Bardish Chagger

The Honourable
Bardish Chagger
PC MP
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Assumed office
August 19, 2016
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Maxime Bernier
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Waterloo
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by (Riding Established)
Personal details
Born (1980-04-06) April 6, 1980
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Political party Liberal
Residence Waterloo, Ontario
Alma mater University of Waterloo
Profession Community organizer
Religion Sikh
Website bchagger.liberal.ca

Bardish Chagger PC MP (born April 6, 1980) is a Canadian politician who is the current Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism and the Member of Parliament for the riding of Waterloo. Chagger was elected as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 Canadian election.[1][2]

Chagger assumed the responsibilities of Leader of the Government in the House of Commons on August 19, 2016, in addition to the responsibilities she already held as Minister of Small Business and Tourism.[3]

Chagger was appointed as the first female Leader of the Government in the House of Commons by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Early life and career

Chagger's parents immigrated to Waterloo from India in the 1970s. Her father, Gurminder "Gogi" Chagger, was active in Liberal Party politics and an admirer of Pierre Trudeau, and Chagger's first involvement in politics came in the 1993 federal election as a 13-year-old volunteer for Andrew Telegdi's successful campaign in Waterloo. She attended the University of Waterloo, with aspirations to become a nurse, but she subsequently became an executive assistant to Telegdi, who represented Waterloo in the House of Commons for the Liberals from 1993 to 2008.[4]

Chagger graduated from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor's degree in science.[5] After Telegedi's defeat in 2008, Chagger became a director of special events for the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre.[5]

Federal politics

Chagger volunteered for Justin Trudeau's 2013 party leadership bid, and subsequently became the Liberal Party's candidate in the newly reconstituted Waterloo riding. She took 50% of the vote and defeated two-term Conservative incumbent Peter Braid, who had earlier ousted her former employer Andrew Telegdi.[4][5]

Minister for Small Business and Tourism

On November 4, 2015 Chagger was sworn in as Minister of Small Business and Tourism.[6]

Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

On August 19, 2016, Chagger was sworn in as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons replacing Dominic Leblanc in the position. She retained her responsibilities as Minister of Small Business and Tourism.[3]

Electoral record

Canadian federal election, 2015: Waterloo
Party Candidate Votes%∆%Expenditures
LiberalBardish Chagger 29,752 49.7 +11.38 –
ConservativePeter Braid 19,318 32.3 -9.08 –
New DemocraticDiane Freeman 8,928 14.9 -0.04 –
GreenRichard Walsh 1,713 2.9 -1.78 –
Animal AllianceEmma Hawley-Yan 138 0.2 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 59,849100.0   $211,168.95
Total rejected ballots 198––
Turnout 60,047––
Eligible voters 77,312
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +10.23%

References

  1. ↑ "Liberal Chagger takes Waterloo", Waterloo Region Record, 20 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "19 Indian-Canadians elected to Canadian parliament". The Economic Times. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Bardish Chagger adds government House leader to small business, tourism duties". CBC News. 19 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 Mercer, Greg (27 October 2015). "Newly elected Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger loves the political life". The Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger named to Justin Trudeau's cabinet". CBC News. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Record Staff, Waterloo MP Chagger named to federal cabinet, The Waterloo Region Record, November 4, 2015

External links

29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Dominic LeBlanc Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
2016-present		 Incumbent
Maxime Bernier Minister of Small Business and Tourism
2015-present		 Incumbent
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/4/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.