Your MPs

Born in rural Saskatchewan, John Aldag has lived in six provinces and two territories thanks to his 31-year career with Parks Canada. He has thoroughly enjoyed working to ensure the integrity of natural and cultural resources across Canada’s national parks, national historic sites, and marine conservation areas. An avid outdoorsman, John has called the Fraser Valley home for the past nine years.

John completed numerous post-secondary qualifications as an adult, including an MBA from Royal Roads University, a Bachelor of Business Administration from BC’s Open University, and a Diploma in Public Sector Management from the University of Victoria. Married with three children, John continues to find time to serve his community. He is the current President of Flip City Gymnastics, a former Chair of both the Fort Langley Business Improvement Association and Tourism Langley, a former board member of the Vancouver Coast & Mountains Regional Destination Marketing Organization, and a former Treasurer of the Fort Langley Childcare Society.

John is the recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, which honours significant contributions and achievements by Canadians. His work with Tourism Langley was recognized by the 2011 Tourism Langley Lifetime Achievement Award, and he is also a three-time recipient of Parks Canada’s Chief Executive Officer’s Award of Excellence.

Omar Alghabra is a mechanical engineer by trade and an MBA graduate. He has served in a variety of positions with General Electric Canada, Enbala Power, and the Ontario Energy Board. He is currently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow within the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science at Ryerson University.

A longtime community activist, Omar is passionate about his involvement with local organizations like the Mississauga Summit and Youth Troopers for Global Awareness (YTGA). He was also a member of the community editorial board of the Toronto Star where he has authored columns on a wide range of provincial and federal issues. His work was also published in the Huffington Post. Among many of his activities, Omar has worked tirelessly to support initiatives that empower new Canadians through social and economic integration.

Having served as the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Erindale from 2006 to 2008, Omar offered his constituents a strong voice on both local and national issues as the Liberal Critic for Natural Resources, as well as Citizenship and Immigration.

Leona Alleslev – a former Air Force Officer and entrepreneur – is ready to serve her country and the people of Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill once again.

With her deep-rooted sense of civic duty, Leona earned a B.A. (Honours) in History & Politics, from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston – after which she received her Queen's Commission and served as a Logistics Officer in the Air Force.

In 1996, driven by their entrepreneurial spirit, Leona and her husband Ted – a Canadian Armed Forces Pilot – started an eco-tourism business in Temagami, Ontario. During this, Leona continued to work as a civilian for the Department of Defence – working to change the way multi-million dollar Air Force maintenance contracts were structured, evaluated and awarded. Most recently, as Operations Manager for Bombardier Aerospace, Leona was responsible for defining and implementing the final assembly line infrastructure for the Bombardier Global Express business aircraft programs.

Leona has always made a consistent commitment to her communities, volunteering her time with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Ontario Aerospace Council, and Women in Aerospace – an organization dedicated to increasing women’s visibility in the aerospace community.Leona currently lives in Oak Ridges with her husband Ted and their two children.

Will is a recognized expert in environmental law and natural resources. For years he has been advocating for environmental protection and sustainable resource development – holding governments and corporations accountable to Canadians. He has also written numerous publications on various environmental law topics and has participated on a number of parliamentary committees.

During his career, Will has worked in various legal areas throughout the private, public and non-profit sectors. Will is currently the regional director of a national environmental law charity, which offers legal advice free of charge to community groups and individuals regarding environmental matters. He currently teaches at the University of Ottawa and is a regular guest commentator in the national media, speaking on a range of issues.

Active in the community, Will has been a long-time boards of directors’ member for the Chelsea Foundation and Sierra Club Canada. He has also been a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and for Santropol Roulant.

Will Amos holds a Bachelor of Arts and Science from McMaster University, a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and a double degree of civil law and common law from McGill University.

Gary Anandasangaree is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer and community activist who has advocated tirelessly for education and justice.

Gary attended Osgoode Hall Law School, was called to the bar in 2006, and now manages his own firm in Scarborough. Gary has been a passionate advocate for human rights issues, regularly representing Lawyer’s Rights Watch Canada at the United Nations. He has also served as a strong advocate for local youth, intervening in cases of wrongful student expulsion and suspension.

Gary has demonstrated leadership at a number of organizations aimed at supporting his local community and communities nationwide. He has served as Chair of the Canadian Tamil Youth Development Centre, President of the Canadian Tamils’ Chamber of Commerce, counsel to the Canadian Tamil Congress, legal counsel to the Independent Mortgage Brokers and Agents, board member of the Youth Challenge Fund, member of the Toronto Police Chief’s Advisory Board, and member of the United Way Newcomers Grant Program.

In honour of his devotion to community service and local advocacy, Gary has received both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. Gary received the Osgoode Hall Law School “One to Watch” Gold Key Award and the South Asian Bar Association’s Young Practitioner Award.

A lifelong resident of the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche, 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, René 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.

René has been involved in his community for over 25 years. In addition to providing pro bono legal services, René sat on the board of directors for numerous non-profit organizations, and 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. René 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.

René holds a BSocSc – with a major in Economics and a minor in Political Science – and an LLB from Université de Moncton.

Business executive, community activist, and father, Chandra Arya is relentless in his efforts to improve the lives of those around him. It is this drive to make significant, long-lasting, and positive change that make him a strong representative for the riding of Nepean.

Chandra has worked as an engineer, industrial banker, entrepreneur, investment advisor, and technology company executive. During the last three years he served on the board of Invest Ottawa – an economic development agency established with the mandate of making Ottawa the best place in Canada to start and grow a business. During this time, Chandra collaborated with its Co-Chair Mayor Jim Watson, among other business and institutional leaders.

Chandra has served on the boards of OCISO Not for Profit Housing Corporation and Ottawa Community Immigrants Services Organization. He previously served as the Chair of the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber and President of the Indo-Canadian Community Centre Inc.

Chandra has earned a Bachelors of Engineering and Masters of Business Administration, and was professionally certified by the Canadian Securities Institute as a Canadian Investment Manager. Chandra currently lives in Nepean, with his wife Sangeetha, who works with the Ottawa Catholic School Board.

Deeply involved in his community, Ramez Ayoub wants to be the voice on Parliament Hill that speaks up for the concerns and interests of the constituents of Thérèse-De Blainville.

A veteran politician, Ramez was a city councillor for 10 years and, since 2009, has been the mayor of Lorraine, and is also the Deputy Prefect of the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Thérèse-De Blainville. In addition, he has chaired the Laurentides Regional Conference of Representatives (CRÉ) since 2013 and the Thérèse-De Blainville intermunicipal police board since 2014. He is also a member of Montréal international Board of Directors, an organisation focused on economic development.

Outside his political life, Ramez also works as a real estate broker. He is a board member of Tricentris (a recycling/sorting organization), a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Thérèse-De Blainville, and the Chamber of Commerce of Bois-des-Filion and Lorraine, which named him Person of the Year in 2013 for his ability to bringing people together and work as a team. He is also the recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Ramez holds a BSc in Economics from Université de Montréal.

Local business owner, community advocate, and former mayor of Port Colborne, Vance Badawey has spent his life creating change that is inclusive of all. He is now dedicated to being the local voice that defends the riding of Niagara Centre.

In 1994, Vance began his career in public service as a Port Colborne City Councillor. Soon after, residents elected him Mayor, a role which he later reclaimed in 2006. During this term, Vance served on the Niagara Regional Council and was Chair of the Health Services Task Force and the Economic & Tourism Development Corporation, while Vice Chair of the Niagara Region Police Services Board.

Vance was a founding member of the Wellspring Niagara Cancer Support Centre – an organization dedicated to providing free social, emotional, psychological, informational and spiritual support to individuals living with cancer, their families, and close supporters. Vance is married to Lisa, and they have two teenage daughters, Logan and Jordan. Vance and his extended family have lived and operated their family business in Port Colborne for over 50 years.

Larry Bagnell served as Yukon’s representative in Ottawa for over a decade, sitting as a federal Member of Parliament from 2000-2011. During his time as a Liberal MP, Larry was appointed to the Privy Council and served as Parliamentary Secretary to both the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, and the Minister of Natural Resources. Larry also sat on many Parliamentary Committees, developing expertise in the areas of Transport, Defence, Industry, Veterans Affairs, Justice & Human Rights, and Aboriginal Affairs.

During his time in Ottawa, Larry was widely-regarded as a dedicated, respectful, and hard-working Member of Parliament. In fact, his peers selected him, multiple times, as the hardest working MP in Canada in an annual survey of Parliamentarians. In that same survey, he’s also been recognized as the best constituency MP in Canada.

Larry’s dedication to Yukon has roots that can be traced back to long before his time as a Member of Parliament. In 1999, he was recognized with the City of Whitehorse Volunteer of the Year Award. This award recognized his incredible service to the community, including his service as President of the Yukon chapter of the United Way, President of Yukon Learn (Literacy), and President of the Skookum Jim Friendship Center. In addition, Larry has sat on the Boards for the Miles Canyon Historic Railway Society, the Yukon Science Institute, and the Commissioner’s Potlatch.

Navdeep Bains is a distinguished visiting professor at Ryerson University - Ted Rogers School of Management and holds an MBA with a specialization in Finance. As a Certified Management Accountant, he has worked several years in accounting and financial analysis for the Ford Motor Company of Canada.

Navdeep is a longtime resident of both Mississauga and Brampton and has strong ties to the social and cultural associations of Mississauga—Malton. Navdeep has been active in a variety of community organizations, as a board member for the Mississauga Food Bank, having worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation, as well as having served as an Ontario board member with the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He is the recipient of a number of awards recognizing his work in promoting diversity within his community.

Having served as the Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Brampton South from 2004 to 2011, Navdeep gained extensive experience as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and as the Liberal Critic for Public Works and Government Services, the Treasury Board, International Trade, Natural Resources, and Small Business and Tourism.

Frank Baylis is the President of Baylis Medical, a world leader in the design, manufacturing and sale of high technology products with applications in cardiology, oncology and the vascular system. In 2011, he received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Ernst and Young.

A devotee of movies, he decided to set up his own production house, Walk of Fame Entertainment. In addition to being its president, he has written several screenplays. He is a former Vice‑President of OME Group Consultants.

Within his community, Frank is a coach with the Association de ringuette de Beaconsfield‑Kirkland and a leader with Scouts Canada. He founded Baylis Medical and oversees its group of volunteers that raise funds to support, among other projects, Breakfast for Learning, an organization that provides breakfast to underprivileged children in Canada. He is also a member of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada Life Sciences Sector Advisory Board and a member of the Board of Directors of the Campus des technologies de la santé.

Frank holds an Honours Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. In 2014, he received the Alumni of the Year Award.

Terry Beech is an accomplished and experienced entrepreneur, educator, and advocate. Terry entered public service 15 years ago when he was elected as a city councillor. He was named one of Maclean’s top 30 under 30 in 2004, one of Business in Vancouver’s top 40 under 40 in 2013, and was also selected as an Action Canada Fellow.

While serving as a city councillor, Terry began his studies in Public Administration at Capilano University, who named him as one of the school’s “Alumni to Watch.” He is the recipient of a degree with a joint major in Business and Economics from Simon Fraser University, as well as an MBA from the University of Oxford.

An Adjunct Professor at Simon Fraser and the University of British Columbia, Terry is the author of “The In-Credibility Factor,” which highlights his desire for Canada to become a global leader in innovation and entrepreneurship. He founded and was both CEO and Chairman of HiretheWorld.com, and is a co-founder of Twinbro, a non-profit organization that has helped over 25,000 students to obtain millions of dollars in scholarships and financial aid. He is a past board member of Lift Philanthropy and currently works with entrepreneurs to launch and grow businesses at Beech Partners.

Mauril Bélanger was born and raised in the town of Mattawa, in mid-north Ontario. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa. Mauril and his wife Catherine are proud grandparents.

Prior to entering politics, Mauril held various positions in the public and private sectors. In the early 1980s, he was an assistant to the late Right Honourable Jean-Luc Pepin; afterwards, he worked as a stockbroker and, in the early 1990s, was Chief of Staff for the Chair of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton.

First elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier in a by-election in February 1995, Mauril has been re-elected at every election since.

He was appointed to Cabinet by the Right Honourable Paul Martin in December 2003. During this tenure, he was Deputy House Leader and Chief Government Whip. After the 2004 election, he was reappointed to Cabinet where he held numerous responsibilities.

As an MP, he has been a member, Vice Chair and Chair of several committees. He co-founded and currently co-chairs the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association. Mauril currently serves as Liberal critic for Co-Operatives. In 2012, he became Director on the Board of the Parliamentary Centre, a non-governmental organization dedicated to the strenghtening of democracy.

Mauril has always been a strong advocate of Canada’s linguistic duality, national unity and a just and fair society for all.

In 2005, he was decorated as Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Pléiade, an order of La Francophonie that recognises contributions made to international friendship and cooperation. In April 2007, Hungarian President László Sólyom made him an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in recognition of his work in support of Hungarian-Canadian relations. In April 2009, the Royal Canadian Legion recognized Mauril’s contribution to the development of goodwill and comradeship.

Mauril has always been a strong advocate of Canada’s linguistic duality and national unity.

In 2005, he was decorated as Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Pléiade, an order of La Francophonie that recognises contributions made to international friendship and cooperation. In April 2007, Hungarian President László Sólyom made him an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary in recognition of his work in support of Hungarian-Canadian relations. Recently, in April 2009, the Royal Canadian Legion recognized Mauril’s contribution to the development of goodwill and comradeship.

The Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett, PC, MP, was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1997 general election and was re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008 representing the Toronto riding of St. Pauls. Prior to her entrance into the Federal Liberal Leadership race Carolyn served as Opposition Critic for Social Development, a portfolio that includes social policy areas such as child care, people with disabilities, homelessness and housing. Carolyn also served as Vice-Chair on the Standing Committee on National Defense and travelled with this same committee in January 2007 to Afghanistan. Presently, Carolyn is the Liberal Critic for Aboriginal Affairs.

In December 2003, in the wake of the SARS epidemic, Paul Martin asked Carolyn to become Canada's first Minister of State for Public Health. During her 2 years as Minister, Carolyn set up the Public Health Agency of Canada, appointed the first Chief Public Health Officer for Canada and oversaw the establishment of a true Public Health Network for Canada, through which all 13 jurisdictions would be able to plan together in protecting the health of Canadians. Carolyn passionately drove the process to establish in 2005 the Public Health Goals for Canada.

Carolyn also served under the previous Liberal Government in a wide variety of roles within Parliament, including Chair of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, the sub-committee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities (Human Resources Devolpment Committee). She has been responsible for significant changes in the Disability Tax Credit, as well as the innovative e-consolation on the necessary changes to the Canada Pension Plan for Persons with Disabilities. Carolyn also served as a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the Standing Committee on Health, and the Standing Committee on Finance. As one of Parliament's most influential women MPs, she has chaired the Liberal Women's Caucus and the All-Party Women's Caucus. Last but not least, this extraordinary woman was also a member of the Canada-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Prior to her election, Dr. Bennett was a family physician and a founding partner of Bedford Medical Associates in Downtown Toronto. She was President of the Medical Staff Association of the Women's College Hospital and Assistant Professor in the Development of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bennett served on the Boards of Havergal College, the Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

In 1986, Dr. Bennett received the Royal Life-Saving Society Service Cross -- a Commonwealth award recognising her more than twenty 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 received the first ever CAMIMH Mental Health Champion Award. In 2005, Carolyn received the Non-Consumer Involvement Award for promoting and facilitating consumer participation within the CMHA. In 2006, Carolyn received the May Cohen Leadership Award for outstanding initiatives that foster life opportunities for children. Carolyn was also the first recipient of the National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Leadership and Dedication to Injury Prevention and Safety promotion in Canada. Dr. Bennett is also author of ""Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System"", published in October 2000.

She is very proud of her St. Paul's model. A real democracy between elections, her Town-Hall meetings, neighbourhood checkups and weekly MSN chats have resulted in a 75% voter turnout in one of the youngest ridings in the country.

Dr. Bennett obtained her degree in Medicine from the University of Toronto in 1974, and received her certification in Family Medicine in 1976. She and her husband, Canadian Film Producer Peter O'Brian, have two sons, Jack and Ben, and a lovely chocolate Lab named Marley.

Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Chris Bittle moved to St. Catharines in 2005 and is currently a civil litigator with Lancaster, Brooks and Welch LLP, specializing in commercial disputes, real estate litigation, defamation, and landlord tenant matters. Chris is now bringing his hard work and determination to the national stage, with a goal to combat unemployment and income inequality.

Chris is 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. Chris is regular volunteer with Courts in the Classroom, an initiative developed to educate youth in the community about the justice system.

Chris holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Queen’s University in Kingston, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Windsor, and is a board member for the Lincoln County Law Association. Chris has a passion for education and was proud to work at Niagara College as an instructor in the Department of Continuing Education and as a seminar leader at Brock University.

As the son of a police officer, raised in Scarborough, Bill learned at an early age that “serve” comes before “protect” for a reason. And, after serving 39 years with the Toronto Police Force – the last decade as its Chief of Police – Bill is ready to continue protecting Canada’s democracy, if elected as Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest.

A born leader, Bill 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 – and was honoured last year by the Canadian Tamil Congress for his leadership and tremendous service to the people of Toronto.

Bill 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 Children's Aid Society Toronto, and is the proud recipient of the 2011 Beth Shalom Humanitarian Award. Bill currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Scarborough Hospital Foundation, and is Vice-Patron of the Good Neighbours' Club – a day centre for older, homeless and unemployed men.

Randy Boissonnault is a successful entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. He has a strong record of leadership in business, in public service, and in the not-for-profit sector.

Randy discovered his passion for leadership and public service at the University of Alberta, where he served as President of the Students’ Union. Since studying at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, Randy has worked as a lecturer at the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean, and as a journalist and political commentator for CBC Radio-Canada and Les Affaires. Today, Randy owns a consulting business that helps small and medium-sized businesses overcome their strategy and management challenges.

A proud Rotarian, Randy has a long history of charitable work, both locally in Edmonton and abroad. He is the founder of Literacy Without Borders, an international NGO devoted to promoting literacy for both children and adults in the developing world and in Canada. He has also served as Vice Chair of TEDx Edmonton and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Francophone Economic Council of Alberta, the Francophone Sport Federation of Alberta, and the Canadian Francophone Games. He is one of the 50 Founders of Startup Edmonton and is a Finisher of the Ironman Canada Triathlon.

Mike Bossio is a local entrepreneur with a passion for environmental justice. Mike has owned Boscan Consultants Inc. since 1989, where he is responsible for the recruitment of sales, marketing, and R & D professionals globally for the telecommunications industry.

Mike is very involved in his community, most notably as the Chair of Concerned Citizens of Tyendinaga and Environs and as an advisor for Citizens Against Melrose Quarry. Mike also served as Councillor for Tyendinaga Township between 1998 and 2000, gaining the respect of his colleagues and constituents through his hard work and passionate advocacy. In addition, he served his community by sitting on the Centre and South Hasting Waste Management Board. Mike has over a decade of experience coaching boys and girls basketball, and is also a committed and longtime Relay for Life volunteer.

Mike grew up in the Hastings—Lennox and Addington riding and moved back in 1994 with his wife Irene and their two children. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from York University.

After 40 years in broadcasting, Bob Bratina entered municipal politics in 2004 and has served the citizens of Hamilton for over a decade – most notably as Mayor from 2010 to 2014. As Mayor, Bob set Hamilton on the path of growth and sound public finances; he has worked fiercely to create new jobs for his citizens by welcoming manufacturing facilities and R&D; companies into the city. And as a member of the GO Transit Board of Directors, Bob was instrumental in securing funding for infrastructure projects that improved train service for Hamilton commuters.

Bob is a member of the Football Reporters of Canada Hall of Fame, holder of two Queen's Jubilee Medals for lifetime community achievement, and was named Hamilton Mountain Citizen of the Year in 2002. A talented musician and avid marathon runner, Bob has performed on stage with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and competed in 18 marathons – twice in the famed Boston Marathon – and ten times in the 30 K Around the Bay Road Race – all past the age of 40. He and his wife Carol have been married for 48 years, and have a son Sam who holds three university degrees. Bob is ready to represent the residents of Hamilton East – Stoney Creek in Ottawa.

Pierre was born in Granby and still resides in the city. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Université de Québec à Montréal and has worked for a number of national and international firms including Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) and Viasystems Canada. Since 2003, he has been a business partner in human resources for the Société des alcools du Québec.

Pierre has been involved in politics since he was a teenager. He began by volunteering on all four of Jean Lapierre’s election campaigns in the riding of Shefford and now currently sits as an independent municipal councillor of the City of Granby, a position he has held since 2005.

Within his community, Pierre is recognized for his involvement, credibility, skills and integrity. Serving initially as a board member, Pierre is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Corporation de développement commercial et touristique de Granby et Région. He was also a member and then Chair of the Board of Directors of the Société zoologique de Granby. A co‑founder of the Granby junior Chamber of Commerce (Génération Avenir), Pierre was a member of its board for two years. He was also a board member of the Eastern Townships airport board and a member of the École Ave Maria School Council.

Scott Brison, the Liberal Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants (Nova Scotia), has won election to Canada's House of Commons in six general elections: June 1997, November 2000, June 2004, January 2006, October 2008 and May 2011. He is a key Liberal Party spokesperson on economic issues and currently serves as the Liberal Party Critic for Finance. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance.

Mr. Brison is a member of the Trilateral Commission and has been named by the World Economic Forum (WEF) of Davos, Switzerland, as one of its ""Young Global Leaders."" In August 2010, he was awarded the Order of San Carlos by Colombian President Álvaro Uribe in recognition of his contributions to the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

He served as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Receiver General of Canada, from 2004 to 2006, the youngest member of Prime Minister Paul Martin's cabinet. He also served on three cabinet committees: Treasury Board, Domestic Affairs and Expenditure Review. Mr. Brison previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Canada-U.S. Relations. He was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party at the December 2006 convention.

Mr. Brison has had extensive private sector experience as an entrepreneur and investment banker. He has served as Vice-President of a Canadian investment bank and currently serves as Chairman of SeaFort Capital Inc., a Canadian private equity firm.

Mr. Brison and his partner, Maxime St-Pierre live in Cheverie, Nova Scotia, on the shores of the Minas Basin, home of the world's highest tides. He was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia on May 10th, 1967 and in 1989 graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance. He has completed the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century Executive Education program at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

In his spare time he enjoys economics, foreign policy, sea kayaking, downhill skiing and growing apples.

Jim Carr has been a dedicated business and community leader in Winnipeg for more than 30 years. Jim began his career as a musician, as an oboist and trustee with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. He then moved on to journalism, working as a reporter and columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press as well as for CBC Radio.
 
Jim entered public life with the Manitoba Liberal Party in 1988, when he was elected to represent Fort Rouge in the Manitoba Legislature. He was also the deputy leader of the party. Jim later went on to become the founding CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, where he has worked alongside business leaders to address issues critical to Manitobans and Canadians.

Jim is also an active volunteer with a number of local, provincial, and national organizations. He is the founding co-chair of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council, member of the board of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, member of the board of the Canada West Foundation, and member of the board of the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at the University of Manitoba.

Jim’s community leadership has earned him numerous awards, including the Canada 125 Medal, the Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Order of Manitoba.

Sean Casey was Managing Partner of the Charlottetown law firm of Stewart McKelvey. He joined Stewart McKelvey in 1989, becoming a Partner in 1993. He was appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2008.

From 2003-2008, Sean worked with the family business, Paderno, as President of the Paderno Group of Companies. He worked extensively in strategic planning, financial management, operations and human resources. Sean elected to return to Stewart McKelvey and was named Managing Partner in 2008.

Always active at work and in his community, Sean has been President of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, chair of the Canadian Soccer Association National Appeals Committee, as well as Chair of Spud Minor Hockey Tournament. He has also volunteered with Holy Redeemer Church, the Canadian Soccer Association, Charlottetown Minor Hockey Association, Winsloe West Royalty Soccer Club, the PEI Marathon, and was an advisor on The Entrepreneur’s Forum

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier and Dalhousie universities, Sean resides in West Royalty with his wife, Kathleen, and their two sons, Ryan and Dean. Sean is a keen sports fan, golfer and runner.

After serving 17 years as a Member of Parliament, Bill Casey returns to federal politics as the Liberal candidate for the riding of Cumberland–Colchester.

Bill served as a Conservative MP from 1988 to 2007 and sat as an Independent until 2009 because of his strong opposition to the Conservative’s decision to break the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord. Initially elected as a Progressive Conservative, Bill now views Harper’s Conservatives as anything but progressive, and whole-heartedly believes that the Liberal Party of Canada reflects his own values. Retiring from politics in 2009, Bill moved to the public sector as the senior representative for Nova Scotia at the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs in Ottawa.

A 70-year resident of Cumberland–Colchester and a prostate cancer survivor, Bill is always looking to give back to his community and has volunteered with several local organizations including the Rotary Club. Bill is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and has been active in fundraising for cancer research and the YMCA in Amherst. Named “Best Constituency MP” by MacLean’s Magazine in 2009, he is an experienced parliamentarian who knows how to get results, and is ready to be a strong local voice in Ottawa.

Businessman, lawyer and international trade specialist, François-Philippe Champagne combines over 20 years’ experience working for major companies worldwide. Throughout his highly successful international career, he was named a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum and “Personality of the Week La Presse/Radio-Canada” in 2009. Since 2006, he is Vice-Chairman at Bionest Technologies, a leader in the field of green technology and environment.

Over the years, François-Philippe held key roles internationally, namely as Group Vice-President and Senior Counsel at ABB Group, with over 150,000 employees, Strategic Development Director, acting General Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer and Member of the Group Management Committee at AMEC. In addition to sitting on several boards, such as TakingITGlobal, Incheon Bridge Corporation (South Korea) and the C3E (Canadian Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency), he was President of a major pan-Canadian strategic think tank.

First and foremost firmly engaged in his community, François-Philippe acts as speaker at the Rassemblement jeunesse de la Mauricie, Honorary President for the Regional Alliance of the Mauricie’s Chambers of Commerce, the Poppy Campaign and the Relay for Life in Shawinigan.

Arnold Chan has deep roots in Scarborough-Agincourt, attending both Henry Kelsey and Sir Ernest MacMillan Senior Public Schools, and later Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute. Arnold pursued postsecondary studies at the University of Toronto, where he earned an undergraduate and a Master’s degree in Political Science, and the University of British Columbia, where he earned a law degree. Later, Arnold obtained his Masters in Urban Planning, also from the University of Toronto, on a part-time basis while raising his family and pursuing his career.

Arnold’s career has included roles in both the public and private sectors as a lawyer, political aide and senior corporate manager. Prior to being elected he was Vice-President, Aboriginal/Corporate Affairs, and General Counsel at a leading Canadian-owned waterpower development company with projects throughout Northern Ontario. Arnold has over thirty years of political experience and has had the pleasure of serving in a number of senior roles such as Executive Assistant to the Premier of Ontario and as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

As a father of three, Arnold is passionate about youth causes, having served as co-chair of his children’s school council, while also leading a local chapter of a national youth organization.

Named by Maclean's magazine as one of "100 young Canadians to watch," Shaun Chen is a prolific community leader who has articulated with passion the voices of his generation – a characteristic he will continue as representative for Scarborough North.

A lifelong advocate for children and youth, Shaun was first elected to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) in 2006 as Trustee for Scarborough–Rouge River. As Trustee, Shaun championed programs to support newcomers, launched an annual tree planting initiative in the Rouge Park, and initiated a popular leadership training program for parents. In 2014, Shaun was elected Chair of the TDSB on a pledge to restore transparency and accountability at Canada's largest school board. He has served as director of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association and member of the City of Toronto Children's Services Advisory Committee, where he worked to support a multi-year strategy to expand Toronto's child care system.

Shaun holds a BSc in Computer Science and Equity Studies and an MA in Sociology in Education from the University of Toronto, and is currently a PhD student in Social Justice Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.

The son of an inshore fisher, Serge Cormier is a lifelong resident of Acadie–Bathurst and knows the riding’s strengths and issues well. Passionate about politics, a unifying force, and an exceptional community organizer, Serge will be a staunch defender of the interests of all Acadie–Bathurst residents and a long-awaited catalyst for change and renewal.

Serge began his career by acquiring a small company to finance his business administration studies. Later appointed Chief of Staff for various Government of New Brunswick departments, he organized and participated in several diplomatic missions at home and abroad, and worked on high-priority local economic issues. Serge continued as a policy analyst in the Office of the Official Opposition and as an assistant to the current Premier, the Hon. Brian Gallant, responsible for Northern New Brunswick.

Serge was a board member of the Caraquet Chamber of Commerce and organized several minor and adult hockey tournaments, and was involved in Club de golf Pokemouche for many years.

Serge and his wife, Annick, have a three-year-old daughter and know the challenges facing young families. Serge wants to make Acadie–Bathurst an area in which young people will choose to settle.

On November 27, 2000 Rodger Cuzner was elected to represent the people of Bras d’Or-Cape Breton as their Member of Parliament under the Jean Chretien Liberal government.

During his first two years in the House of Commons, Mr. Cuzner was a very active Member, serving on the Standing Committee for Canadian Heritage, Indian and Northern Affairs, Finance, Procedure and House Affairs, and the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Mr. Cuzner’s dedication and hard work was recognized in 2003 by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. On January 27, Rodger was sworn in as the Parliamentary Secretary to the former Prime Minister.

Rodger was re-elected in June 2004 to the 38th Parliament as the Member of Parliament for the newly expanded riding of Cape Breton-Canso. He was the unanimous selection of his colleagues to serve as chair of Atlantic Caucus.

January 23rd, 2006 saw the re-election of Mr. Cuzner to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament of Cape Breton-Canso for the third time. He was appointed as Associate Opposition Critic for Sport and Opposition Critic for Veterans’ Affairs. Rodger has remained active on parliamentary committees such as Veterans’ Affairs and Fisheries and Oceans.

On October 14th, 2008, Rodger was re-elected for his fourth consecutive term, to the 40th Parliament. He was appointed Chief Whip of the Official Opposition and served in that role until September of 2010, when he was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Rodger was re-elected for the fifth time on May 2, 2011 and currently serves as the Liberal Critic for Employment and Social Development, Labour.

Rodger received his high school education at Glace Bay High and then went on to study physical education at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish.

Mr. Cuzner has worked as the Special Event Coordinator for the Cape Breton Department of Recreation, Culture and Facilities. He was responsible for major events like the Millennium Countdown 2000. Mr. Cuzner also worked as Athletic Coordinator for the City of Fort McMurray Alberta. In addition, he was a sports columnist with Fort McMurray Today and a commentator for CJOK Radio Station.

Throughout his life, he has demonstrated his commitment to hockey and to ensuring that Canadians are given the opportunity to succeed at our national sport. He coached Team Nova
Scotia at the Canada Games in 1995 and 1999. He is the founding member of the Cape Breton Sport Heritage Awards Committee.

Rodger, a native of Glace Bay, is the second of six children born to Truman and Kay Cuzner. He and his wife Lynn (nee Hopkins) have three children: Mitch, Scott and Brad.

Born and raised in Montreal, Julie Dabrusin has lived in Toronto–Danforth since 1998. Fully bilingual and having degrees in Middle East Studies and Law, Julie spent thirteen years as a litigator at Rogers Partners LLP. Julie also spent one year as a commission counsel to the Toronto External Contracts Inquiry, which investigated government procurement of services and goods.

For the past four years, Julie has dedicated herself to being a mother and role model for her two daughters, and bringing real change to her local community.

A strong community leader, Julie serves on the Board of Directors of Park People, a Toronto alliance for better parks, and founded Friends of Withrow Park, an organization dedicated to encouraging the use of this public green space. Julie advocated on behalf of the community to save 7 local pools slated for closure as part of the City of Toronto’s 2012 budget debates and established and chaired the Frankland Community Advisory Committee to improve the use of the City’s recreational resources.

These and other volunteer efforts earned Julie the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Community Service in 2013.

Born, raised, and educated in Fredericton, Matt DeCourcey believes that all citizens have a right to be heard and to voice their concerns within the community.

Matt is no stranger to federal politics having worked as an assistant to former Fredericton MP and cabinet minister, Andy Scott, in 2005 and 2006. He also worked with former Labrador MP and Métis leader, Todd Russell. After a five-month international development project in West Africa, Matt established the Wanderers Friendship Cup—a soccer tournament and health-education initiative for youth in The Gambia. Armed with his unwavering vision for a caring and compassionate Canada, Matt has dedicated the years prior to being elected to bettering the lives of disenfranchised youth through his role as Director of Communications, Education and Outreach, with the New Brunswick Child and Youth Advocate.

Matt holds a Master of Public Relations Degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Thomas University. He is a 2012-13 Action Canada Fellow, co-authoring the report, Who Cares About Young Carers? Raising Awareness for an Invisible Population, and a former provincial coordinator for the Canadian Commission for UNESCO’s Youth Advisory Group.

A professional engineer, British Columbia land surveyor and former Liberal Member of Parliament for Newton—North Delta from 2006 to 2011, Sukh Dhaliwal, will continue to be a strong voice for his communities and all residents of Surrey—Newton.

After earning his Bachelor of Science (Surveying Engineering) from the University of Calgary, Sukh started his own business – Dhaliwal & Associates Land Surveying Inc. – which continues to thrive today. As a former member of the Surrey Board of Trade, he was an active spokesman for small businesses, helping foster opportunities that will drive the local economy in the future. As a Member of Parliament Sukh also held such roles as Official Opposition Critic for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Western Economic Diversification.

Through his dedication to community service, Sukh has played a vital role in transforming Surrey into one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing communities in Canada. He participated on the Board of Directors for SEEDS (Self Employment and Entrepreneur Development Society), was a member of the City of Surrey Parks and Community Services committee, and volunteered with Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation's Emergency Centre Campaign – a fundraiser to assist in the construction of the hospital’s expanded emergency ward.

Anju was born and raised in the riding of Dorval–Lachine–LaSalle, where she currently lives and works as a lawyer. She is the first Canadian Sikh to practice law in Quebec courts. She holds a BA in Political Science (Hons) from Concordia University and an LLB from Université de Montréal.

Concerned about the welfare of others, she was a caregiver for four years. Anju provides pro bono advice to people in need and has volunteered at the Old Brewery Mission. In addition, Anju has been actively involved for years in the Sikh community, mentoring youth.

Anju is a woman whose political commitment and involvement are second nature. She has been an active Liberal Party of Canada volunteer since age 13. Among other things, she was elected Vice-President (Female) for Youth of the LaSalle-Émard Federal Liberal Association, a position she held for 10 years, and later served as Vice-President (Female) of the same association.

A lawyer specializing in labour and employment law, Nicola Di Iorio is a partner at the national firm Langlois Kronström Desjardins. He has gained both recognition and respect through his 32 years of practice, repeatedly ranking among lawyers most frequently recommended by their peers in the annual survey by Lexpert Magazine. Nicola was also recognized as one of Canada’s leading labour and employment law experts in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada. A well-known guest speaker, Nicola teaches at McGill University and the professional training school of the Barreau du Québec.

Always with the best interests of others at heart, Nicola co-founded Cool Taxi – a prepaid taxi coupon initiative that provides people with a safe way home. The initiative earned him a nomination for the 2015 Person of the Year award of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Saint-Laurent–Mount Royal. Nicola is the Secretary of the Board of Centro Leonardo da Vinci – an organization that he co-founded – and Secretary of the Board of the Italian-Canadian Community Foundation of Quebec.

Nicola holds an LLB from Université de Sherbrooke and an LLM from Columbia University and has co-authored two works entitled Les normes du travail.

On December 2, 2006, at one of the most exciting Liberal leadership conventions in party history, Stéphane Dion was elected as the 11th leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

First elected in a 1996 by-election, Mr. Dion was re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008 in the riding of Saint-Laurent – Cartierville.

In July 2004, under former Prime Minister Paul Martin, Mr. Dion was appointed Environment Minister. As Minister, Mr. Dion won international agreement to extend the Kyoto protocol beyond 2012 at the follow-up to the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change in Montreal in December 2005.

Mr. Dion was appointed Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in January 1996 under former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, where he worked to improve our federation. He developed the federal government’s case against unilateral secession, which would have jeopardized the rights of Quebecers and all Canadians, obtained a favourable opinion from the Supreme Court of Canada, and turned the court’s opinion into law through the Clarity Act, passed in 2000.

Mr. Dion graduated from Université Laval with a B.A. in 1977 and an M.A. in 1979, both in political science. In 1986 he received his doctorate in sociology from the Institut d’études politiques in Paris.

Before entering politics, Mr. Dion taught public administration and political science at the Université de Montréal from 1984 to 1996. He lectured at the Université de Moncton in 1984, was a visiting professor at the Brookings Institution in Washington, at the Laboratoire d’économie politique in Paris and at the Canadian Centre for Management Development in Ottawa.

Mr. Dion is married to Janine Krieber, and has one daughter, Jeanne.

An ardent defender of liberal values, Francis Drouin has been involved in politics for many years. Francis joined the ranks of the Liberal Party of Canada when he was 17 and for two years served as President of the Young Liberals of Glengarry–Prescott–Russell. More recently, he was Campaign Manager for the Liberal candidates running in this riding during the last provincial and federal elections. Fully bilingual and very aware of the challenges his riding faces, Francis is now making the leap into active politics in order to vigorously defend the interests of his fellow citizens on Parliament Hill.

Francis worked as a special assistant in the Office of the Ontario Premier for four years and then joined a government relations firm as a consultant in 2008. He is currently working as a communications consultant for a public relations firm. As a volunteer, Francis has been a member of the Board of Directors of Collège La Cité and worked as the government relations manager for Startup Canada.

Francis holds a college diploma in business administration-finance from Collège La Cité and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Ottawa.

Born in Saint-Marc, Haïti in 1958, Emmanuel Dubourg emigrated to Québec in 1974. He completed his high school in Montréal-Nord and got his Accounting degree from l’Université du Québec in Montreal (UQAM). He obtained his Executive MBA also from l’UQAM and masterfully completed the highly regarded “triple play”: Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified General Accountant (CGA) with a mention for finishing 3rd in Québec’s exams and The Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec (CA).

Mr. Dubourg began his professional career in 1985 as auditor in one of the largest Canadian accounting firm, after which he began a remarkable 20 year career in the federal public service, notably as leader of the team assembled to help uncover the underground economy. This was followed by his appointment as advisor to the Assistant Commissioner.

While pursuing his public service career, Mr. Dubourg taught at the collegial and post-secondary levels and acted as a consultant internationally in the accounting, financial and fiscal areas.

Well known for his commitment to learning and for inspiring students to acquire skills using adapted tools and targeted teaching approaches, Mr. Dubourg was principally singled out when he put together a Handbook on procedures and a Code of Ethics for inspectors which he trained as auditors. He is the recipient of many honors and awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Governor General’s Award, an honor award from l’UQAM and the CA Émérite award .

Mr. Dubourg was elected Liberal Member of the National Assembly for Viau in the 2007 provincial election. He was first appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Emploi et Solidarité sociale then became Parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Finance. Reelected in 2008 and 2012, he decided to run federally for the Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) in the November 2013 Bourassa by-election, which he won. He is now the National Revenue and DEC(Q) Critic for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Father of Edwin-Simon and David, they are all proud members of the community mobilized by “Avew map mache”, “At your side”.

Jean-Yves Duclos is Director of the Department of Economics and a tenured professor at the Université Laval. As a well-published author, conference speaker, and renowned economics expert, he is often asked to comment on current events in Quebec and Canada.

In addition to his professorial duties, Jean-Yves is Chairholder of the Industrial Alliance Research Chair on the Economics of Demographic Change, Vice-President of the Canadian Economics Association, and a member of the Institut sur le vieillissement et la participation sociale des aînés. He is also Vice-President and Fellow of the Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations, Senior Fellow of the Fondation pour les études et les recherches sur le développement international and Fellow-in-Residence at the C.D. Howe Institute. Lastly, Jean-Yves is co-founder of the Poverty and Economic Policy Research Network (Partnership for Economic Policy, PEP).

Jean-Yves earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics (First-Class Honours) from the University of Alberta, and his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His has been rewarded for relentless hard work with prestigious grants, the Société canadienne de science économique’s Marcel Dagenais Award, and the Harry Johnson Award for best paper published in the Canadian Journal of Economics. In 2014 Jean-Yves was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the highest accolade bestowed on Canadian researchers.

Terry Duguid is a community leader who is proud to be involved with a number of local cultural organizations, and is a strong advocate on environmental and public health issues. He has served as president of Sustainable Developments International and as chairman of the Manitoba Clean Environment Commission. Terry has also 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.

No stranger to politics, Terry was the executive director of the Manitoba Liberal Party in the 1980s, and was a member of Winnipeg’s City Council from 1989 to 1995. As a city councillor, he negotiated the city’s first infrastructure program, and pioneered Winnipeg’s blue box recycling program and the city’s first-ever water conservation program.

Ms. 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 currently sits on the Advisory Board for Pandemic Flu for the Conference Board of Canada, and the University of Toronto, and is also helping organizations prepare throughout Canada and the United States. She sits 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.”

Ms. Duncan is passionate about helping build resilient communities and taking action on climate change, our most pressing environmental issue. She helps provide food, shelter and education to Toronto’s youth, and served on the Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Ms. Duncan holds a doctorate in geography from the University of Edinburgh.

Wayne was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and was raised on the family farm in North Wiltshire. He attended Charlottetown Rural High School and holds a diploma from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. He was granted a certificate from the Canadian International Grains Institute in 1973. Wayne received an Honourary Doctorate of Law degree from UPEI in 1988 for his work and contribution to agriculture and social activism on the national and international level. He was awarded the Governor General’s Canada 125 Medal in 1992 for community service.

Wayne entered politics in 1993 when he was officially elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Malpeque, P.E.I. He was re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

In Parliament, Wayne has served as Solicitor General of Canada, Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Oceans, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Agri-Food with special responsibilities for the Rural Secretariat, and is currently the Liberal Critic for Public Safety.

On the national and international fronts, Wayne was National President and CEO of the National Farmers Union for 11 years, he was advisor to the Trudeau administration for the federal export agency, Canagrex, and was an advisor to the Minister of Agriculture at the FAO Conference in Rome in 1983. He was an invited participant under the European Community’s Visitors Program examining Common Agricultural Policy and International Agricultural Trade Issues in 1987 and toured New Zealand examining the impact of Farm Policy and Free Trade Issues in 1988.

In 1990, Wayne was an advisor and panelist for the Tri-national Exchange on Agriculture, the environment and Free Trade Agreements with Canada, the United States and Mexico.

In 1991, with the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Food, Wayne was an advisor and delegate to GATT discussions in Geneva and Brussels. He also served as panelist to a Congressional briefing on NAFTA in Washington in March 1993.

In Wayne’s role as Parliamentary Secretary to Agriculture and Rural Development, he traveled across Canada conducting round table discussions on the farm income crisis. This resulted in his report, “Empowering Canadian Farmers in the Marketplace”.

Wayne and his wife Helen, a nurse, live in North Wiltshire and have two grown children, Kimberley and Jamie.

Ali Ehsassi is a lawyer by trade, having obtained his LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School, and his LL.M. at Georgetown University Law Center. Ali also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto and a Master’s of Science from the London School of Economics.

Ali has extensive experience working in government at both the provincial and federal levels of government, as well as in the private sector. He worked as a bureaucrat at the Ontario Department of Economic Development and International Trade, and later at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in Ottawa. He’s also practiced law at firms in Toronto and Washington, D.C. Ali’s developed an acute specialization in International Trade and Arbitration, has taught and lectured at various colleges and universities, authored articles in leading academic publications and sat on the International Law Executive of the Ontario Bar Association. He hopes to bring his unique training and expertise to the Liberal Party in 2015.

Ali has been an active member of the Liberal Party for several decades and has devoted much time volunteering for a variety of grassroots cultural and youth initiatives.

Originally from Lebanon, Faycal El-Khoury settled in Canada in 1976. Known for his dedication to community service and his focus on the well-being of his fellow citizens, he now wishes to fight to defend their interests in Ottawa.

Faycal has always demonstrated professional leadership. Only one year after earning his degree in civil engineering from Concordia University, he established his own construction company and contributed directly to the residential construction boom in the metropolitan region. Since 2005, he has been a consultant specializing in business relations with the Middle East. Through this work he has helped several Canadian companies win significant international contracts. He is also part of the team of directors at the Georgette Elias Dental Clinic, which is owned by his wife.

Locally, Faycal is known as someone who builds and sustains community relationships through his open-minded approach. He provides a bridge between the many cultural and religious communities in the riding and he has been tremendously effective at fostering the integration of refugees and new immigrants.

Neil Ellis has enjoyed serving the citizens of Belleville as mayor for the past two terms. In this capacity, he has truly learned the meaning of being "in-tune" with the residents’ needs and wants. It has been a true pleasure for Neil to experience this firsthand.

In addition to sitting on a number of municipal boards and committees, Neil sat on the Executive Committee of Ontario Small Urban Municipalities and is the former Vice-Chair of the Veridian Corporation Board of Directors. In 2011, he was also appointed to the Nuclear Waste Management Organization, a national initiative that assumes responsibility for the long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel.

Neil is no stranger to dealing with broader government networks, having worked in federal and provincial circles as Chair of the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Committee.

Neil Ellis was born and raised in Belleville, where he has raised his family and run a small business for 28 years.

A litigation lawyer, born and raised in Beaches – East York, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith understands that his community deserves honest and respectful representation and he is dedicated to being a strong voice in Ottawa for all of its residents.

Nathaniel previously practised commercial litigation in downtown Toronto. He obtained both his B.A. and J.D. from Queen's University and his Master of Laws (B.C.L.), with distinction, at the University of Oxford, where he studied political philosophy and constitutional law.

Committed to public service, Nathaniel is active in his community, and he regularly provided pro bono legal services to a range of clients and causes. He previously volunteered with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and he has fought public interest matters before the Divisional Court and the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.

An avid baseball fan, Nathaniel pitched for the baseball teams at Queen’s University, the University of Oxford, and the City of Oxford. He lives in Beaches – East York with his wife Amy Symington, a nutrition professor and chef at George Brown College.

Mark Eyking was born on August 30th 1960 to Dutch immigrants John & Jean Eyking. He has seven brothers & two sisters

In 1980, Mark received a diploma in business from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. In addition, he studied at the University of Davis, focusing on sustainable agriculture.

Prior to entering politics, Mark and his wife Pam operated a successful vegetable farm for twenty years. They were recipients of the Cape Breton Business Excellence Award and Outstanding Young Farmers of Nova Scotia Award. He has also served as chairman or president of many community and business organizations such as St. Joseph’s Church, Millville Community Centre, Cape Breton Federation of Agriculture. Mark also worked on international agricultural projects, implementing sustainable farming practices in Central America.

Mark and Pam have four children: Mieka, Joshua, Bethany, and Jonah.

In November of 2000, he was first elected Member of Parliament for the Federal Riding of Sydney-Victoria, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Mark has served on various committees including International Trade, Foreign Affairs, Agricultural Task Force, and the Agricultural Committee.

In 2001/2002, Mark & the foreign affairs committee visited countries that were mainly of Muslim faith to help foster better relationships because of the challenges post 9/11.

In 2003 Mark was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and became a member of the Privy Council.

In 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin assigned Mr. Eyking a role in cabinet that focused on all the emerging economies, such as Eastern Europe, Middle East, China, India, & South East Asia.

In May 2011, Mark won his fifth election as Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria. He is currently the Liberal Party Critic for Agriculture and Agri-food.

As Canada is a bilingual country, Mark is presently taking French language training.

Mark continues to passionately represent his riding and be a strong voice for Cape Breton in Ottawa, he also continues to work with various national and international groups who help underdeveloped countries with their agriculture.

A lifelong resident of Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia–Headingley, Doug Eyolfson is a successful Emergency Room doctor who has dedicated his life to ensuring the well-being of others. He now wants to improve the health of his community as the strong local voice in Parliament they deserve.

A leader in the medical community, Doug served as the medical director of Manitoba’s land ambulance program and is an assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. He also served with Manitoba Air Ambulance, providing emergency care in remote areas. Doug’s research into hypothermia – for which CBC interviewed him while in an ice water bath – was published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, which publishes original research that furthers our understanding of how the healthy human body functions under a variety of environmental and demanding conditions.

Dubbed the “Transit Angel” by local media, Doug is credited with saving the life of a Winnipeg transit rider in 2013. He used his well-honed knowledge of CPR to revive a passenger in cardiac arrest.

Greg Fergus has solid experience in the political field. He has worked as a policy advisor and senior policy advisor in a number of ministerial offices. He has also worked at all levels of the Liberal Party of Canada, including as National Director, where he introduced change and innovation that made the Party more efficient, restoring it to today’s modern appeal.

Greg readily gets involved in his community. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Aylmer Arms Residence and a member of the parish council for a parish within his riding. In the past, he has been vice president of a neighbourhood association, amongst other contributions. He has also been involved with elementary and secondary school committees and sports teams and with organizations defending regional interests.

Greg holds two Bachelor’s Degrees - one in Social Science and one in International Relations. He has also undertaken studies at the master’s level in international relations. Over the past 25 years, he has worked in both the private and public sectors, with not for profit organizations and in the academic sector.

A city planner and urban designer, Andy Fillmore has dedicated his career and volunteer life to improving the health, happiness, and productivity of Canadians through sustainable, liveable, and well-designed communities.

Andy has been a civic leader in both the United States and Canada for more than twenty years. As the first Manager of Urban Design at the City of Halifax, Andy led several initiatives credited with sparking the downtown Halifax renaissance now underway, and for which he won a National Urban Leadership Award in 2012. He is currently Vice President, Planning & Development, for the Waterfront Development Corporation – a provincial crown corporation that promotes the creation of mixed-use waterfronts which drive economic opportunity, enhance tourism, and create new public spaces in Bedford, Dartmouth, Halifax and Lunenburg.

In Halifax Andy volunteers his time on the Greater Halifax/Dartmouth YMCA Board of Directors, and the Halifax Strategic Urban Partnership – an organization he also co-founded in 2010. Nationally, Andy is Vice President of the Council for Canadian Urbanism. Andy holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies (Architecture) and a Master of Urban and Rural Planning from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Design Studies (Urban Design) from Harvard University. He currently lives in Halifax with his wife and daughter.

The son of a farmer, Pat (Patrice) Finnigan grew up in Rogersville. During the late 1970s he and his wife, Lise, started their company, best known as “Mr. Tomato”. This prosperous family farming business regularly gives back to the community through their involvement in local events and fundraising for charitable organizations. Patrice is also one of the founding members of the La Récolte de Chez Nous co-operative – a network in which cultivators can exchange products and promote their industry.

Patrice is very involved in his community. Among other activities, he was the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC) and President of the Kent CBDC and the Régie de la Santé de Miramichi. He was also president of the Miramichi Community Action Committee, and a member of the Ministry of Agriculture’s round table. He has received recognition on numerous occasions for his community involvement. In 2008, he received the Award of Excellence from the Province of New Brunswick for his community leadership and the Kent County Citizen of the Year Award, and in 2011, the New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists awarded him the Louis Hébert Award.

Patrice holds a technical diploma in phytology from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

Darren Fisher defines what it means to be community-oriented, coming from a long line of entrepreneurs and civic participation. The Fisher family has called Dartmouth-Cole Harbour home for generations; operating businesses, volunteering and being actively involved in their community. Prior to being elected to Halifax Regional Council in 2009, Darren was also an avid fundraiser; working with charities, schools and local sports teams to help them achieve their goals.

Re-elected to Council in 2012, Darren was also elected by his peers to represent them as Deputy Mayor. He will continue to serve his community and lead the charge for positive change as the representative for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour in Ottawa.

In their free time, Darren and his wife, Anne, can be found in a local rink following son Bruen, who plays for the Dartmouth Whalers, and daughter Ava, who plays for the Cole Harbour Wings. Their summer months are spent at Lake Banook watching their children paddle for Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club.

Peter Fonseca, an Olympian who proudly represented his country as Canada's top marathon runner, is the current Member of Parliament for the riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville. Peter is no stranger to public service, having served in the Ontario Legislature as a Member of Provincial Parliament between 2003 and 2011.

Under the Ontario Liberals, Peter served as Cabinet Minister, taking on the Labour and Tourism & Recreation portfolios. Peter was narrowly defeated in the 2011 federal election when he ran in the riding under the Liberal banner, but successfully turned the riding Liberal red in 2015.

Peter has lived, worked and raised his family in the riding for 15 years with his wife, Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca, and their two children. Peter sits on the boards of the Carassauga Festival et de la Luso Canadian Charitable Society. He is also a contributor to the Portuguese Charities Foundation, Mississauga Food Bank, Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre, and the Mississauga Ukrainian Church.

For the past 18 years, Ms. Foote has been dedicated to community service, working in several volunteer capacities with a variety of organizations, including the St. John’s Association for the Mentally Delayed and the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition to this volunteer work, Ms. Foote served in several capacities for 15 years with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

Ms. Foote was elected as the Member of the House Assembly for the District of Grand Bank in 1996 and was re-elected in 2003. Premier Brian Tobin invited her to join his Cabinet as Minister of Development and Rural Renewal on March 14, 1996. Ms. Foote subsequently held the positions of Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology, Minister of Education, and Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

Prior to her involvement in politics, Ms. Foote worked in television journalism with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s public affairs program “Here & Now.” She has also been the Director of University Relations with Memorial University of Newfoundland and has worked in the Premier’s Office as the Director of Public Relations, a position she held for seven years.

Ms. Foote holds a bachelor of arts and a Bachelor of Education from Memorial University. In 1977, she moved to Sarnia, Ontario to attend Lambton College, graduating with an Honours Diploma in Radio and Television Broadcast Arts.

Ms. Foote and her husband, Howard, have three children: Carla, Jason and Heidi.

A former political scientist at King’s University College, Peter Fragiskatos is combining his passion for politics with his drive to serve his community, as the current Member of Parliament for the riding of London North Centre.

As a media commentator, his works have been published by major Canadian and international news organizations including Maclean’s Magazine, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, BBC News, and CNN. Very active in London’s Greek community, Peter runs a youth mentorship program and has acted as master of ceremonies for the Greek summer festival, which he helped organize. Peter has served on the Board of Directors of Anago Resources and the Heritage London Foundation. He is an active volunteer with many local non-profit groups including the London Food Bank, the Cross Cultural Learner Centre and Literacy London – a charity dedicated to helping adults improve their reading and writing skills.

Peter has a Political Science degree from the University of Western Ontario, a Master’s degree in International Relations from Queen's University, and holds a PhD in International Relations from Cambridge University.

Yarmouth native and successful lawyer, Colin Fraser is a strong voice in Ottawa for all West Nova residents – believing it’s time for a change and new direction in Canada.

Colin holds an Honours Bachelor Degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Laws. Before becoming a lawyer, Colin worked as a tour guide at Rideau Hall. He was later selected by Veterans' Affairs Canada to be a guide at Vimy Ridge, France.

Colin has been a leader in both his local and legal community. He has volunteered his time with the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and South West Nova Transition House Association, in addition to serving as President of the Western Counties Barristers’ Society and President of the Yarmouth County Bar. Colin speaks both of Canada’s official languages and is a member of L’Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle- Écosse (N.S. Association of French speaking lawyers).

Colin understands the need for strong leadership in West Nova and vows to work every day to ensure the area he represents has a say in Canada's future.

A lawyer and Pictou County native, Sean Fraser has spent the last several years working in Calgary for one of Canada's top-ranked law firms, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He also acts as an Associate Research Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law.

A long-time volunteer, Sean served as the Vice-President of a local branch of the United Nations’ Association in Canada, and assists self-represented individuals in civil court proceedings on a pro bono basis. He cares deeply about transparency in government and spent time working to promote access to information laws with a human rights organization in South Africa. Sean will focus on creating economic conditions that will retain and attract young people and families to the region.

Sean holds a Law degree from Dalhousie University, a Master’s degree in Public International Law from the Netherlands’ Leiden University, and a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University, where he was President of the Students’ Union. A former member of the Stellarton Balmoral Pipe Band, Sean has been playing the bagpipes for 22 years.

Hedy Fry was first elected Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre in 1993. She was re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Over the past decade, Dr.. Fry has served her government and constituents in a number of capacities. For six years, she was Secretary of State for the Status of Women and Multiculturalism, and a sitting member of cabinet committees including social union, voluntary initiative, homelessness, and modernization of benefits for same sex couples.

Dr. Fry served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with a Special Emphasis on Foreign Credentials. She also served on committees pertaining to citizenship, health, justice and human rights, and social development. She currently serves as the Liberal Critic for Health.

Her priorities include tourism and the burgeoning film industry, promoting our diversity of cultures and peoples, and ensuring the sustainability and empowerment of our expanding urban centers. She is also focused on small business and niche markets (especially regarding the untapped potential of women), science and technology, promoting investment and partnerships in opening up unexploited markets (such as nano and medical biotechnology) and allowing Canada to become a world leader.

Prior to her federal election, Dr.. Fry was an active member of both the British Columbia and Canadian Medical Associations. She served in numerous capacities including as president, committee chair, and chief negotiator.

Ms. Fry lives in Vancouver and has three adult children.

Stephen Fuhr is a former CF-18 fighter pilot with the Canadian Air Force, has run a military pilot training establishment, and successfully managed a technology company of 40 employees. After serving with distinction for 20 years, Stephen retired from the Canadian Forces in 2009 with the rank of Major and joined his family’s Kelowna-based company, SkyTrac Systems, which develops aviation communication and tracking equipment. As Director of Business Development and as CEO, Stephen led the company to financial success in a challenging economic climate. In 2012, he left the company to pursue his first love of flying and currently works as an aircraft Captain on a Gulfstream 650.

Born in Edmonton but raised in Kamloops, Stephen is an engaged community member and is a member of the Canadian Legion. Stephen is also an avid outdoorsman, and loves to take full advantage of the Kelowna— Lake Country region.

Marc Garneau has served his country his entire professional career, beginning with the Canadian Navy and then as an astronaut and President of the Canadian Space Agency, and now in political life.

Marc Garneau began his service to Canada as a Navy combat systems engineer on HMCS Algonquin from1974 to 1976. He was promoted to Commander in 1982 while at Staff College and was transferred to Ottawa in 1983. In January 1986, he was promoted to Naval Captain and retired from the Navy in 1989.

Marc was one of six Canadian astronauts selected out of over four thousand candidates in December 1983. He was seconded to the Canadian Astronaut Program from the Department of National Defence in February 1984 to begin astronaut training. Marc made history by becoming the first Canadian Astronaut to fly in space as a payload specialist on Shuttle Mission 41-G, October 5-13, 1984. In 1989 Marc was named Deputy Director of the Canadian Astronaut Program, providing technical and program support in the preparation of experiments to fly during future Canadian missions. In February 2001, Marc Garneau was appointed Executive Vice President of the Canadian Space Agency. He was subsequently appointed President of the same Agency on November 22, 2001 before leaving in 2005 to pursue a career in politics.

In October 2008 Marc Garneau was elected as the Member of Parliament for Westmount—Ville-Marie and, in his first mandate, served as the Liberal critic for Industry, Science and Technology as well as the Leader’s representative for Québec. He was re-elected in Westmount—Ville-Marie in May 2011 and served as House Leader for the Liberal Party in the House of Commons. He is currently the Liberal Critic for Foreign Affairs and the Francophonie.

In August 2003, Marc was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian honour. He is also honoured with two high schools named after him, Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute in Toronto and École Secondaire Marc Garneau in Trenton, Ontario.

Born and raised in Kingston, Mark Gerretsen first entered municipal politics in 2006 and has served the citizens of Kingston for nearly a decade – most notably as Mayor from 2010 to 2014. As Mayor, Mark oversaw a number of key initiatives, including the creation of the Mayor’s Task Force on Development to improve customer service for residents, businesses and developers, and the development of an Age-Friendly Plan to focus on making Kingston livable for seniors in the community.

A tireless advocate of a strong, thriving local community, Mark is committed to Kingston becoming Canada's most sustainable city. In 2012 Mark was elected to represent the City of Kingston on the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Board of Directors. As a member of Large Urban Mayor’s Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO), he worked with municipal leaders across Ontario advancing such issues as payments in lieu of taxes, the integration of social services and increased investment in local infrastructure and affordable housing.

Mark holds an Economics degree from Queen’s University and also attended St. Lawrence College for Computer Engineering. He currently lives in the Calvin Park area with his wife and son.

Canada’s former Finance Minister, Ralph Goodale, is the Member of Parliament for the Regina-area constituency of Wascana and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He began this latter role in September of 2010, following more than four years as Liberal Opposition House Leader in the turbulence of a minority Parliament.

Mr. Goodale holds the distinction of being selected by his peers as Canada’s first-ever “Parliamentarian of the Year” in 2006.

Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, and educated at both the University of Regina (BA-71) and the University of Saskatchewan (LLB-72), Ralph Goodale has practical experience in business, agriculture, law and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics.

He was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing the sprawling rural constituency of Assiniboia. In the 1980’s, he served as Leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1986.

Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the M.P. for Wascana, and was subsequently re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. In government for more than 12 years, he served in the federal Cabinet as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Natural Resources, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Minister of Public Works and finally Minister of Finance. During his tenure, Canada recorded strong economic growth, balanced budgets, declining debt, lower taxes, and the best fiscal performance in the western world.

Ralph Goodale and his spouse, Pamela, make their home in Regina.

Deeply immersed in politics and community service since childhood, David Graham was born and raised in a family of community activists in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. He has explored the length and breadth of the vast Laurentides—Labelle riding and is familiar with its myriad of challenges, and with its resource potential, both human and natural.
During more than 8 years as a technology journalist, he founded, ran, organized, or volunteered with a number of charities, non-profits and community projects in the fields of technology, heritage and community action, including as a co-founder of the Open and Free Technology Community, three-term board member of Software In the Public Interest, and driver for Operation Nez Rouge in Mont-Tremblant, among many others, and obtained his flying licence and CPR-C certification.

For the past five years David has been working as a political assistant, currently for Liberal MP Scott Simms, and managing to find time to volunteer in his community. Father of a 6-month-old daughter, he sees his role as building bridges and working to provide a better future for her and everyone who lives, works or plays in his world-renowned beautiful riding.

Raj Grewal is the current Member of Parliament for the riding of Brampton East. He has called Brampton home for the last 24 years, during which time he has been a dedicated community servant and garnered a diverse range of professional experience.

Raj brings a solid business and legal background to the Liberal team. He obtained his Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as an MBA from the Schulich School of Business. Raj was called to the Ontario bar in June 2014 after completing his JD at Osgoode Hall Law School and is a member in good standing of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Raj practiced law at a prominent Bay street firm, where he specialized in public and private mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and securities. Before entering the legal profession, Raj was a financial analyst for a fortune 500 company.

Raj currently sits on the board for KarmaGrow, a Brampton community garden project. He also dedicates his time to the Guru Gobind Singh Children’s Foundation and participates in the mentorship programs at both Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business.

Patty Hajdu is well known and well respected within her community for her work in substance use issues, harm reduction, housing, and public health. Patty is the Executive Director at Shelter House, and is completing her Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Victoria. She’s also the author and a key member of the Implementation Panel for the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy. In addition, she’s on the Community Advisory Board for the Homelessness Partnership Strategy.

Previously, Patty served as Chairperson for the Drug Awareness Committee of Thunder Bay. She was formerly on the Board of Directors for Alphacourt Mental Health Services and the Ontario Literacy Coalition. Patty has had a variety of her written work published, including several Chronicle Journal op-eds on the issue of homelessness.

Patty has lived in the riding almost exclusively since 1980. She currently calls Thunder Bay home alongside her two sons. In addition to her work in mental health and addictions, Patty is also a talented graphic designer, and she formerly served as Creative Director for a marketing firm. Patty holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University.

A broadcaster and a senior public affairs manager, Ken Hardie has spent his career connecting people with information, resources, and services in order to better inform and engage people in their communities.

Ken began his career in broadcasting as a commentator, announcer, and interviewer with various radio and television affiliates across BC and Western Canada, and as a freelance print media reporter. As a communication director in the public sector, at both the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) and TransLink, he has been closely involved with key public safety and regional development initiatives across BC and in Metro Vancouver, including Surrey.

Ken designed and implemented innovative mass and social media campaigns that enabled public dialogue, and helped inform major provincial and regional policies. These range from life-saving road safety programs for ICBC, the communication program for the regional transportation authority during the 2010 Winter Olympics, through to direct media support for the Vancouver Police during the 2011 Stanley Cup riots.

Ken studied economics at the University of British Columbia, and graduated from the Executive Management Development Program at Simon Fraser University. He and his wife have lived in Surrey’s Fleetwood-Port Kells community for the past 15 years.

A devoted family man and businessman, Thomas J. Harvey (T.J.) has lived in the riding of Tobique – Mactaquac his entire life. He knows that progress is made through public engagement and a willingness to hear all sides, and T.J. is ready to be a vocal, thoughtful, and tireless advocate for all residents.

T.J. is dedicated to ensuring that future generations are provided with the same opportunities as those who came before. He understands the issues that are most important to Tobique – Mactaquac; increased access to affordable and sustainable housing; a healthy local economy; and improved employment opportunities for all residents.

A business graduate of Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the Atlantic Agricultural Leadership Program, T.J. has worked with the Canadian Young Farmers’ Forum, connecting leading young agriculture producers across Canada, while providing support and resources to promote the industry. As a member of the Agriculture Alliance of New Brunswick board of directors, he represented the interests of both English and French agriculture producers through the Federation of Agricultural Producers.

T.J. and his wife have been producing eggs as New Brunswick Egg Producers since 2010.

After representing the residents of downtown Calgary in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for more than seven years, Kent Hehr knows it’s time for his voice to be heard in Ottawa.

Born and raised in Calgary, Kent’s life drastically changed when, just shy of his twenty-second birthday, while riding in a friend’s car, Kent was hit by a drive-by shooter leaving him paralyzed. The life-altering injury did not quash his ambitions – while still re-learning to use his fingers, Kent studied at the University of Calgary, earning his Bachelor of Canadian Studies followed by his Bachelor of Law in 2001.

Kent has since practiced law at the prestigious national firm, Fraser Milner Casgrain, and became an active community leader, working with the United Way and heading the Alberta branch of the Canadian Paraplegic Association. In 2008 Kent was named one of the Calgary Herald’s 20 Most Compelling Calgarians to Watch. Later that year he won the race to represent Calgary-Buffalo in the Alberta Legislature, a seat he successfully defended in 2012. As shadow minister of justice, finance, education and other portfolios, Kent has held the government to account while taking an active role in creating legislation for Calgary and Alberta’s future.

Mark Holland is the former Executive Director of the former Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s Ontario Mission and National Director of Children and Youth. A lifelong community advocate, Mark has lived in the community his entire life and served Ajax as Member of Parliament from 2004 – 2011.

As a Member of Parliament, Mark was responsible for many high-profile portfolios, including Liberal Critic for Natural Resources, and Liberal Critic for Public Safety and National Security – where he fiercely defended frontline police officers and victims of crime, and opposed cuts to crime prevention and victim support funding. In Mark’s time in Opposition, he was also broadly recognized for posing hard questions of government and fearlessly digging into government mismanagement and waste.

From 1997 to 2004, Mark served as a Durham Region and City of Pickering Councillor as well as serving as Acting Mayor. During this time, Mark led the redevelopment of Pickering’s waterfront, spearheaded the Youth Partnership Initiative to create jobs and opportunity for Durham’s youth, and consistently advocated for environmental issues – all while working to keep Pickering’s taxes the lowest in Durham Region.

Mark lives in Ajax with his three children.

Anthony has two Law Degrees (B.C.L. and LL.B.) from McGill University and an MBA from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. He works at Dialogic Corporation – a multinational technology company, where Anthony has risen through the ranks and is now Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel.

Anthony has been politically active for 25 years, first being elected to office in 1994. He was initially elected as a municipal councillor in Hampstead, then elected in Côte-Saint-Luc/Hampstead/Montreal West, and has served as Mayor of Côte-Saint-Luc since 2005. As part of his work, he is in charge of the human resources, legal services, purchasing, community relations, intergovernmental relations and Agglomeration Council portfolios. In addition, he is the secretary of the Association of Suburban Municipalities and a member of the Montreal Agglomeration Council.

On a personal level, Anthony participates in numerous activities in his community. He is a member of the drama society and swim team. His performance in swimming earned him seven medals at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, in Israel. He has also been a volunteer for many years within a number of organizations serving the English speaking and Jewish communities.

A lawyer and social activist, Ahmed Hussen has the proven track record of leadership and community empowerment to be the voice in Ottawa that is effective at getting results for York South—Weston.

Born and raised in Somalia, Ahmed immigrated to Canada in 1993 where he settled in Regent Park and quickly gravitated towards public service. In 2002 he co-founded the Regent Park Community Council and was able to secure the $500 million revitalization project of Regent Park, all while ensuring the interests of the area’s nearly 15,000 residents were protected. Ahmed currently serves as the National President of the Canadian Somali Congress – a Somali community organization that works with national and regional authorities to advocate on issues of importance to Canadians of Somali heritage and strengthen civic engagement and integration. His results-driven reputation led to an invitation to join the task force for modernizing income security for adults in the Toronto City Summit Alliance.

Ahmed is fluent in English, Somali, and Swahili, and earned his B.A (History) from York University and his Law Degree from the University of Ottawa. In 2004, the Toronto Star recognized him as one of ten individuals in Toronto to have made substantial contributions to our community.

Born and raised in Corner Brook, Gudie Hutchings is proud to call the Humber Valley home. With a focus on consultation and consensus-building, she is determined to be a strong voice for the issues that matter most to the residents of Long Range Mountains.

A well-known advocate in the outfitting industry for nearly 20 years, and tourism more broadly for over 30 years, Gudie spent a decade as a board member for the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association, where she served as both president and vice-president. She is Chair and Managing Director of the Battle Harbour Historic Trust – an organization committed to conserving, protecting, and promoting the living heritage, integrity, and natural environment of Battle Harbour. Gudie is a former president of the Corner Brook Chamber of Commerce and was a founding board member of the Canadian Federation of Outfitting Associations, which advocates on behalf of the Canadian outfitter industry. In all pursuits she has maintained a focus on developing and retaining local employees and utilizing sustainable environmental practices.

Gudie is also Co-Chair of Forget-Me-Not, a community group dedicated to raising money to honour past and present soldiers at Remembrance Square in Corner Brook.

A lawyer by trade, Angelo is committed to his profession and his community. A long-serving volunteer, Angelo started his political journey within the Liberal Party of Canada in his teenage years and continues to be a strong advocate of Liberal values.

Within his community, Angelo is involved with a number of organizations, including the Lions Club Laval Sport and the Knights of Columbus. He is also vice president of the “Association des Juristes Italo-canadiens du Québec” and has served on the board of directors for Compagnons de Montréal, a non-profit organization which seeks to assist intellectually challenged adults.

Angelo is also involved with charitable organizations that support the work of the Canadian Cancer Society and the Montreal Neurological Hospital and Institute.

Passionate about her city of Montréal and the power of positive politics, Mélanie Joly is ready to represent the interests of all residents of Ahuntsic–Cartierville in Ottawa.

A lawyer by training, Mélanie worked at two major law firms in Montréal before making the leap into communications, as a managing partner of the Montréal office of the international communications firm Cohn & Wolfe. The founder of the party Le Vrai Changement pour Montréal, Mélanie ran for mayor of Montréal in 2013. Largely unknown by the public, she successfully led an innovative campaign that elected eight councillors and garnered 26.5% of the votes.

A firm believer in the importance of community involvement, Mélanie has served on numerous boards of directors, including those of Régie des rentes du Québec, Fondation du CHUM, and Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal. She is currently a spokesperson for Logis Rose-Virginie and an ambassador for Herstreet.

Mélanie’s hard work has been recognized on many occasions. She was selected by Elle Québec as the 2008 Woman of the Year in the “up and coming” category, later honoured as the first Quebecer to receive the Arnold Edinborough Award for her involvement in the cultural community.

Mélanie holds an Honours LLB from Université de Montréal and a Magister Juris in European and comparative law from the University of Oxford.

Yvonne Jones is the Member of Parliament for Labrador and the Liberal Critic responsible for Northern Development and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Prior to her election to the House of Commons in May 2013, Yvonne was Liberal MHA for Cartwright-L’anse au Clair since 1999. She also held the seat as an independent as early as 1996. During her time has a Liberal MHA she served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Department of Works, Services and Transportation and to the Department of Health. In 2003, 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.

Yvonne Jones was appointed Interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador and Leader of the Official Opposition on November 15th, 2007. On July 30, 2010, Yvonne became the official Leader of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

A graduate of West Viking College, Yvonne 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. Yvonne is also an entrepreneur and has owned and operated small businesses in Labrador in both the transportation and tourism sectors. Her first foray into politics was as Mayor of her hometown, Mary’s Harbour, Labrador, in 1991.

Through her volunteer work with the Battle Harbour Development Corporation, the Combined Councils of Labrador, the NunatuKavut and various literacy groups and councils, Yvonne 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.

Majid will be representing the Liberal Party in the riding of Richmond Hill during the 2015 federal election. Majid is a successful businessman from the Richmond Hill community as the owner and CEO of his own boutique consulting firm, Iridium Management Consulting Group Incorporated. He provides third party advisory services to the office of CXO. His core competency lies in developing pragmatic solutions to complex problems, with a focus on business operation efficiency and sustainability.

Majid 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.
Majid is committed to improving the lives of those living in Richmond Hill. He wants to be an advocate for change on issues that are of local concern, such as small business sustainability and cost of living.

Through the course of his education and career, Majid earned professional designations as a P.Eng., a CMA and a CMC. Majid has lived in the riding for 15 years with his wife and two children.

Darshan Kang is a longstanding community and professional leader in Calgary. As a former Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary—McCall, Darshan has extensive experience in public service and a strong track record of community involvement.

Darshan immigrated to Canada from India in 1970, after obtaining a pre-medical degree at the University of Indore. He first worked as a journeyman welder before becoming a commercial realtor; he went on to be named the top realtor in his company and the fifth highest performer in Alberta.

Darshan ran in 2004 but was unsuccessful; in 2008 and 2012, however, Darshan was elected to represent Calgary—McCall in Alberta's Legislative Assembly. He served on a number of standing committees as an MLA, including Public Accounts, and Families and Communities. Along with serving as the whip, Darshan is also the Critic for Transportation, Service Alberta, Infrastructure, Tourism, and Parks and Recreation.

Darshan has a long history of community engagement, and has been a member of the Saddle Ridge, Martindale, Castleridge—Falconridge, and Skyview Community Associations. He has also been an active supporter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and played a key role in raising over $1 million dollars for the Alberta Children's Hospital.

After his election in 2008 he worked hard to secure a provincial government grant for the Genesis Centre. He was also the lone voice who spoke in support of the Airport Trail Tunnel within the Alberta Legislature.

A registered nurse, community volunteer and a political activist, Kamal Khera is passionate about improving the lives of those around her and is committed to being a strong voice for change for all residents in Brampton West.

A first-generation Canadian, Kamal immigrated to Canada from Delhi, India, at a very young age. She attended York University where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Psychology with Honours and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing with Honours.

Drawn to assisting others, Kamal 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. Kamal presently works as a Registered Nurse in the Oncology Unit at St Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto, which gives her a deep understanding of the issues that impact individuals every day.

Kamal is an active member of her community, serving as Chairperson of South Asian Canadians Heritage Foundation, Mentor and Program Coordinator at Big Brother Big Sister of Peel, and Event Coordinator with Sick Kids Foundation. She also hosted 'Youth Vision' – a local TV talk show which explored issues surrounding young South Asian Canadians.

David Lametti is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law, McGill University, specializing in property, intellectual property as well as private and comparative law. He is also a member of McGill University’s Quebec Research Centre of Private and Comparative Law, a co founder and member of the McGill Centre for Intellectual Property Policy. He served as the Associate Dean (Academic) of the Faculty of Law, McGill University from 2008-2011. Multilingual, David has taught at the university level in French, English and Italian.

In addition to his responsibilities as a professor, David is a member of McGill University’s Senate and is a Governor of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec. He was also a competitive soccer coach in two Montréal leagues for six years. David was a member and President of the governing board for his children’s school.

David holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto, Bachelors Degrees in both Civil and Common Law from McGill University, a Masters in Law from the Yale Law School and a DPhil in Law from Oxford University. Prior to starting his doctoral studies in law, he served as a Law Clerk to Justice Peter deCarteret Cory of the Supreme Court of Canada.

David and his wife Geneviève Saumier have three children: André, Gabrielle and Dominique.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kevin Lamoureux attended high school in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan and in 1982 signed up for service with the Canadian Forces, where he served for three years. The following year, 1983, he married Cathy, with whom he began his family. Their two children are now 21 and 18 years old.

After leaving the military, Kevin attended the University of Winnipeg part time while working at the Bay and Caprice Distributors.

In 1988, he was elected for the first time to serve as Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Since then, he has won more election victories than any other Liberal in Manitoba (re-election in 1990, 1995, 2003, and 2007).

During his time as MLA, Kevin has championed such important issues as immigration, justice , labour, finance, education and housing. He has held more critic roles than any other MLA in recent history, and has presented several petitions in the Legislature.

In his constituency office, he and his volunteers welcome hundreds and hundreds of people each month, in particular for assistance in navigating the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program. In fact, Kevin was the first MLA to speak in the Legislature about establishing the PNP, which has to date welcomed so many new Canadians to Manitoba.

In 2010, Kevin was elected Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North. In Ottawa, he is fighting for public safety, health care, education, immigration and a better Winnipeg North.

Stéphane Lauzon has been a municipal councillor with the City of Gatineau since November 2009. Having worked at Canadian International Paper (CIP) in the 1980s, he decided to return to school in 1992 to complete a teaching certificate and went on to work in the field of vocational training for over 20 years. He currently manages construction projects at a company that he started himself, in addition to his duties as municipal councillor. Currently, he is working towards a Bachelor`s of Business Administration at Université du Québec en Outaouais.

In his capacity as councillor, he sits on the capital property and budget committee, the standing committee on housing and the committee on seniors, among others. He has served as chair of the Sports, Recreation and Community Life committee since 2012 and was vice-chair of the 2015 Jeux de la francophonie.

Stéphane is the father of three children, with his core values surrounding family and respect for others. As an active member of his community, he is ready to represent Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation in the federal election on October 19.

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc was elected to the House of Commons in November 2000 and re-elected in June 2004, in January 2006 and October 2008 and in May 2011. Since then, he has served on the Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, The Standing Committees on Fisheries and Oceans, Transport and Government Operations, National Defence and Veterans Affairs, and Public Accounts, Procedures and House Affairs, International Trade, Justice and Human Rights and Foreign Affairs. He has also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and was Chair of the Atlantic Caucus.

On July 10, 2004, he was sworn-in as a Member of the Privy Council for Canada and appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Deputy Chief Government Whip. In January 2006, he was named Official Opposition Critic for International Trade and in January 2007, he was named Vice Chair – Liberal Party of Canada Policy and Platform Committee. In October 2007, he was named Official Opposition Critic for Intergovernmental Affairs and in January 2008, he was named Official Opposition Critic for Justice and Attorney General. He became Liberal Defence Critic in August 2010 and was appointed Critic for Foreign Affairs in May 2011.

Mr. LeBlanc received a B.A. in political science from the University of Toronto (Trinity College), his Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick, and then attended Harvard Law School, where he obtained his Masters of Law. Academic successes include the Dean’s List at the University of New Brunswick’s Faculty of Law, a scholarship from the New Brunswick Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and the Graduating Average Prize from Trinity College at the University of Toronto.

Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Mr. LeBlanc was a Barrister and Solicitor with Clark Drummie in Shediac and Moncton, N.B. From 1993-1996, Mr. LeBlanc was a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien.

Mr. LeBlanc is married to Jolène Richard, a Judge of the Provincial Court of New Brunswick.

An accomplished tax lawyer, business owner, and former Commissioner to the Human Rights Commission of Ontario, Paul Lefebvre is a resident of Northern Ontario with a passion for improving his community.

Since acquiring the local private French-language radio station, 98.9 FM (Le Loup), Paul has expanded its reach by establishing a new station in the Nipissing area. Le Loup includes satellite stations in Timmins, Hearst, Kapuskasing and Chapleau. As owner of the Francophone newspaper, Journal Le Voyageur, Paul has transformed the weekly publication into a regional newspaper, increasing circulation from 8,000 to 18,000.

A music enthusiast, Paul is the founder and Chair of the Jazz Sudbury Festival, the past chair of the Sudbury Community Foundation, past chair of the 2011 Canadian Francophone games, and past Vice-President of l’association de la presse francophone – the only Canadian network of newspapers for Francophone minority communities.

Paul taught international taxation at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa and has written many articles on the subject of taxation that have appeared in numerous publications, including Lawyer’s Weekly and the Canadian Tax Journal.

Paul is married to Dr. Lynne Giroux, a dermatologist, and together they have three young children.

Denis Lemieux is an experienced entrepreneur with a passion for flying. He was born in Chicoutimi and has lived his entire life in the Saguenay. He holds a bachelor’s degree in general engineering and has held a variety of positions in industrial companies in the region. In 2000, he launched his own high quality industrial equipment design and production company. Now retired from the business world, he is hoping to make the leap to politics to give back to his community and to share with Canadians his passion, perseverance and experience.

However, it is not just as a political figure that Denis expects to give back to his community. He is currently a caregiver for seniors and also serves as a mentor for young entrepreneurs. He also volunteers with engineering students at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) involved in the Formula SAE competition.

To retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, being in the service of fellow Canadians – both home and abroad – is second nature. Born into a multi-generational military family, Andrew has had a decorated 35-year career with the Canadian Armed Forces. During his career he participated in numerous major international missions – including missions in the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan – and has served on home soil during the 1998 Quebec Ice Storm. His dedication has been recognized on numerous occasions; among his Canadian distinctions, he was appointed Commander of the Order of Military Merit in 2005 and was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross. Internationally, he was appointed a Commander of the U.S. Legion of Merit in 2003 and was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 2010.

Previously the senior vice-president of an information technology company, Andrew also worked as a strategic advisor and speaker. He is a member of the advisory committee of the Prince of Wales Charities in Canada and was previously Chair of the Board of Directors of the Royal Canadian Artillery Association and a board member of Opera Lyra.

Michael Levitt is the Liberal candidate for the riding of York Centre. He currently serves as a partner and as Vice President of Business Development for the Benjamin Group, as well as President of Benjamin’s Landmark Monuments.

Over the years, Michael has demonstrated his passion and dedication to both his community and his country. He is a founding member of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to activating the grassroots Jewish community in the political process. Michael also sits on the board of directors for the Koffler Centre of the Arts and the Jewish National Fund, as well as the Board of Governors of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He is also a member of the Bathurst Manor Action Group and a number of other local community organizations.

A lifelong Liberal and dedicated volunteer, Michael has worked on campaigns federally, provincially, and municipally; he has served as a long-time campaign chair, community organizer, and party fundraiser.

Born and raised in Sainte-Foy, Joël Lightbound understands the issues and strengths of his community. He now wishes to promote the interests of his fellow citizens of Louis-Hébert on Parliament Hill.

A lawyer and member of the Quebec Bar Association, Joël will soon be admitted to the New York City Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Starting as an articling student with the Montréal firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, Joël now practices law in the Quebec City area and specializes in immigration law.

Deeply involved in his community, Joël serves as a board member of Champlain Regional College and La Baratte. He is the former President of the St. Lawrence College Student Association, the Vice-President of the Confédération des associations d’étudiants en droit civil and representative for Quebec at the Parlement francophone des jeunes in Libreville, Gabon.

Joël earned his Bachelor’s degrees in Civil Law and Common Law from McGill University, and represented the school in the Laskin National Moot Court Competition – for which his team won the best factum, best team, and second best pair of oralists awards. He is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Information Technology Law, specializing in Internet privacy.

Wayne Long is a well-respected member of the Saint John community with a wealth of national and international business experience. Wayne currently serves as President of the Saint John Sea Dogs, and his efforts have helped turn the team into one of Canada’s most successful CHL hockey franchises winning the cherished Memorial Cup in 2011. That same year, Wayne was recognized with the John Horman Trophy, awarded to the Top Executive in the QMJHL.

Prior to his work with the Sea Dogs, Wayne was President of Scotiaview Seafood Inc. He was also a successful large-scale product manager with Stolt Sea Farm Inc. Wayne’s work has seen him travel across North America, negotiating contracts with national restaurant distributors, restaurant chains, and retail chains. He earned the North American Excellence in Sales and Marketing award, not once, but twice. Wayne is a former Board Member for Destination Marketing and Salmon Marketing.

Wayne was born in the riding, has lived in the riding 44 years, and currently calls the area home alongside his wife, Denise, and their two children, Khristian and Konnor.

One of six siblings raised in Winnipeg, Lloyd Longfield and his family settled in Guelph in 1992 after falling in love with the city’s vibrant community, historic heritage buildings, and surrounding natural beauty. As the Member of Parliament for Guelph, Lloyd will continue to represent the interests of his fellow citizens in Ottawa.

During his time as president of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Lloyd collaborated with the City of Guelph to launch “Prosperity 2020” – the City’s 10-year economic development and tourism strategy. Now in its mid-point, the strategies undertaken as part of Prosperity 2020 are helping to create approximately 30,000 jobs over the next two years. Lloyd is also the founding director and mentor in residence of Innovation Guelph – a local organization that helps companies, entrepreneurs, and youth explore and solve business challenges. He is the proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his proven track record of community involvement.

Lloyd has a BA in English and Mathematics from the University of Manitoba and a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Red River College. He and his wife Barb have been happily married for 37 years, and are the proud parents and grandparents of three grown daughters and one grandchild.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Cardigan.

He was first elected to the House of Commons on November 21, 1988, to represent the constituency of Cardigan in eastern Prince Edward Island.

Mr. MacAulay’s cabinet appointments have included Solicitor General of Canada, Minister of Labour, Secretary of State (Veterans), and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency).

He has also served as Associate Critic for Fisheries and Oceans, and was Official Opposition Critic for Seniors. In addition, he chaired the Atlantic Caucus. Mr. MacAulay was previously a farmer and businessman.

Mr. MacAulay won his eighth consecutive election in 2011 and currently serves as Liberal Party Critic for Fisheries and Oceans and Vice Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Mr. MacAulay was born on September 9, 1946, in St. Peter's Bay, Prince Edward Island. He and Frances Elaine O'Connell were married in 1972 and they have three daughters: Carolyn, Rita and Lynn.

Steve MacKinnon is currently a Senior Vice‑President at Hill + Knowlton Strategies, a communications and public affairs firm, where he is the national practice leader in specialized transactions related to mergers and acquisitions.

Steve also has extensive professional experience in the political arena. He was an advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna. He was also the National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Returning Officer for the Liberal Leadership in 2013. He is regularly invited to various national media forums as a political commentator.

Steve is proficient in both of Canada’s official languages and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Université de Moncton and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Queen’s University. He has also completed the Canadian Securities Course (CSC).

Steve is a contributor to charitable works to benefit literacy and remains involved in his community. Steve and his wife, Janelle, live in Gatineau with their three children.

A successful civil trial lawyer and partner at Hughes Amys LLP, James Maloney has lived and worked in Etobicoke for nearly forty years.

James started in public office in 2014, when Toronto City Council appointed him Councillor of Ward 5 until the municipal elections could be held in October. He will continue to represent his community and deliver results for Etobicoke—Lakeshore as their Member of Parliament in Ottawa. Actively engaged in his community, James is the former President of the Toronto Lawyers Club and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the local Franklin Horner Community Centre and the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto – a non-profit organization that works with community partners throughout Toronto to support children and families.

James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop’s University, and his Law degrees from the University of Windsor and the University of Wales in Cardiff, Wales, UK. He is also the proud recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

A native of Rivière-du-Loup, Rémi Massé is the Executive Director of Cégep de Matane. He previously spent 16 years as a manager and executive in various federal government departments in Ottawa and Matane. Rémi has built strong business relationships with representatives at the provincial, federal and international levels. These relationships, combined with his experience, knowledge, and skills have resulted in numerous regional improvement initiatives and a strong belief in this region’s potential. His hard work has attracted investments, created good jobs, built more affordable housing, and helped establish the largest document imaging centre in eastern Canada. Now, Rémi is determined to work with the same passion on Parliament Hill, to achieve the goals of Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia.

Rémi is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Digital Imagery Research and Development Centre, serves on the board of the Wind Energy TechnoCentre, and helped develop the fundraising campaign for the Fondation du Cégep de Matane. Rémi earned his Bachelor of Arts in French Studies and his Graduate degree in Linguistics from Université de Sherbrooke. He and his wife Helen are the proud parents of four young sons.

Deeply entrenched in community activism, 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 Bryan, 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. Bryan 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.

Bryan’s volunteerism in Cambridge includes coaching baseball as well as being a long-time member of numerous charitable organizations. Bryan earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo and currently lives in the riding with his wife Kristin and two children.

John McCallum was first elected to the House of Commons in November 2000. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006 and 2008. Mr. McCallum currently serves as the Critic for Citizenship and Immigration, Multiculturalism, Seniors.

Mr. McCallum has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, and as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance. He then served as Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions) from January to May 2002. From May 2002 to December 2003, he served as Minister of National Defence, and in 2003, as Minister of Veterans Affairs. In July 2004, he was appointed Minister of National Revenue and Chair of the Expenditure Review Committee by Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Before entering politics, Mr. McCallum was senior vice-president and chief economist of the Royal Bank of Canada.

Mr. McCallum worked as a professor of economics at McGill University (1987-94), at the Université du Québec à Montréal (1982-87), at Simon Fraser University (1978-82), and at the University of Manitoba (1976-78).

He is the author or co-author of eight books or monographs and has written on fiscal and monetary issues, comparative macroeconomic performance of OECD countries, Canada-U.S. economic integration, and other economic issues.

A native of Montreal, Mr. McCallum obtained a bachelor of arts from Cambridge University, a Diplôme d'études supérieures from the Université de Paris and a doctorate in economics from McGill University.

Mr. McCallum and his wife, Nancy Lim, have three children.

A Canadian Forces pioneer, Karen McCrimmon honed her leadership and team-building abilities in the service of her country. Now, she’s ready to bring her experience and skills to serve the people of Kanata - Carleton and Canada.

Karen joined the Canadian Forces as a reservist. After graduating with a B.A. from the University of Windsor, Karen transferred to the Regular forces where she quickly rose through the ranks. In 1981, she became an Air Navigator – the first woman to earn the qualification. In 1998 Karen was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of 429 Transport Squadron in Trenton, becoming the first woman to command a Canadian Forces flying squadron.

After retiring from the Canadian Forces in 2006, Karen started her own business offering mediation services to both public and private institutions. She is an active member of the Canadian Federation of University Women, Royal Canadian Legion, and Canadian Women in Aviation – an organization focussed on encouraging more women to become involved in the aviation industry.

Karen believes that our success as a nation has – and will continue to be – achieved through mutual respect, cooperation and dialogue. She currently lives in the riding with her husband.

A two-term councilor and former Mayor of Conception Bay South, Ken McDonald is and lifelong resident of Avalon who understands the importance of public service.

As mayor of the second largest municipality in the province, Ken has demonstrated his ability to deliver results for his community. Under Ken’s leadership, Conception Bay South invested in vital new infrastructure which has helped spur the town’s growth, making it one of the fastest growing municipalities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Before seeking public office, Ken owned and operated his own home appliance repair business after earning his Diploma in Accounting from the College of the North Atlantic. An active member of his community, he has volunteered with his local church parishes and the Lions Club for many years.

In his free time, Ken enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, hiking, hunting, and fishing with his family.

David McGuinty was born and raised in Ottawa South in a family of twelve with a strong tradition of public service. He is a leading public figure whose extensive domestic and international experience defies labels, and he has been recognized at the highest level for his contributions to his community.

A fluently bilingual lawyer by trade, he 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.

At the age of twenty-one, David earned his Diploma in Agriculture from the Kemptville College of Agriculture in Ontario. He helped run a succession of family-owned businesses while earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at the University of Ottawa, specialized diplomas in Civil and Comparative Law at Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec, a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Ottawa, and finally a Master of Laws at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1991.

Based in Cotê d’Ivoire from 1988 to 1990, David 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.

From 1991 to 1992, David was a visiting lecturer and researcher on International, Environmental, and Comparative Law at King’s College at the University of London. He practiced law with UK-based firm Gouldens Solicitors from 1992 to 1995, where he worked on corporate mergers and acquisitions, European Union affairs, and international environmental issues.

He was seconded to the International Development Law Institute in Rome from 1993 to 1995, where he designed and taught advanced courses for mid-career legal professionals from throughout the developing world. Among his highlights here, David helped launch the first ever international partnership for the training of Chinese judges and lawyers with the Canadian Bar Association. He also worked in his capacity with representatives of emerging economies in Eastern Europe to improve economic opportunities and quality of life.

Shortly after his return to Canada in 1995, David was chosen to serve as President and CEO of the Prime Minister’s National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. He led deliberations among prominent Canadians representing the private sector, labour movements, federal, provincial, and municipal governments, environmental and aboriginal organizations and other non-governmental organizations. His work has placed him among the foremost Canadian experts on green budgeting, brownfields, and the nexus between the economy, the environment, and social issues.

Also from 1995, David 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. David has also advised the Rockefeller Foundation.

David is a Harvard-trained mediator and negotiator and received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for “outstanding and exemplary contributions” to his community and to Canada.

In June 2004, David was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Ottawa South. At this time, David and his brother Dalton became the first siblings in Canadian history to hold elected office both provincially and federally in the same riding concurrently.

Since 2004, Mr. McGuinty has served in a wide variety of roles, including Liberal Critic for Science and Technology, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Federal Economic Development Initiative in Northern Ontario, Official Opposition Critic for Transport, Official Opposition Critic for Energy and the Environment, Vice Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, Chair of the National Capital Region Liberal Caucus, Opposition House Leader, and Acting Liberal Whip. Re-elected in 2006, 2008, and 2011, Mr. McGuinty is also a member of the All-Party Caucus on Climate Change, the Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care, the All-Party Juvenile Diabetes Caucus, the International Conservation Caucus, and the Committee Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children. He is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Mr. McGuinty currently serves as Liberal critic for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

John McKay was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997.

He previously served as Chair of the Caucus Committee on Economic Prosperity during the last session of Parliament, and prior to this, Mr. McKay served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, and as a Member of the Privy Council. Prior to his appointment, Mr. McKay acted as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and as a Member of both the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the Sub-Committee on Organized Crime. He was also a Member of the Standing Committee on Finance.

Mr. McKay was Chair of the Ontario Liberal Caucus from 2002 to 2004 and Chair of the National Liberal Social Caucus on Homelessness and Affordable Housing. He has also been a member of the Economic Development Caucus.

In 2000, Mr. McKay successfully sponsored Private Member’s Bill C-260 in the House of Commons, a bill that amended the Hazardous Products Act to mandate that all cigarettes sold in Canada be fire-safe.

Prior to his parliamentary career, as a practicing lawyer Mr. McKay was president of the Durham Law Association and executive member of the County and District Law Presidents’ Association. He is the recipient of the UTSC Alumnus of the Year Award 2000, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, and the University of Toronto Arbor Award.

Born and raised in Scarborough, Mr. McKay and his wife, Carolyn, have five children.

Catherine McKenna is the former Executive Director of a non-profit organization that engages emerging Canadian leaders in public policy discussions. Prior to that, Catherine co-founded and was executive director of the Canadian Lawyers Abroad charitable organization. Catherine has practiced law at leading firms in both Canada and Indonesia, focusing on international trade, competition, investment and constitutional issues. She was senior counsel on the Rt. Hon. Antonio Lamer’s review of Canada’s military justice system. She was also a legal advisor with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in East Timor on treaty negotiations. She teaches at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and is a board member at the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.

While active internationally, Catherine remains a particularly active member of her local community. She is the past Vice President of the Glebe Community Association and has served as a board member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa and the Good Morning Creative Arts and Preschool.

A long-time political blogger and regular campaign volunteer, Ron McKinnon has been active in politics for many years – including as a Liberal candidate for the 2008 federal election and for Port Coquitlam City Council in 2011 – and is again bringing that experience to the national level as Member of Parliament for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam.

Passionate about promoting and protecting human rights, both at home and abroad, Ron has been an active member in the local chapter of Amnesty International for many years. Ron is also keenly interested in his community’s cultural scene, and currently serves as Director and Vice President of the Evergreen Cultural Centre Society – a community arts and cultural activities promoter responsible for operating the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

As a successful business owner and computer systems analyst, Ron provides Document Management systems consulting and development services to major firms in Canada, the US, and overseas. In the 1970s, he also worked as a meteorological technician for Environment Canada’s Atmospheric Environment Service.

Ron has a Bachelor of Science from University of Alberta, and a diploma in Computer Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Born and raised in Fort Providence, Michael McLeod served Northwest Territories residents as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1999-2011, and now advises clients in the tourism industry as Tourism Development Officer for the government of the Northwest Territories. Prior to this, Michael served as Mayor of Fort Providence, president of his Métis Local, and vice-president of Deh Cho Regional Council. He began his career as a self-employed contractor, and understands the needs of small business owners and their families.

A Major Corporal with the Canadian Junior Rangers, Michael has been an active and dedicated member of his community. He is a member of the Northwest Territories Tourism, NWT Public Utilities, and Mackenzie Valley Environment Impact Review Boards – whose mission is to conduct fair and timely environmental impact assessments in the Mackenzie Valley that protect the environment, social, economic, and cultural well-being of its residents.

Michael earned his diploma in Management Studies from Arctic College, and enjoys spending his free time outdoors going hunting and fishing. Michael comes from a family dedicated to public service – his brother currently serves as the Premier of the Northwest Territories.

Alexandra has been deeply involved in politics for a number of years. She is the past president of the Liberal Party of Canada (Quebec) and began her political career as a constituency assistant. She then served as the Member of Parliament for Brossard—La Prairie from 2008 to 2011. Alexandra has also served as president of the Brossard—La Prairie Federal Liberal Association and therefore knows the riding exceptionally well.

Before entering politics, Alexandra worked at Maison internationale Rive-Sud (MIRS), a community organization that offers rescue and support services to immigrants and refugees. She started out as assistant director and coordinator of the organization and then later became executive director and helped MIRS regain its financial stability.

A lawyer and family man with deep roots in Eglinton – Lawrence, Marco Mendicino has dedicated his career to keeping our communities safe. As a federal prosecutor for nearly a decade, he fought against organized crime and terrorism. Marco was also the president of a national association representing nearly 3,000 federal prosecutors and Government of Canada lawyers. While in this position, he testified before the House of Commons and Senate to advocate for better laws and access to justice.

An avid community organizer, Marco is committed to improving education and has worked on local school initiatives, like rolling out lunch programs for full-day kindergarten and improving outdoor facilities. He dedicates his time to the John Wanless Childcare Centre, North Toronto Soccer Club and COSTI Immigration Services – an organization that helps immigrants acquire the educational, social and economic skills they need on arriving in Canada.

Marco runs his own law practice, focusing on regulatory, and labour and employment matters. He is adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, a small business owner and soccer coach to his daughters’ teams. Marco and his wife Diana are long-time residents of Eglinton-Lawrence, raising their two daughters in the riding.

As a geoscientist and former member of the Manitoba Legislature, MaryAnn Mihychuk brings a significant amount of both legislative and industry-related experience to the riding of Kildonan—St.Paul. Elected as a member of Manitoba’s NDP government in 1995, MaryAnn served as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Mines and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs during her nine years as an MLA.

MaryAnn has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Winnipeg and a Master’s in Geology from Brock University, and has worked in several capacities within Canada’s mineral industry. She was the founder of both Women in Mining Canada and Women in Mining Manitoba, an organization of which she is currently President. Recognized for her vision and leadership by the Manitoba Association of Engineers and Geoscientists, MaryAnn led the renewal of The Mines Act, which the industry rated as the best policy framework in the world.

In 2010, MaryAnn was one of two Jack Gallagher Visiting Geoscientists at the University of Manitoba, and she is the first ever recipient of the 2012 Women in Mining International Trailblazer Award. Ever-active in her community, MaryAnn is a former trustee of the Winnipeg School Division, secretary of the Snow Lake Chamber of Commerce, and both a founder and member of West End Citizens on Patrol and the Orioles Literacy Program.

Marc grew up in Montreal and graduated from McGill University in Common Law and Civil Law. He currently practices mergers and acquisitions at Stikeman Elliott, with a focus on international and commercial law, having also worked in both Stockholm and New York City. He also holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Université de Montréal.

Marc has been involved in several charitable and pro bono legal initiatives and served in the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantry section commander. Marc has also authored articles on constitutional and human rights law and he has been active within the Liberal Party for many years.

A dedicated community organizer and former Peterborough mayoral candidate, Maryam Monsef is asking her community to stand with her again as she works to be their voice in Ottawa.

Co-recipient of the YMCA’s Peace Medallion, Maryam is widely recognized as one of Peterborough’s most influential people and represented her city in 2013 at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. A passionate volunteer, Maryam has sat on the boards and committees of several high-profile organizations. She is the Vice-President of the YWCA of Peterborough and Haliburton Board of Directors, and the former director of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group, and the New Canadians Centre – a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers in the Peterborough and Northumberland regions. Maryam is the co-founder of the Red Pashmina Campaign, a grassroots initiative she started while at Trent University, that to date has successfully raised over $150,000 funds to help support women in Afghanistan.

Maryam has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Trent University, and speaks English, Farsi, and Dari.

Bill Morneau is an accomplished business leader who has been an active volunteer in Toronto Centre for more than 20 years.

When Morneau Shepell was founded, it employed 200 people. Under Bill’s leadership, it now provides meaningful, stable work for over 3300 families across Canada.Bill’s community service runs deep in Toronto Centre, where he works to support the arts, help street kids, and improve access to health care and education. He was Chair of the Board of St. Michael’s Hospital, Covenant House, and the C.D. Howe Institute.

Internationally, Bill founded a special school for Somali and Sudanese youth in an African refugee camp. Bill currently sits on the boards of St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, The Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, and The Learning Partnership. In 2002, Bill was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. Bill studies retirement issues as a member of the Ontario government’s Pension Advisory Council and in 2012, he was appointed as Pension Investment Advisor to Ontario’s Minister of Finance. He has co-authored a book, The Real Retirement, and has authored numerous articles on public policy issues. Bill holds a BA from Western University, an MSc from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD.

First elected to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly in 1982, Robert Morrissey has dedicated his career and volunteer life to serving Canadians and the residents of PEI.

Having served as MLA for nearly 20 years, Robert has a deep understanding of his communities’ needs. He has held a number of high-profile roles within the Assembly, such as Minister of
Transportation and Public Works, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Opposition House Leader. He was also responsible for the redevelopment of the Canadian Forces Base Summerside and the surrounding community following its closure by the federal government in 1989. Robert left politics in 2000 to join the private sector as a consultant specializing in government relations, fisheries, and the labour market. He is currently President of Global Food Technologies, President of PFI Group and a Director of Royal Investment Co-operative.

Robert has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of PEI. He was the founding member, and former president of the Tignish Seniors Home Care Co-op, and is Vice-Chair of Tignish Special Needs Housing.

Eva Nassif, a native of Lebanon, has been living in Laval with her husband and triplets for over 20 years. Known for her passion and her dedication, she is actively involved in many charitable organizations in her community. Eva is also a member of the Laval Women’s Centre and of the Femmes, Politique et Démocratie group. From 2009 to 2015, she served on the board of directors of Diapason-Jeunesse, a non-profit organization committed to discouraging students from dropping out of school. In addition, she has been a member of Laval’s paratransit association (the Association lavalloise du transport adapté) and of Laval’s board of trade and industry. She was also an Advisor and Co-Chair of the Concordia University Graduate Students Association in Translation.

As a nursing sciences graduate in Lebanon, Eva practised in her native country for eight years. After coming to Canada, she earned a B.A. with a specialty in translation and a master’s degree in translation studies, having written a one-of-a-kind unique master’s thesis. Eva, a tireless worker, is a certified translator and terminologist. She has also worked as a teacher for the Laval School Board.

Eva has a keen interest in politics and has been active at the grassroots level for many years. Her fervent hope is to devote her passion to defending the interests of all citizens of the Vimy riding on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Bob Nault was Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development from 1999-2003, spent over 16 years as the Member of Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River, and is a former Kenora City Councillor. It is Bob’s experience, hard work, and tenacity, which will make him a strong representative for the riding of Kenora.

Bob’s talent for organizing and negotiation have earmarked his career and helped him get elected as Chairman of the United Transportation Union Local 431, and later as Vice-General Chairman of CP Lines West. While in Cabinet, Bob increased federal investment in First Nations economic development from $25 million to over $125 million. He remains committed to improving the lives of First Nations in Canada.

Since leaving politics, Nault started his own business advising First Nations, high tech companies, and public sector organizations across the country on issues of governance, energy, and government relations.

Bob and his wife Lana are the proud parents of two children.

Jennifer O'Connell is a three-term City and Regional Councillor and who has proudly represented the residents of Pickering since 2006 – an honour and commitment she will continue as Member of Parliament for Pickering–Uxbridge.

Jennifer has played an active role on several boards and committees, currently holding the positions of Deputy Mayor for the City of Pickering and member of the Durham Region Finance and Administration Committee. She previously spent 4 years as the Chair of the Waterfront Committee and Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Pickering Committee.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours Degree specializing in Political Science. Through her work as a junior legal assistant and volunteering at a successful labour law firm, she found her passion for giving a voice to those in need. She learned early on how to channel her passion into real and tangible results, and was soon the youngest elected politician in her municipal ward.

While working with Pickering residents, Jennifer is attentive to their specific needs, taking into consideration, not only her own concerns and objectives, but those of everyone interested in working together towards improving the community one step at a time.

Seamus O’Regan is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of St. John’s South–Mount Pearl.

Seamus spent almost a decade as the host of Canada AM on CTV where he developed a deep appreciation for the country’s strengths and its unique place in the world. As a journalist, he traveled the globe, from Antarctica to Afghanistan, interviewing leaders and newsmakers about the most critical issues of the day.

Earlier in his career, Seamus worked as senior policy advisor to former Newfoundland and Labrador premier Brian Tobin. He also worked as executive assistant to former provincial Justice Minister Ed Roberts.

Seamus holds a Master of Philosophy Degree from the University of Cambridge. He has studied politics at St. Francis Xavier University and University College, Dublin, and business studies at INSEAD in Paris. He was a National Ambassador for Bell’s Let’s Talk campaign, working diligently to remove the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

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. Much of this advocacy has been through his work as an Ordained Minister of the United Church of Canada, an organization he has served and represented in several provinces and territories across Canada, including almost ten years as a Senior Minister at Eglinton St. George’s United Church in Toronto.

Rob is a founding member of Affirm Canada, an organization that has advocated on behalf of members of the LGBTTQ community since 1982. He was also the founding chairperson of Neighbourhood Interfaith Group, which seeks to promote Christian-Jewish-Muslim dialogue. Currently, Rob is 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.

From 2008 to 2011, Rob was the Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, and served as the Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs and Multiculturalism. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto, a Master of Divinity from the Vancouver School of Theology at the University of British Columbia, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago.

John Oliver is the former President and CEO of Halton Healthcare Services and led the recent $2.7B infrastructure project for the new Oakville Hospital, which opens in 2015. He lent his considerable healthcare expertise as Assistant Deputy Minister to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. John currently sits as Chair of the Partnerships for Health System Improvement Review Panel of the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and he serves as Pension Observer of the Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP) Board.

Part of John’s desire to enter federal politics stems from his passion for our universal health care system and the principles of the Canada Health Act, and the failure of the current government to renew the Federal/Provincial Health Accord. John also believes in finding a sustainable balance between economic development and environmental protection, addressing issues relating to social equality, and restoring open and transparent democratic practices.

John has lived in Oakville for 19 years with his wife Joanna and his children Rachel, Alex and William. John is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (FCPA), and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences Administration from the University of Toronto. He received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 for service to Canada.

After earning much respect and admiration during his 2014 Winnipeg mayoral campaign, Robert-Falcon Ouellette is ready to bring real change to his community as the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Winnipeg Centre.

Coming from Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan and raised in Calgary, Robert-Falcon moved to Winnipeg in 2010 and quickly earned a reputation as a diligent community advocate working to bridge racial and economic divides. Previous to being elected, Robert-Falcon was a Program Director for the Aboriginal Focus Programs at the University of Manitoba, where he was a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council funded researcher on education and Métis issues of identity. He is passionate about addressing and solving inner-city issues, city planning, and transit.

Robert-Falcon spent 19 years with the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring from full-time service as Petty Officer 2nd class with the appointment of Sergeant at Arms in 5th Field Ambulance in Valcartier, Quebec. He also has worked as a professional musician with La Fanfarniente della Strada Gypsy Band in Quebec City. Robert-Falcon holds a PhD from Université Laval where he published his thesis, “Evaluating Aboriginal Curricula Using a Cree-Métis Perspective With a Regard Towards Indigenous Knowledge.”

Denis Paradis was first elected as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Brome–Missisquoi in a 1995 by‑election. During his 11 years as MP, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation, the Minister responsible for La Francophonie and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was also Secretary of State for Latin America, Africa and La Francophonie, Minister of State for Financial Institutions and sat on several parliamentary committees. Since 2006, Denis has worked as counsel with Dunton Rainville. He also owns Domaine du Ridge, a vineyard in St‑Armand, and is on the Board of Directors of the Conférence Internationale des Barreaux.

Before entering politics, Denis practised law in the Bedford area, serving as President of the Association des avocats du Québec and Bâtonnier of the Barreau du Québec. He initiated the partnering of the Bedford and Vermont bar associations and co‑authored Règles de procédure devant les tribunaux administratifs, a book published in 1985.

The hard work done by Denis was rewarded in 2005 when he received the title of Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Pléiade. He was also awarded the honourary distinction of Lawyer Emeritus (Ad.E.) by the Barreau du Québec in 2009. Denis has a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ottawa.

Joe Peschisolido is the former Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs at the Canadian head office for Bing Han Enterprises – a multi-national company headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan – and the founder of his own business and immigration law firm, Peschisolido & Company, where he specializes in corporate, commercial, real estate and immigration law.

First elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2000 general election, Joe served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the President of the Privy Council. He also served as Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and was a member of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans; Citizenship and Immigration; and Finance.

A philanthropist and legal volunteer in both the Richmond and Steveston communities, Joe is actively involved in several environmental, animal, and civil rights causes. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Toronto and his Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. Joe is fluent in English, French, and Italian.

Kyle is a partner at the Toronto law firm Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP where he specializes in commercial litigation and advocacy. He also has experience as an executive and an entrepreneur. Kyle currently serves as a Director of the United Way of York Region and as the Chair of the Aurora—Newmarket Family Health Team. Kyle is also a member of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce and served on the Newmarket Economic Advisory Committee.

Kyle has been a longtime supporter of the Liberal Party of Canada, serving as the riding association President for the Newmarket—Aurora Federal Liberal Association and standing as the local Liberal candidate in the 2011 federal election. He is passionate about his community and about Canada.

Kyle grew up in the riding, and currently calls the area home with his wife, Andrea, and their two young sons. Kyle holds a B.A. from Western University, an M.A. from the University of Toronto, a J.D. from Dalhousie University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

The former chair of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women and a member of the Coalition for Pay Equity, Ginette Petitpas Taylor is a strong voice in Ottawa for the residents of Moncton–Riverview–Dieppe.

With a passion for battling social issues, Ginette 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.

Ginette is the Codiac RCMP Victim Services Coordinator, where 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.

Ginette grew up in Dieppe and graduated from l’Université de Moncton with a degree in social work.

Michel Picard is an expert in financial crime and is the author of several articles and books on the subject. He has worked for a number of employers in both the private and public sectors, most notably for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Integrated Market Enforcement Team, on its investigation of the Norbourg file. Michel also created and directed a Master’s level course on combating financial crime within the Faculty of Management at the University of Sherbrooke’s Longueuil campus.

An international public speaker, Michel’s expertise in the area of economic crime is much valued by Quebec’s media. In this capacity, he is a guest analyst with RDI Matin Week‑end, where he comments on the testimonies heard at the Charbonneau Commission.

Michel holds both a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Political Science from l’Université de Paris X and a graduate diploma in Management from L’Université Laval.

Jean-Claude was born in Saint-Philippe and has lived there all his life. He is known within the riding as a very active member of the community. In addition to being a municipal councillor and the Director of the Maison des jeunes de Saint-Philippe, he is the fourth generation to operate his family’s dairy and grain farm. A father of two, he is very proud to see his son follow in his footsteps.

Jean-Claude cares deeply about the interests of farmers in his region and in Quebec. Over the years, he has made a point of educating people of all ages on the importance of agriculture in everyday life, as well as trying to balance the economic development of community with the protection of farmland.

Jean-Claude acts as a producer-ambassador for the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec, and has appeared on numerous television shows. He has also been involved for more than 20 years as the Director of the local Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA). He has also been the president of the Syndicat du lait and the driving force behind the Guide du bon voisinage en milieu rural [good neighbours’ guide for rural communities]. He is currently the director of the Société d’agriculture de La Prairie and the Coopérative Internet Saint-Mathieu. In addition, as the president of Au cœur des familles agricoles, Jean-Claude was heavily involved in creating Quebec’s first respite centre for farmers.

A successful lawyer, dedicated volunteer, and Paralympian, Carla Qualtrough’s commitment to addressing inequality and championing diversity makes her a strong advocate for Delta.
Committed to equity and inclusion, Carla has practiced human rights law at the federal and provincial levels. She chairs the BC Minister’s Council on Employment and Accessibility, and is an adjudicator with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Tribunal. Carla herself has been visually impaired since birth.

Passionate about the power of sport and physical activity to change lives, Carla volunteers locally, nationally, and internationally, including with the International Paralympic Committee and the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games. She has been President of the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Chair of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. Carla is on the Board of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, and Vice-Chair of the Delta Gymnastics Society. As an athlete, Carla won three Paralympic and four World Championship medals.

Carla has degrees in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and Law from the University of Victoria. Among many awards for her work, she has been named one of Canada’s Most Influential Women in Sport six times, and received a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.

First elected as the MP for Halifax West in 1993, Geoff Regan was re-elected to his sixth term in May 2011.

Geoff has worked tirelessly to advance citizen-based initiatives such as education, environmental protection, health promotion, retirement security, the Community Access Program and home retrofit program. He is committed to promoting public engagement and has held over 100 town hall meetings.

Geoff was Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from 2003-06 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader from 2001-03. As regional minister for Nova Scotia, Geoff was fully engaged in negotiating the 2005 Offshore Accord and signed the historic agreement on behalf of the federal government.

Geoff is a senior member of the Liberal caucus and currently serves as critic for Natural Resources.

Before entering public life, Geoff practiced law and was an active community volunteer. He is a former president of the Bedford Board of Trade and a former chair of the Metro Food Bank and Beacon House.

Geoff is married to the Honourable Kelly Regan, MLA, Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. They have three children and live in Bedford.

Jean Rioux has a Bachelor’s degree in History and certificates in Education and Political Science. He was a teacher for many years.

Jean jumped into politics in the early 1990s, first as a municipal councillor and then as the Mayor of Iberville. He was also the acting reeve of the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Haut-Richelieu and a municipal councillor on the interim municipal council of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Elected as the Member of the National Assembly for the provincial riding of Iberville in 2003, he worked as a Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, as well as to the Minister of Labour. Following a defeat in the 2007 election, he accepted a position as an administrative judge at the Commission municipale du Québec.

In addition to his political achievements, Jean has been highly involved in the community. For example, he was the driving force behind the Symposium d’arts d’Iberville, Chairman of the Board of the Caisse populaire d’Iberville, Vice-President of the Centre d’aide aux entreprises in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Treasurer of the Festival de montgolfières du Haut-Richelieu (now the International Balloon Festival of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu) and President of the Centre industriel et technologique du Haut-Richelieu. He has received the Award of Excellence (Training) from the Chamber of Commerce as well as the Termaco Scholarship.

Yves Robillard has lived in the riding of Marc-Aurèle-Fortin for over 50 years. Having witnessed and taken part in the riding’s development during this time, Yves is driven to be the voice of all of its residents on Parliament Hill.

Yves has a long career as a high school teacher, both in the Laval area and in northern Quebec. Curious and adventurous by nature, he has also worked as a recreational coordinator with the Mille-Îles School Board, and as a Complaints and Public Relations Officer for the City of Laval.

Over the years, Yves has coordinated a number of municipal and provincial election campaigns and has served as Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Quebec National Assembly and as Secretary to the Leader of the Official Opposition. More recently, he played a large part in establishing Marc-Aurèle-Fortin’s new Federal Liberal Association, in addition to serving as its president.

Always active in his community, Yves is a founding member of the Optimist Club, a Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society, and is actively involved with the Fabrose Soccer Club. Yves holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Relations, an Education degree, a Class B Teaching diploma, and a diploma in Recreation Techniques.

Pablo Rodriguez is well known and highly appreciated in his riding. He has distinguished himself through his involvement with numerous organizations within the community. His proximity to the residents of his riding, demonstrated by his involvement with organizations like the Optimist Club and the Knights of Columbus, allows him to identify and understand the priorities of his constituents.

A respected political figure, he was the MP for Honoré-Mercier from 2004 to 2011. During this period he held many important roles, including the official spokesperson for culture, languages​​, economic development, and the Francophonie. He also chaired the Quebec Liberal caucus for several years. Pablo is known for the battles he led in the fight against climate change and for the protection and promotion of culture, language, and minority rights. Today, he works in the environmental sector.

Anthony Rota is the current Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaminghas a long history of involvement in his riding, having been active with a number of community organizations. He 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. Anthony is fluent in French, English, Italian and Spanish.

Before transitioning into federal politics, Anthony 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.

A successful entrepreneur and local business owner, Dan Ruimy has lived in the British Columbia Lower Mainland for over twenty years. Since 2011, Dan has owned and operated Bean Around Books & Tea, a thriving book and tea shop in downtown Maple Ridge where local residents come together over books, tea, and discussion.
With a lifelong career spent in the hospitality industry, Dan gained his experience the old fashioned way, working side by side with front line teams, managers and owners. Dan is looking forward to the opportunity to bring hard work, real-world business experiences, and a strong voice that is more connected to the diverse needs of our community to Ottawa.

In 2009, Dan founded Tactical Approach, a consulting company with a specialized focus on business operations, training, franchise sales, brand development, and marketing workshops. He served the Douglas College team in 2010-2011 as a contract Sales & Marketing Instructor and Business Advisor to students in the Self Employment program.

A former reservist with the Canadian Armed Forces, Dan is dedicated to serving his community and volunteers his spare time with local groups like Iron Horse Youth Services.

Born and raised in Northwestern Ontario, Don Rusnak has deep roots in Thunder Bay–Rainy River, and as the proud son of Ukrainian and Anishinaabe (Ojibway) parents, he understands the diverse and pressing issues facing his community.

Don has extensive professional experience drawing from his work in the forestry industry, public sector, and from his own legal practice. While working with Manitoba Health, Don helped to improve the delivery of healthcare services for Northern Manitobans, and as a Crown Prosecutor in Eastern Alberta, he prosecuted criminal and regulatory offences. Don has long demonstrated strong leadership skills, having served as the interim Executive Director for Grand Council Treaty #3 in Kenora.

Don has volunteered his time with many organizations, such as the Ontario Justice Education Network and the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative – a group which improves elementary and secondary school education outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians through the implementation of specific programs and the application of appropriate research.

Don studied Political Science and Integrated Forest Resource Management at Lakehead University. In 2001, Don attended the University of Manitoba, Robson Hall Faculty of Law, and during his final year, attended Osgoode Hall Law School to study in the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources and Governments.

A proud resident of Kitchener-Waterloo, Raj Saini has owned and operated the award-winning Greenbrook Pharmacy for nearly 20 years. His success as a small business owner comes from his focus on helping people achieve their health goals using evidence-based protocols to enable healing and encourage healthy lifestyles.

A committed and active supporter of local organizations, Raj 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.

Raj earned his Bachelors of Science in Chemistry from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy from Boston’s Northeastern University.

Harjit Sajjan has served Canada and his community as both a soldier and a police officer. He will continue his service as the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Vancouver South.

Harjit is a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces and a combat veteran. He has deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Harjit has received numerous recognitions for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province, and the Order of Military Merit – one of the military’s highest recognitions. Harjit also served as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Harjit was a police officer with the Vancouver Police Department for 11 years. He completed his last assignment as a Detective-Constable with the Gang Crime Unit specializing in organized crime. He proudly tackled gang violence and drug crimes in Vancouver. Harjit is also a Human Security specialist, lecturing to a wide audience in both Canada and the US.

A proud Acadian and experienced educator dedicated to empowering Canada’s next generation of leaders, Darrell Samson has a great deal of experience collaborating with all levels of government and he plans to continue to do so to ensure a strong vision and voice for all Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook residents.

After receiving his Bachelor of Education and Masters in School Administration from Université de Moncton, Darrell acquired a vast repertoire of experiences in all facets of the public education sector. Darrell is the former Superintendent of Schools for the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial – Nova Scotia’s only French school board – where he worked closely with the Department of Education and various communities to ensure quality education for all students.

Darrell is an active participant in numerous committees and associations; he has been the National President and Vice-President of all French school board superintendents outside of Quebec, an active member of the National Committee for Early Years, and a member of the Provincial Advisory Council to the Minister of Education on Early Years in Nova Scotia. Darrell has met every challenge with enthusiasm, honesty, and a genuine respect for people. Darrell is happily married with three adult children and has been a resident of the Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook riding for 30 years.

A practicing lawyer in the city of Brampton since January 2001, Ramesh Sangha arrived in Canada in 1994 as a sponsored parent. With a profound respect for the country he now calls home, Ramesh spends much of his free time helping others in his community.

Understanding the importance of mentoring youth, Ramesh provides co-op training to students from surrounding high schools, community colleges, para-legal courses, and Law students. Inspired by Ramesh’s sense of pride and civic duty, many of these students have chosen to remain as volunteers, assisting him in his various community engagements.

Prior to his legal career, Ramesh started an immigration consultancy firm providing legal advice and counselling to newly landed immigrants, and worked with the Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunal. He is an active member of the Brampton Board Trade, the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce, and Legal Advisor to the Indian Air Force Veteran’s Community in Canada.

Ramesh is happily married to his wife Kulwinder, with whom he’s raised three adult children. They all live in the city of Brampton.

A successful entrepreneur and lawyer, Randeep is ready to be a strong voice for Surrey.

Committed to helping those that are less fortunate, Randeep often provides pro bono services to non-profit organizations and to those that cannot afford legal services. Randeep has a background in real estate development, giving him a sound understanding of transportation and infrastructure issues facing the Surrey community.

Randeep founded and has served as a Director of Virsa - Supporting Youth Strengthening Families Society and helped start the South Asian Community Coalition Against Youth Violence which successfully championed for the creation of the Integrated Gang Task Force. An active volunteer for the CORSA Foundation, Randeep works with his community to help South Asian youth break the cycle of violence. He is Director with 3HO (Healthy, Happy and Holy Organization) – a network of people dedicated to living a life that uplifts and inspires.

Randeep earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia before completing his Bachelor of Laws at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Randeep and his wife Sarbjeet are raising their three children in Surrey, and he enjoys yoga, soccer, and jogging in his spare time.

First elected to the House of Commons in 2004, Francis Scarpaleggia was re-elected to Parliament in 2006, 2008 and 2011. He is the Chair of the National Liberal Caucus.

Francis has made the protection of Canada’s freshwater a personal priority. With this goal in mind, he has submitted motions and bills to the House of Commons for debate, including a motion calling on the government to create a national water strategy and a bill to ban bulk-water exports. He also initiated an in-depth study by the House of Commons Environment committee into the impact of the oil sands on Canada’s water resources, introduced legislation to prohibit the dumping of toxic mining waste into Canada’s water bodies, and called on the government to create a Council of the St. Lawrence to better protect this vital waterway.

Since first being elected, Francis has served on the following House of Commons committees: Public Safety and National Security (Vice Chair), Environment and Sustainable Development (Vice Chair), Transport, Canadian Heritage, and Government Operations and Estimates.

Francis 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.

As the former senior political advisor to his predecessor, Clifford Lincoln, Francis has extensive knowledge of and experience in the federal policy-making and legislative processes. In this earlier role, he was involved in Clifford Lincoln’s original work on improving train service in Montreal’s West Island that has since evolved into the well-known Train de l’Ouest initiative under the former Lac-Saint-Louis MP’s ongoing leadership.

Before entering politics, Francis 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.

Francis did his undergraduate work in economics at McGill University and earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University, in New York. He later obtained an MBA from Concordia University.

Francis lives with his wife and two children in Kirkland.

From a young age, growing up in Hudson, Peter Schiefke has always had an interest in humanitarian, environmental, and social causes. This passion led him to create many projects and organizations, including We Will Always Remember, a project which pays tribute to veterans, and that earned him a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2003. Peter also cofounded the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program (CVAP) – a non-profit organization (NPO) that helps victims of the civil war in East Africa. CVAP has received numerous awards over the years, including the 2008 Entraide, Paix et Justice award from Forces Avenir, and the 2010 YMCAs of Quebec Peace Medal. Peter remains a member of CVAP’s Board of Directors and is responsible for its fundraising efforts.

An expert in sustainable and community development, Peter cofounded and served as the president of Youth Action Canada – an NPO that promotes youth involvement in fighting climate change. More recently, he served as National Director of Climate Reality Canada, the Canadian division of an organization founded by former United States Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Al Gore, which seeks to educate people on environmental issues.

Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concordia University and a Master of Science in Renewable Resources from McGill University.

A resident of Nickel Belt for nearly all his life, Marc Serré is a successful businessman, innovator, and community activist with a passion for enhancing the quality of life in his community. Marc comes from a long line of community volunteers and politicians – his father Gaetan and uncle Ben Serré both served as MPs – dedicated to facilitating change and growth.

Marc is an award-winning telecom technologies researcher and developer whose presentations have taken him across Canada and the US. He was the proud recipient of the 2003 IWAY award in recognition for his outstanding achievements in adaptive technology.

Driven by a desire to invest in future generations, Marc served as a school board trustee in Sudbury, Sault Ste-Marie, and Valley East. He was also a municipal counsellor in West Nipissing, a hospital board member, and chair of the West Nipissing Planning Committee, which provides recommendations to the municipal Council for applications on Zoning, Subdivisions and Condominiums, and Official Plan amendments.

Marc earned an Honours Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Human Resources and Marketing from Laurentian University, and is the proud recipient of the 2009 Ontario Community Action Award for his work in the non-profit sector.

An accomplished business professional and lifelong resident of Sault Ste. Marie, Terry Sheehan has served nearly 20 years on City Council and the Huron-Superior Catholic School Board. He is well known for his tireless work ethic and ability to achieve real results for his community.

Terry has spent his career working in both the private and public sector in business, community, and economic development. He is currently employed as an Employment and Training Consultant for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Terry is invested in the economic health of the riding and country. His strong business background allows him to spot opportunities for the economic success and job growth that will strengthen and grow his community. Through his work, Terry has developed strong relationships with both the business community and local labour groups, as he believes it is important to work constructively and inclusively with all.

Terry and his wife are the proud parents of two children, and he looks forward to rebuilding the partnership between the federal government and Sault Ste. Marie.

A businessman with more than 27 years experience, Jati Sidhu served as president of Greenvale Enterprises Inc., a local agricultural company, and is the current CEO and president of the Sidhu Group, which focuses on housing and business development. He has also served on the University of Fraser Valley Board of Governors and as a member of the Abbotsford Police Board.

Jati has long dedicated himself to improving his community, particularly through his work as a board member of the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, and as founding member of the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association. Through his work with the Association, Jati helped raise funds to build the Abbotsford Hospice Society, which provides end-of-life care and grief support for families in Abbotsford. Jati is also known as a renowned philanthropist within the Abbotsford community.

A registered cardiology technologist, diabetes educator and clinical research coordinator, 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.

Sonia has been actively involved in political campaigns at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels for many years. She understands the issues that matter most to people in her riding – a more transparent government focussed on suburban soccer moms, and sound economic and social policies.

A passionate community advocate, Sonia 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. She has deep roots within the local South Asian community and works diligently to foster and strengthen the relationships between its members and other communities.

Sonia has a Bachelor of Arts from India and speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi, and Urdu. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising and yoga.

Gagan Sikand, a lawyer and small business owner, has lived in Mississauga—Streetsville for over 25 years. Throughout that time, he’s been dedicated to community service and a number of valuable professional experiences.

Gagan has diverse professional experience, having worked for the Attorney General of Ontario, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. Gagan also sits on the Board of the Dental Hygienists of Ontario.

Gagan volunteers on the local United Way advisory council and regularly helps out at both the Eden and Seva food banks. His focus on helping youth succeed is evident from his work as a mentor with the Kids Now program at Woodlands Secondary School. He also coaches basketball and serves as a board member for the Young Governors Council of Junior Achievement.

Scott Simms was first elected as Member of Parliament for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor in June 2004. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008.

Since his election, Mr. Simms has served as member of two House of Commons Standing Committees: Heritage and Fisheries. He has also sat on four Liberal caucus committees – Cities and Communities (formed to deal with the gas tax distribution), Employment Insurance Reform, Expenditure Review and Forestry.

In February 2004, Mr. Simms was elected by his peers to Chair the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Caucus.

Born and raised in Bishop’s Falls, Newfoundland, Mr. Simms has always been very active in community and family life. With personality, humour, and always with a desire to promote Newfoundland and Labrador, Mr. Simms delivered the latest weather conditions across Canada on the Weather Network for over ten plus years.

Mr. Simms is a Commerce graduate of Mount Allison University and from there went on to study journalism. In his free time, Mr. Simms enjoys spending time with his son.

First elected in 2007, Amarjeet Sohi is a two-term Edmonton City Councilor who is ready to take his knowledge and understanding of local issues straight to Ottawa as Member of Parliament for the riding of Edmonton Mill-Woods.

Dedicated to improving Edmonton’s infrastructure and livability, Amarjeet represented the city on the Canadian Urban Transit Association, and is a strong advocate for Light Rail Transit. Amarjeet also advocated municipal interests to other orders of government through his delegation to the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association. He has been a prominent leader on city and provincial issues, volunteering with Public Interest Alberta, the Centre for International Alternatives, and the Canadian Labour Congress.

Amarjeet worked tirelessly to promote learning and cooperation among cultural communities by leading City Council’s Immigration, Multiculturalism and Racism Free Edmonton initiatives. Amarjeet has received the Edmonton Interfaith Advocate award and John Humphrey Centre’s Human Rights Advocate award for promoting welcoming and socially inclusive communities. As a former member of the Edmonton Police Commission, Amarjeet believes in building safe and strong communities. Amarjeet also took a leadership role to create the Police Chief's Indo-Canadian Liaison Committee, the Punjabi Cultural Association, and the Punjabi Arts Association.

Business professional, devoted volunteer, and father, Francesco Sorbara is passionate about helping those around him. With his strong work ethic and desire for a better future – values instilled in him by his immigrant parents – Francesco is committed to strengthening the bonds in Vaughan–Woodbridge.

Francesco is a Corporate Bond Research Analyst with Scotiabank and in his spare time, he serves on the board of the Neighbourhood Committee for the United Way York Region. As a member of Eva`s Initiatives` Finance Committee, Francesco helped the organization secure funding for safe shelter and services for homeless and at-risk youth, enabling them to reach their full potential and lead productive, self-sufficient, and healthy lives.

Francesco earned his Bachelors of Arts from Simon Fraser University, his Masters of Arts from the University of Toronto, and is a designated Chartered Financial Analyst. Francesco and his wife Rose are the proud parents of two young daughters, Eliana and Natalia.

Sven Spengemann was born in Berlin, Germany, and moved to Canada with his family at age 14. He particularly enjoys working with young people who are embarking on their career path and is an active member of the community of Mississauga-Lakeshore. He volunteers at the Compass Food Bank and serves on the Board of Directors of United Way of Peel Region and the UTM Alumni Association. Sven is also an Advisor to the Peel Multicultural Council.

Sven’s academic qualifications include degrees from the University of Toronto (Mississauga), Osgoode Hall Law School and the Collège d’Europe. He was a Canada-US Fulbright Scholar and earned his doctorate at Harvard Law School.

Sven’s professional experience spans the private sector, academia, government and international affairs. He served as a senior United Nations official in Iraq, where he led a team of experts in support of the Iraqi Parliament. Sven also worked for a major Canadian bank and in the Privy Council Office in Ottawa. He held affiliations at the Munk School of Global Affairs, the Balsillie School of International Affairs and the Glendon School of Public & International Affairs.

In his spare time, he is an avid mountaineer, motorcyclist and private pilot.

A first-generation Canadian and proud resident of Kitchener South-Hespeler for over 24 years, Marwan Tabbara is an energetic community advocate who will work tirelessly in Ottawa for the people of the riding.

Marwan was inspired to enter the political arena by his mother, who raised him and his two brothers on her own. He credits his family for shaping him into a compassionate individual who cares deeply about the world around him. He is committed to real change and a prosperous future for the families of Kitchener South-Hespeler. Marwan previously worked in Operations at Frito Lay, and is passionate about welcoming new Canadians, improving skills training and educational opportunities, and finding economic solutions that keep jobs local.

Marwan earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from the University of Guelph. He enjoys canoeing, weight training, horseback riding, hiking and the great outdoors.

Geng Tan is a long-serving leader, organizer, and volunteer for a myriad of community organizations that support and service new Canadians. He is the founder, first-term Executive President, and current Co-chair of the Council of Newcomer Organizations, and Vice Chairman of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations. Geng has also participated in numerous panels, providing input and advice on immigration and community development policies. In 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for his service to Canada and is also the recipient of an Ontario Volunteer Service Award.

Geng was formerly a senior chemist and previously worked at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada. Prior to coming to Canada, he received a Bachelor of Engineering in Organic Chemical Engineering from Hunan University in China, held various managerial positions, and was a certified senior engineer. He has since completed a Master of Applied Science and a PhD in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry from the University of Toronto.

Hunter Tootoo was born in Rankin Inlet and has spent his career serving the community he loves.

First elected as the MLA for Iqaluit Centre in 1999, Hunter served its residents for fourteen years and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly until 2013. Hunter has a deep understanding of the challenges facing Nunavut, having held numerous cabinet positions, including Minister Responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Homelessness, the Qulliq Energy Corporation, and Minister of Education.

Hunter has extensive experience in government administration, having held such roles as Recreation Coordinator for the Hamlet of Arviat, the Administration Officer for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation, and the Assistant Director of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation in Iqaluit. Prior to his work in the public sector, Hunter was a businessman and co-founder of the Iqaluit branch of Arctic Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Passionate about supporting local business and sport, Hunter previously served on the Northwest Territories Co-op Business Development Board and the Sport North Board of Directors. In his downtime, he enjoys watching hockey, hunting and is an avid competitive curler.

Justin Trudeau is the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Justin was first elected to Parliament in the Montreal riding of Papineau in 2008, defying political insiders who believed that a federalist candidate would have little chance against an incumbent member of the Bloc Québécois. For Justin, the people of Papineau – 50 percent of whom speak neither French nor English as their mother tongue – exemplify Canada’s rich diversity, evolving identity, and the struggle for equality of opportunity. He has served the hard working middle class families and small businesses of his constituency, who, in recent years, have faced economic challenges. He has worked alongside local community organisations by bringing together different cultures and religions, and establishing local initiatives on social issues, the environment, and the arts.

As a Member of Parliament, Justin has had many responsibilities including the Liberal Party Critic for Youth, Post-Secondary Education, Amateur Sports, Multiculturalism, and Citizenship and Immigration. Furthermore, he previously sat on the Parliamentary Committees on Environment and Sustainable Development and Citizenship and Immigration.

As a Parliamentarian, and prior to that, Justin travelled the country and met with Canadians in every region, consistently speaking about shared values, the importance of youth empowerment, protecting our wilderness, and living up to our place in the world. Some of Justin’s proudest accomplishments include his advocacy for victims of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, his activism to protect the Nahanni river in the Northwest Territories in 2005 and holding the post of chair of Katimavik, Canada’s national youth service program, from 2002 to 2006.

At the heart of Justin’s professional achievements – whether as a math and French teacher in British Columbia, or his leadership role in Katimavik, or even his strong defense of Quebec as a Member of Parliament – is a deep respect for Canadians from coast to coast to coast and his desire to serve them.

On April 14, 2013, Justin was elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada in the most open and accessible leadership election in Canadian history, in which tens of thousands of Canadians participated.

Justin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. He was born on December 25, 1971, the eldest son of the late former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair Trudeau Kemper. Justin is married to Sophie Grégoire. The couple welcomed their first child, Xavier James Trudeau on October 18, 2007 and added to their family with the arrival of Ella-Grace Trudeau on February 5, 2009, and Hadrien Trudeau on February 28, 2014.

From 1995 to 2014, Dan Vandal served as the representative for St. Boniface on Winnipeg’s City Council for all but two years. As a City Councillor, he occupied a number of leadership roles including that of Deputy Mayor.

Prior to his entry into municipal politics, Dan dedicated himself to a career in social work, collaborating with organizations that sought to support Winnipeg’s youth. He also competed as a professional boxer and at one time was the top Canadian in his weight class. Currently he serves as a board member of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network and is the chairperson of the Manitoba Combative Sports Commission.

Adam Vaughan was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina on June 30th 2014.

Adam Vaughan was elected twice to Toronto City Council before voters in Trinity-Spadina sent him to Ottawa to represent urban issues in Parliament. As an activist and as a journalist, Adam Vaughan has played a significant role in the social and economic growth of Toronto.

Adam Vaughan brings a lifetime of experience to federal politics. On City Council he played a major role in reforming public housing policy in the city. He led successful campaigns to rebuild and revitalize existing public housing stock while initiating new policies to create family housing, supportive housing and new co-op housing programs in Toronto. Together with residents, he spearheaded the revitalization of the Alexandra Park community: a significant neighbourhood in Toronto that will see new affordable housing, new commercial space, a re-built community and more parkland added to the downtown.

Adam Vaughan’s record in office demonstrates strong support for the arts in Toronto. While on council, he championed the expansion of OCAD University’s campus and led the campaign to save Theatre Passe Muraille. He also served on the Boards of the Toronto Arts Council, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Harbourfront Centre and Heritage Toronto.

Before entering politics, he 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.

He has entered federal politics and is working 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.

After a rewarding fourteen-year legal career advocating for human rights and access to justice as a constitutional litigator, former Ugandan Asian refugee Arif Virani, is now ready to serve the community and the country he calls home as a Member of Parliament.

Arif has an Honours B.A. in History and Political Science from McGill University, and completed his LL.B at the University of Toronto. He has worked as an Analyst with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in Ottawa; an Investigator at la Commission des droits de la personne et droits de la jeunesse in Montreal; and as an Assistant Trial Attorney prosecuting genocide at the United Nation’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Arif is the founder of Toronto’s legal aid clinic SALCO, the recipient of the prestigious 2001 Harold G. Fox Scholarship and the 2008 Wilson-Prichard Award in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and his community.

Arif lives and volunteers in Parkdale – High Park; he is a member of the Redwood Shelter for abused women; regularly helps at the Parkdale Food Bank, is an active volunteer with Roncyworks and has led community efforts to address mental health stigma.

Fluent in English, French, and Hindi, Arif is happily married and the devoted father of two boys.

A successful lawyer and professional engineer, born and raised in St. John’s East, Nick Whalen will use his extensive experience to best defend the interests of his riding with steadfast determination.

Nick is involved with numerous community organizations, including serving as the director of the Parkinson Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, and chair of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy Canada – a registered charity supporting wildlife and sustainable development in Africa, primarily at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. He also serves as pro bono counsel to the Gospel Folk Seniors Choir, and coaches minor soccer with Feildians Athletic Association. Nick is a partner and patent agent at the law firm McInnes Cooper, where he practices corporate commercial law, energy law, and intellectual property law. He was recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada – an annual publication ranking individual lawyers and firms across multiple areas of expertise – for his practices in Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law.

Nick has an LLB from McGill University, and earned both his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Engineering from Queen’s University. He currently lives in St. John’s with his wife and their two children.

Jonathan Wilkinson has spent more than 20 successful years in the private sector, having held leadership positions with a number of companies dedicated to the development of green technologies. His time as CEO of both QuestAir Technologies and BioteQ Environmental Technologies, in addition to his time as senior Vice President of Business Development with Nexterra, has provided him with extensive experience in the energy and environmental technology sectors. Jonathan also previously worked at Bain and Company, a leading global management consultancy.

A Rhodes Scholar, Jonathan made use of his educational background in public policy when he worked as a constitutional negotiator and a federal-provincial relations specialist. He has served on several industry and charitable boards, including the United Way of the Lower Mainland and the B.C. Technology Industries Association. He currently serves as a board member and treasurer of the Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation.

Jonathan has deep roots in North Vancouver, where he has spent the last 16 years raising his family alongside his wife, Tara. An avid runner and outdoorsman, Jonathan also serves as a coach for the North Shore Girls Soccer Association.

Jody Wilson-Raybould is a lawyer, advocate, and leader among British Columbia’s First Nations. As Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, Jody brings extensive experience in law, public service, and First Nations governance to the Liberal team.

After being called to the Bar in 2000, Jody began her legal career working as a provincial crown prosecutor in Vancouver. She later served as an advisor at the BC Treaty Commission, a body established to oversee treaty negotiations between First Nations and the Crown. In 2004, Jody was elected as Commissioner by the Chiefs of the First Nations Summit.

Since being elected Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations in 2009, Jody has devoted herself to the advancement of First Nations governance, fair access to land and resources, as well as improved education and healthcare services. She was re-elected as Regional Chief in 2012 and holds responsibilities on the Assembly of First Nations executive for Governance and Nation building. She has previously been involved with the Chiefs Committee on Claims and chaired the Comprehensive Claims joint working group.

An active volunteer in her community, Jody has served as a Director for Capilano College, the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, and the National Centre for First Nations Governance. She is also a director on the First Nations Lands Advisory Board and Chair of the First Nations Finance Authority. She is the recipient of the alumni award from the Minerva Foundation and the University of Victoria.

Jody is a descendant of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk and Laich-Kwil-Tach peoples, which are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw and also known as the Kwak’wala speaking peoples. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and is married to Dr. Tim Raybould.

A third-generation Ukrainian-Canadian and local business owner, Borys Wrzesnewskyj lived in Etobicoke Centre for over two decades – proudly representing the riding in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2011.

Borys received his Bachelor of Commerce from Trinity College - University of Toronto in 1983 and quickly gravitated towards humanitarian and pro-democracy work – helping organize and finance the People’s Movement of Ukraine in the late 1980s, and in support of the referendum for the independence of Ukraine in 1991. Borys initiated and was actively involved in organizing the Canadian delegation headed by former PM John Turner to the contested Ukrainian election during the Orange Revolution of 2004.

While a Member of the House of Commons, Borys was in charge of various portfolios including Citizenship and Immigration, Crown Corporations, Foreign Affairs, and Multiculturalism. In 2008, he was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise by the Ukranian President for his distinguished services to the people of Ukraine. In 2014 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland by Poland’s President for work on Canada Poland relations.
Borys is fluent in English, Ukrainian and Polish, and is the owner of Future Bakery Limited, and M-C Dairy Limited.