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Rechie Valdez

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The Honourable
Rechie Valdez
PC MP
Valdez in 2021
Minister for Women and Gender Equality
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 13, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded byMarci Ien
(Women and Gender Equality and Youth)
Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 13, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded byGerry Ritz
(Minister of State)
Chief Government Whip
In office
March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded byMona Fortier
Succeeded byMark Gerretsen
Minister of Small Business
In office
July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byMary Ng
Succeeded byPosition discontinued
Member of Parliament
for Mississauga—Streetsville
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 20, 2021
Preceded byGagan Sikand
Personal details
Born
Rechie Aileen Salazar[1]

(1980-09-17) September 17, 1980 (age 44)
Kitwe, Zambia
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal
Residence(s)Mississauga, Ontario
Alma materUniversity of Windsor
ProfessionPolitician

Rechie Aileen Valdez (née Salazar, born September 17, 1980)[1][2] is a Canadian politician who has been Minister for Women and Gender Equality, and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) since 2025. She was previously Minister of Small Business from 2023 to 2025 and Chief Government Whip in 2025. A member of the Liberal Party, Valdez was elected as the member of Parliament (MP) for Mississauga—Streetsville in the 2021 federal election. She is the first Filipino Canadian woman to serve as a Cabinet minister and MP.[3]

Early life, education and work

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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 neighbourhood 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

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Valdez spent 15 years in corporate banking, before venturing into business.[3] 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]

Political career

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Valdez was elected to Parliament in the 2021 federal election. She was named Minister of Small Business in 2023 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. In 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney named her Chief Government Whip from March to May, before she was appointed as Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism).[4]

She is the first woman of Filipino heritage to be elected as a MP and serve as a Cabinet minister.[3]

Personal life

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She is married to Christopher Valdez, and has two children.[5][6] 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

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2025 Canadian federal election: Mississauga—Streetsville
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Rechie Valdez 31,287 51.53 +4.19
Conservative Sue McFadden 27,231 44.85 +10.53
New Democratic Bushra Asghar 1,388 2.29 –9.80
Green Chris Hill 439 0.72 –1.41
People's Logan Araujo 366 0.60 –3.13
Total valid votes/expense limit 60,711
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 60,711 69.96
Eligible voters 86,785
Liberal notional hold Swing –3.17
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]
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[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Cabana, Ysh (January 25, 2024). "Rechie Valdez". Canadian Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c "Minister Rechie Valdez's Historic Appointment | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  4. ^ "Profile". lop.parl.ca. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "Rechie Valdez makes history as first Filipino woman elected Member of Parliament in Canada". The Georgia Straight. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Liberal Rechie Valdez wins Mississauga-Streetsville". Toronto Star. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  7. ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  8. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  9. ^ "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
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