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Members biographies

John Brassard, Chair
CPC - Barrie–Innisfil, Ontario

John Brassard

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2015
  • Re-elected: 2019, 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Former firefighter for 30 years and city councillor for Barrie City for 9 years. The MP also served as an executive member of the Markham Professional Firefighters’ Association, including a three-year term as President.
 

Political And Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic: Urban Affairs (Transport) (2015-2016); Veterans Affairs
  • Deputy Critic: Agriculture and Agri-Food (Rural Affairs) (2015-2017)
  • Deputy Whip of the Conservative Party (2017-2020)
  • Shadow Cabinet: Minister for Veterans Affairs (Veterans Affairs) (2020-2021); Ethics and Accountable Government (Treasury Board) (2021-2022)
  • House Leader (2022)
  • Member: Member of the Board of Internal Economy (2022); Joint Interparliamentary Council (2017-2020)
  • Former Member: Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Canada-China Legislative Association

Committee Membership

  • Chair: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2022); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing
  • Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2022)
  • Vice-Chair: Veterans Affairs (2020-2021)
  • Member: Former Member Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-2022 | Present); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-2022 | Present); Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee (Present); Liaison (Present);
  • (inter alia): Afghanistan (2021-2022); Veterans Affairs (2016-2017 | 2020-2021); Procedure and House Affairs (2019-2020 | 2020); COVID-19 Pandemic (2020); Subcommittee on the Code of Conduct for Members of the House of Commons: Sexual Harassment (2018-2019)

Iqra Khalid, Vice-Chair
LPC - Mississauga–Erin Mills, Ontario

Iqra Khalid

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2015
  • Re-elected: 2019, 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Studied criminology at York University and completed her law degree at the University of Michigan. The MP later worked for the City of Mississauga’s legal department.
 

Political And Parliamentary Roles

  • Member: National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (2021 | 2022-Present)
  • Member : Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union; Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association; Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group
  • Vice-Chair: Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
  • Former member: Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly; Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association

Committee Membership

  • Former Chair: Justice and Human Rights (2020-2021); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights (2020-2021)
  • Vice-Chair: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)
  • Member: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present); Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)
  • Former member: Justice and Human Rights; Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights; Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development; COVID-19 Pandemic; Liaison; Scrutiny of Regulations

René Villemure, Vice-Chair
BQ – Trois-Rivières, Québec

René Villemure

Election To The House Of Commons

  • Elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Sherbrooke. He founded the Quebec Institute of Applied Ethics, then Éthikos. He is also involved in the cause of literacy and international Francophonie, particularly with the Literacy Foundation and numerous international organizations in the Francophonie.
 

Political And Parliamentary Roles

  • Critic: International Francophonie (Canadian Heritage) (2021-Present); Ethics, Privacy and Access to Information (Treasury Board) (2021-Present)
  • Member (Inter alia): Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association; Canada-China Legislative Association; Canada- Germany Interparliamentary Group; Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association; Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association; Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group; Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association; Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie

Committee Membership

  • Vice-Chair: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)
  • Member: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics; Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)

Parm Bains
LPC - Steveston—Richmond East, British Columbia

Parm Bains

ElectionTo The House Of Commons

  • Elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Former instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Previously, he was a media and public relations officer with the provincial government.

Committee Membership

  • Member: Government Operations and Estimates (2021-Present); Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021- Present)

Michael Barrett
CPC – Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands And Rideau Lakes, Ontario

Michael Barrett

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2018
  • Re-elected: 2019, 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Attended Algonquin College and enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces. He also worked as a human resources manager and served as a municipal councilor.

Political And Parliamentary Roles

  • Shadow Minister: Ethics and Accountable Government – Treasury Board (2022-Present)
  • Shadow Minister: Health – Health (2022)
  • Deputy House Leader and Co-Chair: Question Period Planning – House of Commons (2021-2022)
  • Shadow Cabinet Minister: Ethics – Treasury Board (2019-2021)

Committee Membership

  • Vice-Chair: Medical Assistance in Dying (2022); Heath (2022)
  • Member: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2020-2021 | 2022-Present); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying (2022); Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2020-2021 | 2022- Present); Government Operations and Estimates (2022-Present)
  • Former Member: Justice and Human Rights (2019); COVID-19 Pandemic (2020); Procedure and House Affairs (2021-2022); Subcommittee on Private Members' Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (2021-2022); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Health (2022)

Hon. Greg Fergus
LPC - Hull—Aylmer, Quebec

HON. Greg Fergus

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2015
  • Re-elected: 2019, 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained two bachelor’s degrees—one in social science and one in international relations. He has also studied international relations at the master’s level. Over the past 25 years, he has worked in the private and public sectors, with not-for- profit organizations and in the academic sector.

Political And Parliamentary Roles

  • Parliamentary Secretary: Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board (2021-Present); Prime Minister, to the President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government (2021); President of the Treasury Board and to the Minister of Digital Government (2019-2021); Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (2015-2017)
  • Member (inter alia): Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association; Canada-China Legislative Association; Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie; Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly

Committee Membership

  • Member: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2020-2021 | 2021-Present); Procedure and House Affairs (2021- Present)
  • Former member: Public Accounts (2020-2021); COVID-19 Pandemic (2020); Finance (2017-2019)
  • Parliamentary Secretary — Non-Voting Member: Government Operations and Estimates (2019); Public Accounts (2019)

Jacques Gourde
CPC – Lévis—Lotbinière, Quebec

Jacques Gourde

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2006
  • Re-elected: 2008, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained a diploma in farming management and was a producer and exporter of hay in Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage. He was an organizer for the Action Démocratique du Québec from 2003 until his election.
  • Parliamentary Secretary: Prime Minister, for Official Languages and for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (2013-2015); Minister of Public Works and Government Services, for Official Languages and for the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec (2011-2013); Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for Official Languages (2011); Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue (2008-2011); Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (2007-2008); Minister of Natural Resources (2007); Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board (2006-2007)
  • Member and Vice-Chair: Canada-France Inter-Parliamentary Association;
  • Former Member (Inter alia): Board of Internal Economy; Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association; Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie; Canada-China Legislative Association
  • Member: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2013-2014 | 2017-2019 | 2020-2021 | Present)
  • Former Member (inter alia): Official Languages (2011-2012 | 2012-2013 | 2014-2015 | 2021-2022); COVID-19 Pandemic (2020); Agriculture and Agri-Food (2016-2017); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Official Languages (2013-2014 | 2014-2015); Government Operations and Estimates (2009-2010 | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013)

Matthew Green
NDP – Hamilton Centre, Ontario

Matthew Green

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2019
  • Re-elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained a B.A. in political science and legal studies from Acadia University, as well as certificates in government leadership and social enterprise initiatives from Harvard University. Served for the 2014-2018 term as the Ward 3 Councillor on Hamilton City Council. Former Executive Director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion and Former small business owner in Hamilton.
  • Critic: Ethics and Treasury Board (Treasury Board) (2019-2021 | 2021-Present); National Revenue (2019-2021); Public Services and Procurement (Public Services and Procurement Canada) (2019-2021), Treasury Board (Treasury Board) (2019-2021)
  • Deputy critic: Employment, Workforce Development and Labour (Employment and Social Development) (2021- Present); Public Services and Procurement (Public Works and Government Services) (2021-Present)
  • Member: Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association, Canada-Germany Interparliamentary Group, Canada-Ireland Interparliamentary Group, Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group, Canadian Section of ParlAmericas, Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union
  • Joint Chair: Declaration of Emergency (Present)
  • Member: Declaration of Emergency (Present); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present); Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)
  • Former Member: Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2020- 2021); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates (2020 | 2020-2021); Government Operations and Estimates (2020 | 2020-2021); Public Accounts (2020 | 2020-2021); COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)

Lisa Hepfner
LPC – Hamilton Mountain, Ontario

Lisa Hepfner

Election To The House Of Commons

  • Elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained a degree in Political Science from the University of Calgary, a Journalism degree at Ryerson University and a Master’s degree in Communications Management from McMaster University. Served as a veteran journalist with twenty-plus years experience.
  • Member: Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group
  • Former member: Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association; Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group; Canadian Section of ParlAmericas
  • Member: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present); Canadian Heritage (2021-Present); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage (2021-Present)

Damien C. Kurek
CPC – Battle River—Crowfoot, Alberta

Damien C. Kurek

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2019
  • Re-elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Studies and Communications and a Diploma in Biblical Studies from Trinity Western University. Actively involved in conservative politics across Canada including working for the Hon. Kevin Sorenson, MP while Minister of State (Finance) in Ottawa and worked at the Saskatchewan Legislature in a number of policy, communications, and research roles while Brad Wall was Premier.
  • Deputy Shadow Minister : Rural Economic Development and Rural Broadband Strategy (Infrastructure and Communities) (2021-2022)
  • Member: Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, Canada-United Kingdom Inter-Parliamentary Association
  • Vice-Chair: Environment and Sustainable Development (Present)
  • Member: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2020 | 2021-Present); Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (Present)
  • Former Member: COVID-19 Pandemic (2020); Public Safety and National Security (2020-2021)

Ya’ara Saks
LPC – York Centre, Ontario

Ya’ara Saks

Election To The House Of Commons

  • First elected: 2020
  • Re-elected: 2021

Professional Background

  • Education and Career: Obtained an undergraduate degree from McGill University in Political Science and Middle East Studies and master’s degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in International Relations and Diplomacy. Experienced in advisory roles for policy, communications, and project management, having worked in the Office of the Mayor of Jerusalem and in advancing people to people programs as part of the Israeli- Palestinian peace process. Was also a former business owner.
  • Parliamentary Secretary: Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (2021-Present)
  • Member : Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association, Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group, Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group, Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group
  • Member: Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (2021-Present)
  • Former Member: Environment and Sustainable Development (2020-2021); Foreign Affairs and International Development (2020-2021)
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