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Rechie Valdez | |
|---|---|
 Valdez in 2021 | |
| Minister of Small Business | |
| Assumed office July 26, 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Mary Ng |
| Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville | |
| Assumed office September 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Gagan Sikand |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rechie Aileen Salazar[1] September 17, 1980 Kitwe, Zambia |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence(s) | Mississauga, Ontario |
Rechie Aileen Valdez (née Salazar, born September 17, 1980)[1][2] is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and politician, serving as the Minister of Small Business since 2023. She was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 2021 federal election representing Mississauga—Streetsville as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. She is the first Filipino Canadian woman, and second Filipino Canadian after former Manitoba Liberal MP Rey Pagtakhan, to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Canada.
Early life
Valdez was born Rechie Aileen Salazar on September 17, 1980 to overseas Filipino workers Zosimo Jr. and Normita Salazar in Kitwe, Zambia. The family eventually migrated to Canada in 1989, residing in the Erin Mills neighborhood of Mississauga, Ontario together with her brother.
Valdez went to St. Joseph Secondary School and Holy Name of Mary College School where she graduated in 1993; and completed a computer science degree at the University of Windsor in 2003.[1]
Career
Valdez spent a few years in the financial sector before venturing into business. She owned a baking business, had competed in The Big Bake on Food Network Canada, and hosted and produced a television show Fearlessly Creative on Filipino TV.[2]
Personal life
She is married to Christopher Valdez and has two children.[3][4] Outside politics, Valdez plays basketball as a hobby, where she once held a basketball fundraising activity for Montreal Children's Hospital and SickKids in Toronto.[2]
Election results
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Mississauga—Streetsville | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Rechie Valdez | 23,698 | 47.3 | -3.1 | $57,311.79 | |||
| Conservative | Jasveen Rattan | 17,131 | 34.2 | +1.1 | $62,172.94 | |||
| New Democratic | Farina Hassan | 6,186 | 12.3 | +2.0 | $3,193.29 | |||
| People's | Gurdeep Wolosz | 1,851 | 3.7 | +2.5 | $2,365.54 | |||
| Green | Chris Hill | 1,048 | 2.1 | -2.5 | $298.25 | |||
| Animal Protection | Natalie Spizzirri | 210 | 0.4 | ±0.0 | $2,470.94 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 50,124 | 99.3 | – | $115,206.97 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 333 | 0.7 | ||||||
| Turnout | 50,457 | 58.7 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 85,976 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -2.1 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[5] | ||||||||
References
- ^ a b c Cabana, Ysh (January 25, 2024). "Rechie Valdez". Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ^ a b c Aiello, Rachel (October 19, 2021). "'I feel a great responsibility': Meet Liberal Rechie Valdez, Canada's first Filipina MP". CTV News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ^ "Rechie Valdez makes history as first Filipino woman elected Member of Parliament in Canada". The Georgia Straight. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Liberal Rechie Valdez wins Mississauga-Streetsville". Toronto Star. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
External links
