the 2015 Jeux de la francophonie.

Mr. Rob Oliphant
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
MP, Don Valley West (Ontario)

Mr. Rob Oliphant is the former President and CEO of the Asthma Society of Canada, a national health charity and patient organization. He is a community leader with a long history of advocating for poverty reduction, affordable housing, at-risk youth, and seniors’ economic security.

Currently, Mr. Oliphant was the President of the Global Allergy and Asthma Patient Platform and serves on the Governing Council of the Health Charities Coalition of Canada. In 2013, he was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada.

Mr. Terry Sheehan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
MP, Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario)

Prior to his election as the MP for Sault Ste. Marie, Mr. Terry Sheehan was a four term City Councillor for the city. He served two terms as a Trustee on the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board where he served constituents from the Sault and Algoma Districts.

Mr. Sheehan has spent his career working in both the private and public sectors in business, and community and economic development. Most recently, Terry acted as the Employment and Training Consultant for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Over the years, Mr. Sheehan also served on a number of local committees and boards including the Algoma District Municipal Association. To this day, he is known as a strong voice for Sault Ste. Marie that gets results. Since becoming the Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, Terry was elected Co-Chairman of the All-Party Steel Caucus, and Co-Chairman of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group. He also served on the Special Committee on Pay Equity.

Mr. Adam Vaughan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing)
MP, Spadina—Fort York (Ontario)

Before entering politics, Mr. Adam Vaughan was a broadcast journalist for more than 20 years, specializing in municipal affairs for both the CBC and Citytv. He covered all three levels of government and has written about urban issues too.

In the 41st Parliament, Mr. Vaughan was appointed the Liberal Critic for Housing and Urban Affairs and worked with Justin Trudeau, Liberals and local governments across the country to re-establish a national housing policy as part of a new urban agenda for Canada. Adam served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs from December 2015 to January 2017. On January 26, 2017, Adam was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (Housing and Urban Affairs).

Ms. Kate Young
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
MP, London West (Ontario)

Ms. Kate Young was first elected Member of Parliament for London West in October 2015. She was subsequently appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and served in that role until January 2017. Since then, Kate has been appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Science.

Prior to being elected, Ms. Young had a lengthy career in journalism and public relations in both the private and public sector. Best known as the first female news anchor at CFPL-TV in London, Ms. Young also served as Manager of Public Affairs and Community Relations for the Thames Valley District School Board and Manager of Community Relations at TD Financial Group.

Ms. Marilyn Gladu
MP, Sarnia—Lambton (Ontario)
Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Health Research Caucus

Ms. Marilyn Gladu has been part of the Sarnia Lambton community for 33 years. She is a professional engineer who worked for Dow Chemical for 21 years, in a variety of roles locally and globally.

As an owner of a small business, Ms. Gladu has an appreciation for how business works from the small to global scale, and the needs of our local industry. During her career, Marilyn was the chair for the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers locally and the National Director of Science and Industrial Policy for the same organization. Ms. Gladu has been an active member and director of the Conservative associations both provincially and federally since 2006. Elected as the Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton in 2015, Ms. Gladu received the MacLean’s award as “Most Collegial Parliamentarian” as voted by the other members of Parliament shortly after. She served as the Official Opposition Science Critic, as well as the Chair for the Status of Women. She is the current Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Rail Caucus, in addition to the Vice-Chair of the Aerospace Caucus.

A prestigious moment in her early parliamentary career would be that her private members bill, C-277 (on palliative care) received unanimous consent of the House of Commons. The bill is currently before the Senate of Canada for final review and should receive Royal Assent in the months ahead. This legislation will make a difference in the lives of millions of Canadians.

Ms. Carol Hughes
MP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing (Ontario)
Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Health Research Caucus

Ms. Carol Hughes is a four-term MP who has worked hard for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing since being elected in 2008. In addition to her role as MP, Ms. Hughes serves as Assistant Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of the Whole in Canada’s 42nd Parliament.

A tireless advocate for the communities she serves, Ms. Hughes was a leading figure in the fight to preserve ten federal constituencies for Northern Ontario. She has been a prominent spokesperson for passenger rail service, preserving postal service outlets, and good jobs in the region. Ms. Hughes has worked with First Nations on local and national issues and served as the New Democrat critic for First Nations Health prior to assuming the responsibilities of Assistant Deputy Speaker.

With decades of labour experience, Ms. Hughes understands the priorities of hardworking families. She has introduced legislation to expand access to Employment Insurance benefits and to require mandatory reporting of workplace accidents and occupational diseases. She has also worked with veterans on legislation that will create a Defence of Canada Medal to honour those who served domestically to protect Canada during the Cold War.

The Honourable Judith Seidman
Senator (Quebec)
Senate Representative, Parliamentary Health Research Caucus

The Honourable Judith Seidman is an epidemiologist, health researcher, and social services advisor who was appointed to the Senate of Canada on August 27^th, 2009.

Prior to her appointment to the Senate, she was an active health research professional in the McGill University Health Centre network in Montreal, Quebec. As a research fellow at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, and as an Associate Professor of Social Work at the McGill School of Social Work, Judith’s research and teaching focused on program and services evaluation, and the psychosocial determinants of health and illness. As a National Health Research Doctoral Fellow in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, she studied the role that social supports play in chronic disease outcomes. She was also actively engaged in aging-related research as a member of a community health team and as the Project Coordinator for the Canadian Study of Health and Aging.

Following her appointment to the Senate, Judith has been an active member of many committees, including the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (Deputy Chair), the Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources, the Senate Committee on Human Rights, the Senate Committee on Official Languages, and the Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament. In 2015, she served on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying, which informed the development of Canada’s legislative framework governing medical assistance in dying.

The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
Deputy House Leader
MP, Etobicoke North (Ontario)

Dr. Kirsty Duncan was an Associate Professor of Health Studies at the University of Toronto and the former Research Director for the AIC Institute of Corporate Citizenship at the Rotman School of Management, a renowned international speaker, she has lectured for such organizations as the National Geographic, the Japanese Government, and the Young Presidents Organization.

She sat on the Advisory Board for Pandemic Flu for the Conference Board of Canada, and the University of Toronto, and is also helping organizations prepare for a possible flu pandemic throughout Canada and the United States. Dr. Duncan also sat on the Boards of the Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment, the Scottish Studies Foundation, the St. Andrew’s Society of Toronto, and the Toronto Foundation for School Success. She co-chaired the 2006 Fraser Mustard Awards Gala in support of student nutrition and in October, 2007, she chaired “Feeding Toronto’s Hungry Students Week.”

From 2015 to 2018, Dr. Duncan served as the Minister of Science and then until 2019 as the Minister of Science and Sport.

Dr. Helena Jaczek
MP, Markham—Stouffville (Ontario)

Dr. Helena Jaczek served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Oak Ridges-Markham from 2007 to 2018. During that time Dr. Jaczek served as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Chair of Cabinet and as Vice-Chair of the Health, Education and Social Policy Cabinet Committee. She also served as the Minister of Community and Social Services and on the Standing Committee on Social Policy. She was the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on General Government, and served on the Select Committee on Mental Health and Addictions, and the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.

After many years in general practice on staff at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto Dr. Jaczek became the Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Health Services for the Regional Municipality of York. During her 18 years in this position, she was responsible for public health, land ambulance and long-term care in a region of more than one million people.

Dr. Jaczek was awarded the Helen Keller Award by the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons and the Canadian Helen Keller Centre for the contributions she has made to hearing and visually impaired Ontarians. She has also received the Ontario Physiological Association Public Service Award, the Ontario Medical Association Life Membership Award as well as the Outstanding Alumni Mentor Award from the University of Toronto’s Public Health Sciences Alumni Association.

Mr. Majid Jowhari
MP, Richmond Hill (Ontario)

Mr. Majid Jowhari is a successful businessman from the Richmond Hill community as well as the owner and CEO of his own boutique consulting firm, Iridium Management Consulting Group Incorporated.

Mr. Jowhari is actively involved in the local community, serving as a member in the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, the Iranian Canadian Network, the Iranian Canadian Congress, Parya Trillium, and Mohandes.

The Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) named Mr. Jowhari 2018’s Parliamentary Mental Health Champion.

Mr. Lloyd Longfield
MP, Guelph (Ontario)

Mr. Lloyd Longfield served as a member of the Standing Committee for Industry, Science and Technology and as a member of the Standing Committee for Agriculture and Agri-Food. Lloyd is active in many caucuses including chairing the Innovation & Technology Caucus. Mr. Longfield is also vice chair of the Digital Caucus and the Automotive Caucus and serves as Secretary of the Ontario Caucus. A Triple Bottom Line approach guides Mr. Longfield’s work in representing Guelph and he is currently championing Social, Environmental and Economic issues facing the community and, ultimately, Canada.

Mr. Bryan May
MP, Cambridge (Ontario)

Deeply entrenched in community activism, Mr. Bryan May has a long track record of facilitating positive development with those who need it most. It is this unwavering dedication to helping others which motivates Mr. May, making him a strong representative for the riding of Cambridge.

His senior management experience spans roles with non-profit organizations including the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club of Canada, and the University of Waterloo. Mr. May served on the committee for the Oxford Active Living/Youth Action Plan, was a member of the Y Service Club, and was the Executive Treasurer of the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries— an organization focused on collecting, analyzing, and openly sharing data to strengthen community with the goal of eliminating poverty.

The Honourable David McGuinty
MP, Ottawa South (Ontario)

Mr. David McGuinty is a fluently bilingual lawyer by trade and has worked with governments, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations around the world on a broad range of matters including the economy and the environment.

Based in Cotê d’Ivoire from 1988 to 1990, Mr. McGuinty worked tirelessly on behalf of UNICEF in 23 West and Central African countries as part of a broader UN effort to seek consensus on the ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In 1995, Mr. McGuinty was chosen to serve as President and CEO of the Prime Minister’s National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy.

Also from 1995, Mr. McGuinty served as National Program Director of LEAD Canada, an NGO where he worked with CIDA among other many organizations. With LEAD, he mentored future leaders across Canada and internationally in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the United States. Mr. McGuinty has also advised the Rockefeller Foundation.

He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for “outstanding and exemplary contributions” to his community and to Canada.

Mr. Ron McKinnon
MP, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam (British Columbia)

As a member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and the Standing Committee on Health, Mr. Ron McKinnon studied complex legislation such as Medical Assistance in Dyingand the Cannabis Act, and participated in a number of studies, such as Pharmacare, Human Trafficking, Access to Justice, Support for Jurors, and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Recognizing that British Columbia is seized by an opioid crisis, Mr. McKinnon introduced a Private Members Bill, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. His legislation became law in May 2017 after receiving unanimous all-party support in both House of Commons and Senate. The new law is saving lives by encouraging people to call 911 in the event of a drug overdose. It provides immunity from prosecution for possession of controlled substances when someone calls for medical assistance in the instance of a drug overdose.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas-Taylor
Deputy Government Whip
MP, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe (New Brunswick)

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas-Taylor has spent her entire life advocating for a fair and just society for all. She was the former Chair of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women and a member of the Coalition for Pay Equity. She has volunteered with several community organizations, both provincially and locally, including the Coalition Against Abuse in Relationships and the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Suicide Prevention Committee in Moncton.

Ms. Petitpas-Taylor was the Codiac RCMP Victim Services Coordinator, during which time she provided crisis counselling, domestic violence intervention, and domestic violence risk assessment to victims of crime. She also served on the City of Moncton’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, which was commissioned by Moncton City Council in 1996 to proactively influence the community through crime prevention promotion and to help Council respond to problematic issues as they arise.

Ms. Petitpas-Taylor served as the Minister of Health from 2017 to 2019.

Mr. Anthony Rota
MP, Nipissing—Timiskaming (Ontario)

Mr. Anthony Rota chaired the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the YMCA’s Kids First Campaign, and also co-chaired the local FIRST Robotics Regional Competition

Before transitioning into federal politics, Mr. Rota served as a city councillor in North Bay and as an innovation/network advisor for the National Research Council of Canada. As the Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming from 2004 to 2011, he served as the Liberal Critic for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario and the National Liberal Caucus Chair.

Mr. Raj Saini
MP, Kitchener Centre (Ontario)

A proud resident of Kitchener-Waterloo, Mr. Raj Saini has owned and operated the award-winning Greenbrook Pharmacy for nearly 20 years.

A committed and active supporter of local organizations, Mr. Saini works tirelessly to engage his community in politics and international affairs. He is a proud Rotarian of many years, a board member of the Canadian International Council, Waterloo Region branch and a long-time champion of Liberal values. He is passionate about improving the local economy, creating jobs and promoting the health and well-being of Kitchener Centre’s residents through intelligent, fiscally responsible environmental and health policy.

Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia
MP, Lac-Saint-Louis (Quebec)

Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia has made the protection of Canada’s freshwater a personal priority.

He is also a founding member of the all-party Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care. In this capacity, he organized and chaired hearings in Montreal in the fall of 2010 to hear testimony for the Committee’s report, entitled Not to be Forgotten: Care of Vulnerable Canadians.

Before entering politics, Mr. Scarpaleggia taught business administration at Montreal’s Dawson College. Prior to that, he spent several years working in the private sector, including as a corporate financial analyst.

Ms. Brenda Shanahan
MP, Châteauguay-Lacolle (Quebec)

Ms. Brenda Shanahan holds an MBA, a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of History. During her career as a banker, social worker and financial educator, she provided counsel in financial management and developed financial literacy workshops and materials as well as being a commentator on financial issues for various media outlets.

A long-time resident of Châteauguay and mother of three adult children, Ms. Shanahan has been involved in a number of organizations such as Amnesty International and the Canadian Federation of University Women.

During the first half of her term, Ms. Shanahan served on the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Death, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. She is now member of the Committee of Parliamentarians on National Security and Intelligence. She is also Vice-Chair of the Quebec Liberal Caucus and Co-Chair of the Multiparty Global Health Caucus.

Ms. Sonia Sidhu
MP, Brampton South (Ontario)

A registered cardiology technologist, diabetes educator and clinical research coordinator, Ms. Sonia Sidhu’s dedication to her community and helping her fellow citizens drives her to be the strong local voice for the riding of Brampton South.

A passionate community advocate, Ms. Sidhu has volunteered with numerous organizations including the environmental initiatives of Guru Nanak Mission Canada in Brampton South, Nahani Way Public School, Trillium Health Centre and Karma Grow, a local charity community garden initiative.

The Honourable Yvonne Boyer
Senator (Ontario)

With a background in nursing, including in the operating room, The Honourable Yvonne Boyer has over 21 years of experience practicing law and publishing extensively on the topics of Indigenous health and how Aboriginal rights and treaty law intersects on the health of First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. She is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Law Society of Saskatchewan and received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan, and her Master of Laws and Doctor of Laws from the University of Ottawa. In 2013, she completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship with the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre at the University of Regina. She is a former Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Health and Wellness at Brandon University.

Among many others, Senator Boyer has served on the boards of the Champlain Local Integrated Health Network and Save the Children Canada.

The Honourable Colin Deacon
Senator (Nova Scotia)

The Honourable Colin Deacon founded BlueLight Analytics in 2009, a company in the restorative dentistry field. The company has successfully commercialized new technologies into dozens of countries and works with most of the major dental multinationals. Until 2006, he served as CEO of SpellRead, which improved reading skills among children and adults, and was one of Atlantic Canada’s fastest-growing companies. Senator Deacon has also contributed to the charitable sector in Halifax, where he has been an active member on the board of several organizations, including those dedicated to children’s health and well-being, mentorship, and celebrating social innovators.

His career has focused on enabling collaboration between research and business, and Senator Deacon continues to be a strong advocate for knowledge mobilization. He was appointed to the Senate in June 2018 as an Independent Senator representing Nova Scotia.

The Honourable Pat Duncan
Senator (Yukon)

The Honourable Pat Duncan is a former premier of Yukon, with extensive experience in business and as a public servant in the community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.

From 1996 to 2006, Senator Duncan served as a member of the Yukon Legislative Assembly in various positions, including as the first female premier of the territory from 2000 to 2002. She was involved in reaching land claims agreements with First Nations in the Yukon and the transfer of power from the federal government to the territory, giving her an in-depth understanding of territorial and federal legislative processes.

Before entering politics, Senator Duncan worked in small business and served as the executive director of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce. She later became a public servant in the territorial government and the manager of claimant services for the Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board. In 2015, she was appointed as the manager of the Yukon Workers’ Advocate Office.

Senator Duncan has represented Yukon on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, chaired the City of Whitehorse Environmental Health Board, served on the Yukon Advisory Council on Health and Social Services, and acted as the Provincial Commissioner for the Girl Guides of Canada. She also served as a lay member of the Law Society of Yukon.

The Honourable Rosa Galvez
Senator (Quebec)

The Honourable Rosa Galvez, originally from Peru, is one of Canada’s leading experts in pollution control and its effect on human health. She has a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from McGill University and has been a professor at Université Laval à Québec since 1994, heading the Civil and Water Engineering Department from 2010 to 2016. She specializes in water and soil decontamination, waste management and residues, and environmental impact and risk assessment.

Throughout her career, she has been requested by private, governmental and community organisations to offer expert advice. She has also advised a number of international organisations including on Canada-US and Quebec-Vermont agreements regarding the protection of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. She also conducted an important study on the catastrophic oil spill at Lac-Mégantic.

The Honourable Stan Kutcher
Senator (Nova Scotia)

The Honourable Dr. Stan Kutcher is a leading psychiatrist and professor who has helped young people successfully manage major mental illnesses. His appointment to the Senate allows him to put his decades of medical, academic and policy expertise at the service of all Canadians.

In addition to his professional practice, Dr. Kutcher is involved in his community. He has served on the board of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the board of the Spryfield Boys and Girls Club. He also led the development of a national youth mental health framework for Canada as a member of the Child and Youth Advisory Committee of the Mental Health Commission of Canada — which came into being as a direct result of the Senate’s ground-breaking 2006 report, Out of the Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada.

As a senator, Dr. Kutcher continues to advocate on behalf of young people with mental illness while representing the interests of Nova Scotians in Parliament.

The Honourable Mary Jane McCallum
Senator (Manitoba)

The Honourable Dr. Mary Jane McCallum is a First Nations woman of Cree heritage and an advocate for social justice who, over the course of her distinguished career, has provided dental care to First Nations communities across Manitoba.

From 1979 to 1997, she was involved in the dental field in various capacities, including as a dental therapist in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba communities and as an assistant professor at the University of Manitoba running a dental clinic in Churchill and overseeing students completing their practicum. From 1996 to 2000, she worked on an interchange with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs as the Regional Dental Officer for the province.

From 1992 to 1996 and from 2003 to 2010, Dr. McCallum worked in her home community of Brochet, where she managed community health programs, including a children’s dental program, a diabetes program, and prenatal program, and volunteered for several committees, including a housing committee, a school committee, and an education committee. She also ran a monthly dinner and meeting with the Elders to discuss social issues affecting the community.

Dr. McCallum worked as an independent contractor for the federal First Nations and Inuit Health Branch providing services in northern Manitoba before returning to the University of Manitoba in April 2002 to lead the Aboriginal Dental Health Programs.

Since that time, she has continued to work to provide vital dental and health services to a variety of northern, First Nations, and Indigenous communities throughout the Manitoba region. She currently practices dentistry at the Opaskwayak Cree Nation reserve near The Pas.

The Honourable Marie-François Mégie
Senator (Quebec)

The Honourable Marie-François Mégie’s professional career encompasses over 35 years as a family physician and nearly 30 years as a university professor. Born in Haiti, she arrived in Quebec in 1976, and rose through the ranks of the medical profession while also pursuing university teaching, becoming a clinical associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Montréal.

She helped establish the Maison de soins palliatifs de Laval in 2009, where she served as medical director until December 31, 2016.

Her medical practice focused on providing health care services for seniors, persons with severe disabilities and end-of-life patients.

Senator Mégie served as President of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE) for five years, and has chaired the organization Médecins francophones du Canada since 2014.

The Honourable Rosemary Moodie
Senator (Ontario)

The Honourable Rosemary Moodie is a Jamaican-born paediatrician and neonatologist. After graduating from the University of the West Indies, she completed postgraduate training in Paediatric and Neonatal/Perinatal Medicine at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. She is senior neonatologist, clinical teacher and associate professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. She is Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada and Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics. Her research has focused on the social determinants of breastfeeding practice and she has written extensively on regional health services and physician human resource planning. Her vibrant community paediatric practice serves neighbourhood priority areas in Toronto. She obtained a Master of Business Administration, Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Administration, School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University.

Senator Moodie is a well-recognized national and international medical leader. She has supported organizations and stakeholders in policy development and advocacy to improve health equity and expand quality health care access to the most vulnerable, underserved and marginalized population. Her work included Corporate Chief of Paediatrics and Medical Director of the Regional Maternal Child Program Rouge Valley Health System; Maternal, Child, Youth, and Gynaecology Lead for Central East Local Health Integration Network; and regional and provincial committees, such as the Child Health Network and Provincial Council of Children’s Health. Her expertise also includes health care planning locally and internationally.

Further, Senator Moodie is an Accreditation Canada hospital surveyor with extensive experience improving the quality of health care delivery across Canada and worldwide.

Senator Moodie has been a strong advocate for woman and girls. Her contributions to reducing social inequities and health disparities among children and communities have been significant. She is on the Board of Directors for the inaugural board of Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto) and the ScotiaBank Jamaica Foundation. She was the President and Board Chair of the YWCA Toronto when the Elm Centre was completed. The Elm Centre is Canada’s largest affordable housing project for single low-income women, women with mental health and addiction issues, and families of Aboriginal ancestry. She has served on numerous other not-for-profit boards in health, education and social development.

The Honourable Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia
Senator (Newfoundland and Labrador)

The Honourable Mohamed-Iqbal Ravalia is a respected physician, medical educator and has strong community ties to Twillingate, NL.

Senator Ravalia was born and raised in the southern African country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He immigrated to Canada in 1984 and practiced Family Medicine in Twillingate, NL until his appointment to the Senate in June 2018.

Senator Ravalia attended the Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine in Rhodesia where he earned his Medical degree ( MB.ChB.) in 1980. He completed his Certification in Family Medicine (CCFP) in 1992. He is currently a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (FCFP).

His passion for teaching medical students and residents was rewarded with an appointment to the position of Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Memorial University. He was subsequently promoted to Assistant Dean of the Rural Medical Education Network, where he was tasked with the role to enhance a distributed medical education program in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Senator Ravalia has served on a number of committees of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Medical Council of Canada. He has also had a lengthy involvement with the Atlantic Provinces Medical Peer Review process and the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association. He was appointed to the council of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NL and represented the Canadian Distributed Medical Education group at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

He has received a number of awards including the Order of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal, Canadian Family Physician of the Year and several community teaching awards.

His community engagement has included involvement with the local minor hockey executive, community outreach initiatives, and fundraising for the Lions Club and support of the Anglican Church Sunday school program.

Senator Ravalia is a member of the Social Affairs, Science and Technology committee, which focuses on social justice and healthcare reform issues. Previous studies have examined youth mental health, pharmaceuticals and prescription drugs, the growing obesity epidemic, as well dementia and the aging population. He is also an active member of the Health Research Caucus.

Senator Ravalia proudly represents the regional interests of his fellow Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, with a focus on rurality, disenfranchised populations, resource management, eldercare and health needs. As an immigrant from a minority population group, his experience will further enhance his perspective as a Senator.