Who Is Rechie Valdez, the First Filipino-Canadian Woman in the Canadian Parliament?
Earlier this week, Filipino-Canadian Rechie Valdez was sworn in as Canada’s Minister of Small Business. The appointment makes her the first Filipino-American woman to be part of the Canadian Cabinet. It also marks the second time Valdez has made history in Canadian politics.
Valdez is a well-respected Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and lawmaker in the country. Born and raised in Zambia, Southern Africa, she immigrated to Canada together with her parents, Zosimo and Normita Salazar, in 1989 when she was nine. She is currently married to Christopher Valdez and has two children.
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Who Is Minister of Small Business Rechie Valdez?
In the past, she spent 15 years as a corporate banker. Valdez also operated her own baking business, Chietopia, which incorporates Filipino influences into pastries. Her products can be found in grocery chains in Mississauga. As a community organizer, she's championed initiatives that center around female entrepreneurship programs.
With the Liberal Party, she would become a representative of Mississauga-Streetsville. When she was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 2021, she became only the second Filipino-Canadian to be a member of Parliament in Canada. The last one was former Manitoba Liberal MP Rey Pagtakhan, who was elected 17 years prior.
Among her main focuses included measures for the advancement of better healthcare investment, the gender equality gap, and small businesses. She was part of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association and the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, as well.
One of her biggest highlights is the creation of the national women’s entrepreneurship day bill. She even seconded the bill for the national indigenous teachers day. In her role as MP, Valdez will handle the committees on veterans affairs and agriculture and agri-food.
