Julian Fantino was first elected to the House of Commons in 2010 and re-elected in 2011.

In January 2015, Mr. Fantino was appointed Associate Minister of National Defence. Previously, he was appointed Minister of State (Seniors) in January 2011, Associate Minister of National Defence in May 2011, Minister of International Cooperation in July 2012 and Minister of Veterans Affairs in July 2013.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Mr. Fantino served almost 40 years in law enforcement. as Chief of the London Police, He was Chief of the York Regional Police and of the Toronto Police Service. He served as Ontario's Commissioner of Emergency Management Preparedness and as Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. Mr. Fantino is also the former President of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police , the former Secretary Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the former Vice-President at Large of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Mr. Fantino is active in local and international victim rights groups, including as an honorary member of Canadian Crime Victims Foundation. He has served on both the National and Ontario boards of the Canadian Forces Liaison Council in support of reservist soldiers. He is a member of the local Legion and is also actively involved in community-based organizations, including hospital development and various charities and programs to make organized sports accessible to disadvantaged children. He supports the Hospice Vaughan and formerly sat on the board of directors of Vaughan’s Villa Leonardo Gambin long-term care facility.

He and his wife, Liviana, have two children and four grandchildren.