Parliamentary Committee Notes: House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU)

Liberal Party of Canada

Hon. Jim Carr (Chair)

Riding:      

South Centre (Manitoba)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

As a native of Winnipeg and resident of Winnipeg South Centre, The Honourable Jim Carr was the founding co-chair of the Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council and board members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Canada West Foundation, and the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at the University of Manitoba.

He worked as an editorial writer and columnist with the Winnipeg Free Press as well as for CBC Radio. He entered public life in 1988, when he was elected to represent Fort Rouge in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and was deputy leader of his party.
Mr. Carr went on to become the founding CEO of the Business Council of Manitoba, where he worked alongside business leaders to address issues critical to Manitobans and Canadians. He was one of the architects of the ‘Winnipeg Consensus’ process, which brought together Canadian think tanks and energy leaders and informed the Canadian Energy Strategy in 2015.

Upon election in 2015, he was appointed Minister of Natural Resources. In this role, he emphasized the importance of environmental and regulatory systems. In July 2018, he was appointed Minister of International Trade Diversification where he was involved in international trade agreements.

Paul Chiang

Riding:        

Markham-Unionville (Ontario)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Born in Karachi, Pakistan from Chinese parents, Paul Chiang immigrated to Toronto in 1976.

Mr. Chiang recently retired from the York Regional Police Sergeant, where he served his community with distinction for 28 years.

He recognizes the importance of representation, equity, and inclusivity. This is what took him to take a leadership role as Sergeant of the Diversity and Cultural Resources Unit. His ability to speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Hubei, Hakka, Urdu, Hindi, and Punjabi allowed him to help forge strong connections with Markham – Unionville’s diverse communities and bridge gaps between local residents and police service agencies.

Mr. Chiang received the Police Exemplary Service medal, for his steadfast service to the community and was nominated by the City of Markham as the recipient of the Queen Diamond Jubilee medal.

Pam Damoff

Riding:        

Oakville North-Burlington, ON

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Ms. Damoff has lived in Oakville for over two decades and is a community activist and business professional with over 25 years of corporate experience on Bay Street. Pam served as an Oakville Town Councillor from 2010 to 2015.

In 2019, Ms. Damoff was instrumental in securing $150 million in federal funding to support the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network, working for over three years with Dr. Victor Ling, fellow Members of Parliament, the Minister of Health and cancer research institutes and hospitals across Canada. Since being re-elected in 2019, she has advocated for support for business, residents, and the community to weather the storm of the pandemic.

She is a proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Paul Harris Fellow recognition from Rotary International, and the Linda Jones Women’s Activist Award from the Oakville District Labour Council for her community service.

She is passionate about many causes including climate change, criminal justice reform and strict firearms safety legislation, reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, support for persons living with disabilities, women’s empowerment, mental health, environmental protection, and cycling and improved cycling infrastructure.

Taleeb Noormohamed

Riding:        

Vancouver Granville (British Columbia)

Parliamentary Experience:

Mr. Noormohamed served as a senior official in the federal government from 2002 to 2007, which included establishing the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security.

He then served as Director of the Air India Review Secretariat and Special Advisor to the Hon. Bob Rae. In 2018, he was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

He served as a Vice President at HomeAway (now Expedia), and then as Chief Growth Officer at Farfetch.

He began volunteering at Vancouver’s Covenant House in 2001 where he established a mentorship program for at-risk youth. In 2003, he joined the Board of Directors on which he served until 2012.

Mr. Noormohamed’s commitment to volunteerism and community development was recognized in 2007, when he was awarded the “Governor General’s Caring Canadian” Award, and again in 2013, when he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University, a Master’s degree in International Education Policy from Harvard University and attended Oxford University for his doctoral studies.

Peter Schiefke

Riding:        

Vaudreuil-Soulanges (Quebec)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Mr. Schiefke holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concordia University and a Master of Science in Renewable Resources from McGill University.

While a student at Concordia in 2002, Mr. Schiefke launched the We Will Always Remember (WWAR) project, aimed at raising awareness among youth of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers around the world, for which he received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2003. 

Mr. Schiefke also co-founded Youth Action Montreal in 2006 with Mohamed Shuriye to promote the engagement of Montreal college and university students in sustainable development and environmental protection. In 2007, this organization organized the conference "Less Talk, More Action: A Youth Summit on Climate Change", which was attended by Al Gore and David Suzuki and brought together thousands of people at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. In 2009, he was appointed National Director of The Climate Reality Project Canada Foundation, and after his term was appointed to the Board of Directors.

Mr. Schiefke was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Climate Change in 2019 and was asked to take a lead role in the Government’s efforts to protect 25% of Canada’s Nature by 2025 and update and strengthen Canada’s Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

Ron McKinnon

Riding:        

Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam (British Columbia)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

As a long-time resident of Port Coquitlam, Mr. McKinnon is a proud community advocate, from serving on the Evergreen Cultural Centre board, to working with Amnesty International.

Through his annual Community Champions program, he celebrates the leaders in his riding that are helping to build and better Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam.

Recognizing that British Columbia is seized by an opioid crisis, he introduced a Private Members Bill, the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act. His legislation became law in May 2017 after receiving unanimous all-party support in both the House of Commons and Senate.

Prior to his election, he was a successful business owner and computer systems analyst for major firms in Canada, the US, and overseas. In the 1970s, he worked as a meteorological technician for Environment Canada’s Atmospheric Environment Service.

Ron has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alberta and an honours diploma in Computer Technology from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

Conservative Party of Canada

Raquel Dancho (Vice-Chair)

Riding:        

Kildonan-St. Paul (Manitoba)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Born and raised in Beausejour, Manitoba, Ms. Dancho was educated at McGill University in Montreal.  She has a unique perspective on the different dynamics of rural, urban, eastern and western Canada.

Most recently she has been critic for Future Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and has served on three House of Commons Committees addressing issues affecting women, immigration, and social development.

Ms. Dancho was recognized by Maclean’s annual Parliamentarians of the Year Awards as a finalist in the Rising Star category.

Dane Lloyd

Riding:          

Sturgeon River-Parkland (Alberta)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Mr. Lloyd is a graduated from Trinity Western University with a degree in History and Political Studies in 2013.

A former Parliamentary Advisor to St. Albert-Edmonton MP Michael Cooper, he previously worked for the Honourable Ed Fast, former Minister of International Trade, and worked under the Honourable Jason Kenney at the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

He currently holds a commission as an infantry officer in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves.

Doug Shipley

Riding:        

Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte (Ontario)

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Prior to being elected as Member of Parliament, Mr. Shipley was elected to the City of Barrie council for three consecutive terms. While serving as Councillor for Ward 3, he gained a great deal of experience as Chair of Finance and Corporate Services, Chair of Infrastructure, Investment and Development Services Committee, and Deputy Chair of the Barrie Police Services Board. He also sat on several committees, including the Barrie and Area Physician Recruitment Task Force.

Mr. Shipley has successfully owned and operated a small business for over 20 years. He has been selected to serve on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and previously served on the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

Tako Van Popta

Riding:

Langley-Aldergrove, BC

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Mr. Van Popta received his undergraduate degree from Trinity Western University and attended the University of British Columbia to obtain his law degree.  He articled at McQuarrie Hunter LLP and worked with the firm for over 30 years becoming a managing partner and overseeing the growth that would lead McQuarrie Hunter to become the largest law firm in the South Fraser River. He has a keen interest in business development and urban planning, having served as a Director on the Surrey Board of Trade and the Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association.

Mr. Van Popta served two terms on the Board of Directors of Langley Memorial Hospital from 1990 to 1998. He also spent over 10 years volunteering at Elim Housing Society, an aging senior campus with offices in Surrey and in Chilliwack. As Chairman of the Board, he helped define the long-term vision that would transform Elim Village into a senior care facility that will help more seniors live in independent and supportive living communities.

Bloc Québécois

Kristina Michaud (Vice-Chair)

Riding:        

Avignon-La Mitis-Matane-Matapédia, QC

Parliamentary Experience:

Originally from Matapédienne, Kristina Michaud studied at the Cégep de Rimouski and then at Université Laval where she obtained a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Modern Languages and where she undertook a master's degree in International Relations. In November 2018, she served as a political advisor in the cabinet of The Member for Matane-Matapédia and interim leader of the Parti Québécois, Pascal Bérubé.

She was the youngest person elected to the House of Commons in Quebec and the first woman to represent her riding.

In addition to being appointed Bloc Québécois critic for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, she is also Critic for Climate Change and Youth.

New Democratic Party of Canada

Alaistair MacGregor

Riding:        

Cowichen-Malahat-Langford, British Columbia

Parliamentary Experience:

Activities/Experience of Interest to the Portfolio:

Alistair MacGregor was born in Victoria, British Columbia and raised in Duncan where he attended Cowichan Secondary School. While working summers as a tree planter, he graduated from University of Victoria in 2003 with Bachelor of Arts, and subsequently from Royal Roads University in 2008 with a Masters of Arts with a focus in professional communication. In 2007 he had moved to Duncan where he began working as the constituency assistant to Member of Parliament Jean Crowder. 

On January 31, 2018, MacGregor was named the NDP's critic for Agriculture and Agri-food, and serves as the vice-chair of the parliamentary standing committee on Agriculture and Agri-food.

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