Justin Trudeau, Candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party | March 27, 2013

The Empire Club of Canada Presents:

Justin Trudeau, Candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party

Justin was first elected to Parliament in the Montreal riding of Papineau in 2008, defying political insiders who believed that a federalist candidate would have little chance against an incumbent member of the Bloc Québécois. In the past five years, he has worked tirelessly to represent an electoral district where close to 50 percent of voters' mother tongue is neither French nor English. For Justin, the people of Papineau exemplify Canada's rich diversity, evolving identity, and the struggle for equality of opportunity. He has served the hard working middle class families and small businesses of his constituency who, in recent years have faced economic challenges. He has worked alongside local community organisations by bringing together different cultures and religions, and establishing local initiatives on social issues, the environment, and the arts. As a Member of Parliament, Justin has had many responsibilities including the Liberal Party Critic for Youth, Post Secondary Education, Amateur Sports, Multiculturalism, Citizenship and Immigration. Furthermore, he previously sat on the Parliamentary committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development and Citizenship and Immigration. As a Parliamentarian, and prior to that, Justin travelled the country and met with Canadians in every region, consistently speaking about shared values, the importance of youth empowerment, protecting our wilderness, and living up to our place in the world. Some of Justin's proudest accomplishments include his adv 2010, his activism to protect the Nahanni river in the Northwest Territories in 2005 and holding the post of chair of Katimavik, Canada's national youth service program, from 2002 to 2006. At the heart of Justin's professional achievements, whether as a math and French teacher in British Columbia, or his leadership role in Katimavik, or even his strong defense of Quebec as a Member of Parliament, is deep respect for Canadians coast to coast to coast and his desire to serve them. Justin has a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of British Columbia. He was born on December 25, 1971, the eldest son of the late former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Margaret Sinclair Trudeau Kemper. Justin is married to Sophie Grégoire. The couple welcomed their first child, Xavier James Trudeau on October 18, 2007 and added to their family with the arrival of Ella Grace Trudeau on February 5, 2009.

Speaker: Justin Trudeau, Candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party

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