First Somali-Canadian MP Ahmed Hussen is new Minister of Immigration
Born and raised in Somalia, Ahmed immigrated to Canada in 1993 where he settled in Regent Park and quickly gravitated towards public service.
Prime Minister Justine Trudeau has shuffled key cabinet ministers at a swearing-in ceremony that took place at Rideau Hall.
Ahmed Hussen, the Liberal MP for Toronto riding of York-South Weston becomes Canada’s new minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Chrystia Freeland leaves the international trade docket to be the new minister of Foreign Affairs, replacing MP Stephane Dion; who was offered the position of Canada’s ambassador to the European Union & Germany.
Other changes include:
- Francois-Philippe Champagne becomes minister of International Trade.
- Patty Hajdu moves from Status of Women to Labour.
- Maryam Monsef transferred from Democratic Institutions to Status of Women.
- Karina Gould is new minister of Democratic Institutions
- Outgoing Immigration Minister John McCallum has been named Canada’s ambassador to China.
These changes come in just 10 days before the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
About Ahmed Hussen
The MP is also a lawyer and social activist with a proven track record of leadership and community empowerment.
Born and raised in Somalia, Ahmed immigrated to Canada in 1993 where he settled in Regent Park and quickly gravitated towards public service. In 2002, he co-founded the Regent Park Community Council and was able to secure a $500 million revitalization project for Regent Park, all while ensuring the interest of the area’s 15,000 residents were protected.
Ahmed also served as the National President of the Canadian Somali Congress – a Somali Community organization that works with national and regional authorities to advocate on issues of importance to the Canadians of Somali heritage and strengthen civic engagement and integration. His results-driven reputation led to an invitation to join the task force for modernizing income security for adults in the Toronto City Summit Alliance.
The minister is fluent in English, Somali and Swahili. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (History) from York University and his Law Degree from the University of Ottawa. In 2004, the Toronto Star recognized him as one of ten individuals in Toronto to have made substantial contributions to his community.
~Wakenya Canada.
