Arif Virani, the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his diverse, gender-equal cabinet, he made international headlines for his “cabinet that looks like Canada.” It is the first cabinet in Canadian history with the same number of women as men. The cabinet, the just-announced parliamentary secretaries and House of Commons as a whole also feature increased ethnic representation, including many immigrants, who have made Canada their home and are now striving to give back to their communities through public service. Here is a list of those immigrants giving back through public service in the 42nd Parliament, which is scheduled to resume today, Dec. 3.
IMMIGRANTS IN THE LIBERAL CABINET
Maryam Monsef, minister responsible for democratic institutions
(Peterborough—Kawartha)
Fleeing the terror and oppression of the Taliban 20 years ago with her family, Maryam Monsef is the first-ever Muslim and Afghan-born minister in the federal Parliament. Monsef graduated from Trent University with a bachelor of science and has worked with a number of organizations including Trent University, Fleming College, Peterborough Economic Development, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and the New Canadian Centre.
Harjit Sajjan, minister of defence
(Vancouver South)
Born in India, Harjit Sajjan immigrated to Canada when he was five. He joined the Canadian army in 1989 and was the first Sikh to command a Canadian army regiment. He also served with the Vancouver police gang crime unit.
Amarjeet Sohi, minister of infrastructure and communities
(Edmonton Mill Woods)
Bus driver Amarjeet Sohi became a member of the Edmonton City Council in 2007 before seeking federal election in 2015. Born in India, Sohi returned there to study in 1988 and was wrongfully imprisoned as a terrorist in his home country, spending 21 months in prison.
IMMIGRANT MEMBERS IN PARLIAMENT
British Columbia
Sukh Dhaliwal (Newton–North Delta) Liberal Party
Born in India; founder of land surveying company
Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre)Liberal Party
Born in Trinidad and Tobago; family doctor; MP since 1993
Randall Garrison (Esquimalt–Saanich–Sooke) NDP
Born in Nebraska, U.S.A.; a criminal justice and political science college instructor
Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) NDP
Born in Hong Kong; Vancouver city council member and provincial MLA before this election
Elizabeth May (Saanich–Gulf Islands) Green Party
Born in Connecticut, U.S.A.; leader of the Green Party
Joyce Murray (Vancouver Quadra) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Born in South Africa; co-founded Brinkman and Associates Reforestation Ltd.; an MP since 2008
Jati Sidhu (Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon) Liberal Party
Born in India; president of Greenvale Enterprises Inc., and CEO and president of the Sidhu Group
Alice Wong (Richmond Centre) Conservative Party
Born in Hong Kong; first Chinese-Canadian woman to serve in cabinet in 2011 as the minister of state for seniors
Alberta
Ziad Aboultaif (Edmonton Manning) Conservative Party
Born in Lebanon; entrepreneur, businessman and advocate for organ and tissue donation
Darshan Kang (Calgary Skyview) Liberal Party
Born in India; journeyman welder, then realtor and a provincial MLA before this election
Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard) Conservative Party
Born in Poland; involved in politics from an early age, including working for the Immigration department
Deepak Obhrai (Calgary Forest Lawn) Conservative Party
Born in Tanzania; one of the longest serving members of parliament of South Asian and/or African ancestry
Ontario
Omar Alghabra (Mississauga Centre) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)
Born in Saudi Arabia, of Syrian descent; a mechanical engineer by trade
Gary Anandasangaree (Scarborough–Rouge Park) Liberal Party
Born in Sri Lanka; human rights lawyer and Tamil community activist
Chandra Arya (Nepean) Liberal Party
Born in India; business executive and community activist
Tony Clement (Parry Sound–Muskoka) Conservative Party
Born in England; held provincial cabinet positions in Ontario, before turning to federal politics
Ali Ehsassi (Willowdale) Liberal Party
Born in Switzerland, of Iranian heritage; a lawyer by trade
Peter Fonseca (Mississauga East–Cooksville) Liberal Party
Born in Portugal; an Olympian who represented his country as Canada’s top marathon runner
Ahmed Hussen (York South–Weston) Liberal Party
Born in Somalia; lawyer and national president of the Canadian Somali Congress; first Somali-Canadian in House of Commons
Majid Jowhari (Richmond Hill) Liberal Party
Born in Iran; CEO of boutique consulting firm, Iridium Management Consulting Group
Iqra Khalid (Mississauga–Erin Mills) Liberal Party
Born in England, of Pakistani origin; worked as a legal professional with the City of Mississauga
Kamal Khera (Brampton West) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Born in India; registered nurse, community volunteer and political activist
Michael Levitt (York Centre) Liberal Party
Born in Scotland; partner and vice-president of business development for the Benjamin Group
Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East) Liberal Party
Born in Tanzania; principal and founder of Ethical Edge
Raj Saini (Kitchener Centre) Liberal Party
Born in India; owner of Greenbrook Pharmacy
Ramesh Sangha (Brampton Centre) Liberal Party
Born in India; a practising lawyer who arrived in Canada as a sponsored parent
Bob Saroya (Markham–Unionville) Conservative Party
Born in India; Pizza Pizza store owner
Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South) Liberal Party
Born in India; registered cardiology technologist, diabetes educator and clinical research co-ordinator
Sven Spengemann (Mississauga–Lakeshore) Liberal Party
Born in Germany;professional experience spans the private sector, academia, government and international affairs
Marwan Tabbara (Kitchener South–Hespeler) Liberal Party
Born in Lebanon; worked in operations at Frito Lay
Geng Tan (Don Valley North) Liberal Party
Born in China; leader, organizer and volunteer for newcomer community organizations
Arif Virani (Parkdale–High Park) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Born in Uganda; constitutional litigator advocating for human rights and access to justice
Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre) Liberal Party
Born in Pakistan; an engaged member of the Scarborough community
Quebec
Ramez Ayoub (Thérèse–De Blainville) Liberal Party
Born in Syria; past city councillor and mayor of Lorraine
Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
Born in Haiti; accountant with 20-year career in the federal public service
Faycal El-Khoury (Laval–Les Îles) Liberal Party
Born in Lebanon; founded construction company
Alexandra Mendès (Brossard–Saint-Lambert) Liberal Party
Born in Portugal; past president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec)
Eva Nassif (Vimy) Liberal Party
Born in Lebanon; an internationally trained nurse who became a translator after immigrating
Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier) Liberal Party
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Born in Argentina; communication and management consultant