Ontario: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Cabinet includes Maryam Monsef, the youngest minister at age 30, who came to Canada as a refugee from Afghanistan.
Monsef becomes Minister of Democratic Institutions in the federal Cabinet.
She was elected Member of Parliament for Peterborough-Kawartha during the October 19th federal election, with 29,159 votes — 43.8 per cent of the popular vote.
“Canadians stood up, and they demanded that they be heard,” Monsef said during her victory speech, as quoted in the Peterborough Examiner. “They rejected the easy rhetoric of fear and division.”
Speculation had been rife earlier this week that Trent University graduate Monsef was being considered for a Cabinet position, given Trudeau’s election promise that his government would feature gender parity and reflect Canada’s ethnic and regional diversity.
“I’m honoured to serve Canadians as Minister of Democratic Institutions alongside an excellent team & grateful for the trust placed in me,” Monsef later wrote on her Twitter page, “I look forward to working on my new portfolio & serving the good people of #PtboKawartha as their voice in Ottawa.”
Monsef and her family came to Peterborough 20 years ago, after fleeing the Taliban regime, according to her biography on the Liberal Party website.
She has been a member of over community based action committees, served on numerous boards, and is a highly sought after speaker on topics such as leadership, youth, women and community action, her profile says.
Monsef co-founded the Red Pashmina Campaign, which has raised over $150,000 for women and girls in Afghanistan, while also recognising local women of impact.
