Mississauga–Streetsville MP Rechie Valdez has been appointed to two key positions in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced federal cabinet, serving as Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism.
Valdez, a trailblazer in Canadian politics, became the first Filipina-Canadian cabinet minister when she was appointed Minister of Small Business under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023. Her latest appointments, announced Tuesday morning at Rideau Hall, mark a continued rise for the former banker and entrepreneur, who was first elected in 2021.
Valdez’s new cabinet duties reflect a combination of experience and community engagement, aligning with Carney’s promise to deliver “clear focus and decisive action” across government. “Canada’s new Ministry is built to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve,” Carney said in a statement. “Everyone is expected and empowered to show leadership.”
In March, Carney had named Valdez as Chief Government Whip shortly after assuming office, making her one of the few MPs to hold multiple cabinet-level responsibilities in a short span.
Valdez, a mother of two, has been widely recognized for her community leadership and was honored internationally in 2022 with the “Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World” Award. Her political and personal journey has inspired a new generation of Filipino-Canadian leaders.
Among other notable Brampton-area appointments in Carney’s cabinet, Shafqat Ali becomes President of the Treasury Board, while Maninder Sidhu takes over as Minister of International Trade.
The cabinet includes 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, with Valdez playing a central role in both economic and social development portfolios. Her dual appointments also reflect the Carney government’s focus on empowering diverse voices in shaping Canada’s policy direction.