MP Valdez named new cabinet minister

MP Valdez named new cabinet minister

MP Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business

First Filipina-Canadian appointed to federal post

By Veronica C. Silva

The Philippine Reporter

July 26, 2023

MP Rechie Valdez (Mississauga-Streetsville) made history again as the first Filipina-Canadian to be named to a federal cabinet post. In the July 26 cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Valdez as one of seven new ministers. The rookie parliamentarian was emotional as she was visibly sworn in as the new Minister of Small Business, her voice cracking as she took her oath almost before the noon hour.

Entrepreneur Valdez follows the footsteps of Manitoba MP, Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, who was the first Filipino MP in Parliament Hill and was also a cabinet minister — as Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of Veterans Affairs.

The cabinet reshuffle also saw some long-time cabinet members replaced or moved, including Marco Mendicino (Eglinton-Lawrence), former Minister of Public Safety and Immigration and also previously Minister of Immigration, and Omar Alghabra (Mississauga Centre), most recently former Minister of Transportation).

Alghabra was helpful in Valdez’s run for office in 2021, and he was even seen campaigning with Valdez. On her Twitter account — when Alghabra said on July 25, 2021 that he won’t run for re-election — Valdez thanked Alghabra for his “support since day 1.”

Valdez qualifications

Valdez is herself an entrepreneur, owning a small business prior to her political run.

Valdez’s appointment came as welcome news to the Filipino diaspora in Canada.

Grant Gonzales, political analyst, said Valdez is “a strong leader, who has been an active representative for both Mississauga and Filipino communities across the country.”

“Minister Valdez’s experience as an entrepreneur prior to being elected will serve her well in the new mandate of supporting small businesses across Canada, including many hard-working Filipino-Canadians who are the lifeblood of this country’s economy,” said Paul Jonathan Saguil, co-founder of Filipino Canadian Political Association.

Saguil, Gonzales, and Joseph Guiyab, co-founded the political association with the hope of encouraging more active participation of kababayans in politics. Saguil himself ran for MPP in Willowdale, Ont. in 2022.

On the House of Commons website, Valdez is described as “committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her community are heard.”

And commitment to the community’s voice is exactly what kababayans are asking for. While everyone’s understandably elated at the appointment, they are also expecting much from Valdez. Pending the issuance of Trudeau’s ministerial mandate, some kababayans already have a wish list for Valdez.

The wish list of Ben Corpuz, community and labour leader, is for Valdez’ ministry to help “struggling small Filipino business who cannot do much to meet their obligations.”

Other items in his wish list include:

• Creat(ing) a more conducive environment for small business to thrive and be competitive, and

• Reduc(ing) red tape possible seed money for start-up cost for qualified innovative initiatives specially from the young entrepreneurs or youth. “This will spur and inspire youth to venture owning their own small business and help the economy and make Canada competitive,” he added.

Saguil said the new Cabinet can also help Canadians face “critical challenges, such as the rising cost of living and enhancing productivity so all Canadians can prosper.”