Maryam Monsef

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The Honourable
Maryam Monsef
PC MP
مریم منصف
Minister of Democratic Institutions
Assumed office
November 4, 2015
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Preceded by Pierre Poilievre
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Peterborough—Kawartha
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded by Dean Del Mastro
Personal details
Born 1985
Afghanistan
Political party Liberal
Alma mater Trent University

Maryam Monsef, PC MP (Persian: مریم منصف‎‎) is a Canadian politician. She was elected to represent the riding of Peterborough—Kawartha as a Liberal member the House of Commons of Canada in 2015.[1] On November 4, 2015, she was sworn in to the 29th Canadian Ministry as Minister of Democratic Institutions in the federal Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau.[2]

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Monsef was born in Afghanistan, and initially lived with her family in Herat. Her father died in unclear circumstances when Monsef was a toddler; commenting on the incident, she remarked that "[t]he most we know is he was caught in a crossfire between the border of Iran and Afghanistan." Her uncle had, years earlier, vanished along with several roommates while attending the University of Kabul, in circumstances suggested to have been connected to anti-communist political activity. Monsef's mother Soriya moved her three daughters back and forth between Iran and Afghanistan, awaiting an end to hostilities, but the family struggled in Iran, where they faced the risk of deportation. In 1996, when Monsef was 11, her mother opted to move the family to Canada. The journey involved traveling through Iran, Pakistan, and Jordan.[3]

Upon arrival, the family took up residence in Peterborough, where Monsef's uncle already lived. They relied on the support of several charity organizations, including the YMCA and the Salvation Army.[4] Monsef has continued to raise money for humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.[5]

Politics[edit]

She ran for mayor of Peterborough in 2014, finishing a close second. Later that same year, she was chosen to represent the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election.[6] She was elected on October 19, 2015 with 43.8% of the vote.[7] Monsef is the first MP to have been born in Afghanistan.[8]

Monsef was appointed as Minister of Democratic Institutions in Justin Trudeau's Cabinet on November 4, 2015.[9] She is the fourth-youngest Canadian minister ever appointed to the Cabinet.[10] Other websites claim she's the second-youngest.[11]

According to The Hill Times, Monsef has been named President of the Queen's Privy Council in Canada although it is not clear whether she has yet been sworn in to that office.[12] Monsef has described this position as "largely ceremonial."[13] Being appointed President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, albeit a ceremonial office that involves presiding in matters involving the ceremonial privity between the Queen of Canada and the entirety of Elizabeth II's Canadian Ministers, and not only the federal Cabinet--the actual functionary position of heading Canada's Privy Council Office being held by the Clerk of the Privy Council--is nonetheless one of the greatest active ceremonial honours that can be bestowed by the Governor-in-Council on a federal Cabinet Minister, in the Canadian conception of the Westminster system.[citation needed]

Electoral record[edit]

Canadian federal election, 2015: Peterborough—Kawartha
Party Candidate Votes % ∆% Expenditures
Liberal Maryam Monsef 29,159 43.82 +22.42 –
Conservative Michael Skinner 23,335 35.07 -14.60 –
New Democratic Dave Nickle 12,437 18.69 -6.19 –
Green Doug Mason 1,480 2.22 -1.34 –
Strength in Democracy Toban Leckie 131 0.20 – –
Total valid votes/Expense limit 66,542 100.0 – $232,025.85
Total rejected ballots 190 0.28 -0.01
Turnout 66,732 73.19 +7.88
Eligible voters 91,180
Source: Elections Canada[14][15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Maryam Monsef wins in Peterborough-Kawartha, Global News, October 20, 2015.
  2. ^ Maryam Monsef named to Trudeau cabinet
  3. ^ Althia Raj, Maryam Monsef Came To Canada As A Refugee. Now, She's A Cabinet Minister., The Huffington Post, November 4, 2015.
  4. ^ Althia Raj, Maryam Monsef Came To Canada As A Refugee. Now, She's A Cabinet Minister., The Huffington Post, November 4, 2015.
  5. ^ Monsef becomes Peterborough's first female MP, youngest MP ever elected in riding, The Peterborough Examiner, October 20, 2015.
  6. ^ Dale Clifford, "Maryam Monsef wins Grit vote, will run to replace Dean Del Mastro", The Peterborough Examiner, May 4, 2015.
  7. ^ Peterborough-Kawartha Election Results, Elections Canada.
  8. ^ "Meet Maryam Monsef, Canada's first Afghan-born MP", The Current, CBC Radio One, October 22, 2015.
  9. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/full-list-of-justin-trudeau-s-cabinet-1.3300699
  10. ^ Althia Raj, Maryam Monsef Came To Canada As A Refugee. Now, She's A Cabinet Minister., HuffPost Canada, November 4, 2015.
  11. ^ Evan Solomon and John Geddes, The Trudeau cabinet: Assessing the picks and challenges ahead, Maclean's, November 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Tim Naumetz (9 November 2015). "Youngest Cabinet minister Monsef also President of Queen's Privy Council". The Hill Times. The youngest woman in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet, who arrived in Canada with her family as a child refugee from Afghanistan 20 years ago, was quietly named President of the Queen’s Privy Council in Canada. 
  13. ^ Sarah Frank (12 November 2015). "Peterborough MP Maryam Monsef's schedule filling up as she takes on committee positions". myKawartha.com. 
  14. ^ Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Peterborough—Kawartha, 30 September 2015
  15. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates

External links[edit]

29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet Post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Pierre Poilievre Minister of Democratic Institutions
November 4, 2015-present		 Incumbent
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