Raymond Chan
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| The Honourable Raymond Chan 陳卓愉 PC |
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Richmond |
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| In office 2004–2008 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Peschisolido |
| Succeeded by | Alice Wong |
| In office 1993–2000 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Siddon |
| Succeeded by | Joe Peschisolido |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 25, 1951 Hong Kong |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) | divorced and re-married |
| Residence | Richmond, British Columbia |
| Profession | Engineer |
| Religion | Mennonite Brethren[1] |
Raymond Chan, PC (Chinese: 陳卓愉; pinyin: Chén Zhuōyú; Jyutping: Can4 Ceok3 Jyu4; born 1951) is the first Chinese Canadian to be appointed to the Cabinet of Canada. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Chan was elected to Parliament in the 1993 federal election, defeating then Defence Minister Tom Siddon in the riding of Richmond, British Columbia. Chan is the third Chinese Canadian as elected to Parliament, after Douglas Jung, who secured a seat in 1957, and Art Lee in 1974. In 2008, Chan lost his riding of Richmond to Conservative candidate Alice Wong.
Early life[edit]
Raymond Chan was born in Hong Kong on October 25, 1951. He emigrated to Canada in 1969, two years after Canada liberalized its immigration policy. He received a B.A.Sc. degree in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1977. From 1977 to 1993, he worked as an engineer for TRIUMF, a particle accelerator laboratory at UBC.
Political career[edit]
Chan joined the Liberal Party of Canada in 1991 after he was elected as the inaugural president of the Vancouver Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movement in China. Then he was elected to Parliament in the 1993 election,[2] defeating Defence Minister Tom Siddon in the riding of Richmond, British Columbia. Chan secured the nomination win over future cabinet colleague Herb Dhaliwal, who subsequently chose to run in the adjacent Vancouver South riding. He was then appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien as the Secretary of State for the Asia-Pacific Region for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He served in this position from 1993 to 2000.
He was defeated in the 2000 election by Joe Peschisolido of the Canadian Alliance. After Peschisolido crossed the floor to the Liberal Party, Chan battled Peschisolido for the Liberal Party's nomination, and won it after a fiercely contested race.
Chan returned to Parliament in the 2004 election. He was subsequently appointed to the cabinet by Prime Minister Paul Martin as the Minister of State (Multiculturalism) for the Department of Heritage.
Chan was re-elected in 2006, and served as Opposition Critic for the Asia Pacific, Seniors, the Social Economy, and Canada Border Security throughout the 39th session of Parliament.
He was defeated by Conservative Alice Wong in the election of 2008 by more than 8,000 votes. He sought nomination as a Richmond Liberal again in 2009 and was defeated by Peschisolido.
References[edit]
External links[edit]
| 27th Ministry – Cabinet of Paul Martin | ||
| Cabinet Post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| ' | Minister of State (Multiculturalism) 2004–2006 |
' |
| 26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien | ||
| Sub-Cabinet Post | ||
| Predecessor | Title | Successor |
| Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) (1993–2001) |
Rey Pagtakhan | |
- 1951 births
- Living people
- Canadian engineers
- Canadian Mennonites
- People from Richmond, British Columbia
- University of British Columbia alumni
- Naturalized citizens of Canada
- Hong Kong emigrants to Canada
- Canadian politicians of Hong Kong descent
- Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia
- Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
- Liberal Party of Canada MPs
- Members of the 26th Canadian Ministry
- Members of the 27th Canadian Ministry
