Yasir Naqvi

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Yasir Naqvi
MP
یاسر عباس نقوی
Naqvi yasir ottawa (cropped).JPG
Member of Parliament
for Ottawa Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 20, 2021
Preceded byCatherine McKenna
39th Attorney General of Ontario
In office
June 13, 2016 – June 29, 2018
PremierKathleen Wynne
Preceded byMadeleine Meilleur
Succeeded byCaroline Mulroney
Member of the Provincial Parliament
for Ottawa Centre
In office
October 10, 2007 – June 6, 2018
Preceded byRichard Patten
Succeeded byJoel Harden
More...
Personal details
Born (1973-01-25) January 25, 1973 (age 49)
Karachi, Pakistan
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal
Other political
affiliations		Ontario Liberal
Children2
ResidenceOttawa, Ontario, Canada
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • politician

Yasir Abbas Naqvi MP (born January 25, 1973) is a Canadian politician who has served as the member of Parliament (MP) for Ottawa Centre since the 2021 federal election, sitting as a Liberal. Prior to his election to the House of Commons, Naqvi was active in Ontario provincial politics, serving as the attorney general of Ontario (2016–2018), minister of community safety and correctional services (2014–2016), and minister of labour (2013–2014). He represented Ottawa Centre in the Legislative Assembly.

Background[]

Naqvi was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan and immigrated to Canada with his family in 1988 at the age of 15.[1][2] Naqvi settled in the Niagara Falls, Ontario-area and attended McMaster University and the University of Ottawa Law School. He was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2001 and began practising in international trade law at Lang Michener LLP, eventually becoming a partner.[2] He left Lang Michener in 2007 to join the Centre for Trade Policy and Law at Carleton University. He was President of the Liberal Party of Ontario.[3]

The Ottawa Citizen named Naqvi as one of its "People to Watch in 2010", with a profile in the January 9, 2010 Saturday Observer headlined "Yasir Naqvi, he's a firecracker".[4] Ottawa Life magazine also included him in its Tenth Annual "Top 50 People in the Capital" list for 2010.[1] In a September 2011 column, Adam Radwanski of The Globe and Mail called Naqvi "possibly the hardest-working constituency MPP in the province."[5]

Prior to entering politics he volunteered with a number of community associations including the Centretown Community Health Centre and the Ottawa Food Bank.[1]

Political career[]

Ontario provincial politics[]

Naqvi ran in the 2007 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa Centre. He defeated New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Will Murray by 2,094 votes.[6] He was re-elected in 2011 and 2014.[7][8]

He was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Rick Bartolucci, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, in the cabinet announcement of 30 October 2007.[9] On 3 October 2008, he was named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue Dwight Duncan. On 24 June 2009 a cabinet shuffle moved John Wilkinson into the role of Minister of Revenue and Naqvi was kept on as his Parliamentary Assistant. On 2 September 2010 Naqvi was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky.[10]

Naqvi introduced six Private Member's Bills – the "Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act",[11] the "City of Ottawa Amendment Act", the "Escaping Domestic Violence Act", the "College and University Student Associations Act", the "Enhancing Red Light Camera System Enforcement Act", and the "Protection of Public Participation Act". Parts of the City of Ottawa Amendment Act were passed as part of the 2010 budget and parts of the Escaping Domestic Violence Act were passed in March 2016 as part of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. On 17 September 2009, Naqvi introduced a co-sponsored notion with NDP member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) France Gélinas declaring the third week of February "Kindness Week", inspired by a successful Kindness Week initiative underway in Ottawa.[12] Naqvi also co-sponsored Toby's Act with NDP MPP France Gelinas and Progressive Conservative (PC) MPP Christine Elliott which added gender identity and gender expression to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

In March 2013, an article appeared in the Toronto Sun which claimed that Naqvi had endorsed an Islamist book on men physically punishing their wives.[13] The following day in the National Post, Naqvi denied having endorsed the book. The Post reported that "Naqvi acknowledged that he wrote a letter of support for the book two years ago, but says he didn't read it…. The minister says he also didn't authorize the use of his name or comments in the "reviews" section of the book."[14]

In February 2013, when Kathleen Wynne took over as Premier, she appointed Naqvi to her first cabinet as Minister of Labour.[15] After the June 2014 election, Naqvi was moved to the position of Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Government House Leader.[16] On 13 June 2016 he assumed the role of Attorney General following a cabinet shuffle.[17]

Naqvi unsuccessfully sought a fourth mandate in the June 2018 Ontario general election.[18] He came in second behind New Democrat Joel Harden.[19]

Federal politics[]

On 30 June 2021, Naqvi announced that he was seeking the Liberal nomination for the federal riding of Ottawa Centre.[20] On 9 August 2021, Naqvi shared that he had officially been nominated as the Liberal candidate to represent Ottawa Centre as Member of Parliament.[21]

Electoral record[]

  • v
  • t
2018 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Joel Harden 29,675 46.08 +25.69
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 21,111 32.78 -18.89
Progressive Conservative Colleen McCleery 10,327 16.03 -2.08
Green Cherie Wong 2,266 3.52 -4.22
None of the Above Marc Adornato 437 0.68
Libertarian Bruce A. Faulkner 385 0.60 -0.96
Communist Stuart Ryan 110 0.17 -0.35
Canadians' Choice James Sears 92 0.14
Total valid votes 64,403 100.0  
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +22.29
Source: Elections Ontario[22]
  • v
  • t
2014 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 27,689 52.02 +4.86
New Democratic Jennifer McKenzie 10,894 20.47 −8.74
Progressive Conservative Rob Dekker 9,678 18.18 −0.21
Green Kevin O'Donnell 4,163 7.82 +3.42
Libertarian Bruce A. Faulkner 525 0.99 +1.08
Communist Larry L. Wasslen 283 0.53 +0.21
Total valid votes 53,232 100.0   +5.74
Liberal hold Swing +6.80
Source(s)
"Election Night Results – General Election Results by District – 062, Ottawa Centre – Unofficial". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  • v
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2011 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 23,646 46.81 +11.90 $ 102,168.00
New Democratic Anil Naidoo 14,715 29.13 −1.77 83,779.02
Progressive Conservative Rob Dekker 9,257 18.33 −1.59 27,933.58
Green Kevin O'Donnell 2,184 4.32 −8.03 5,902.64
Independent Kristina Chapman 309 0.61   3,418.00
Libertarian Michal Zeithammel 240 0.48   0.00
Communist Stuart Ryan 160 0.32 −0.07 394.11
Total valid votes / Expense Limit 50,511 100.00 −3.41 $ 112,575.19
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 290 0.57 −0.13
Turnout 50,801 53.74 −4.51
Eligible voters 94,533   +4.57
Liberal hold Swing +6.34
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2011" (Microsoft Excel 2013-2019 logo.svg Excel Spreadsheet). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
"2011 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Retrieved 28 May 2014.
Election signs for the major party Ottawa Centre candidates during the 2007 election.
  • v
  • t
2007 Ontario general election: Ottawa Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Yasir Naqvi 18,255 34.91 −10.19 $ 74,103.43
New Democratic Will Murray 16,161 30.90 +7.92 76,746.81
Progressive Conservative Trina Morissette 10,416 19.92 −2.77 41,039.06
Green Greg Laxton 6,458 12.35 +4.62 9,967.33
Family Coalition Danny Moran 516 0.99   627.00
Independent Richard Eveleigh 283 0.54   70.00
Communist Stuart Ryan 204 0.39 −0.23 928.61
Total valid votes/Expense Limit 52,293 100.0   +5.79 $ 97,635.24
Total rejected ballots 366 0.70 −0.02
Turnout 52,659 58.25 +2.62
Eligible voters 90,403   +1.00
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2007" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
"2007 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Retrieved 28 May 2014.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Lochhead, Kimberly; Hartley, Jen; Cornforth, Rob. "Tenth Annual TOP 50 People in the Capital". Ottawa Life. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010.
  2. ^ a b Coyle, Jim (30 October 2009). "Life in politics a 'badge of honour'". Toronto Star.
  3. ^ "Executive Council". Ontario Liberal Party. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Yasir Naqvi — 'He's a firecracker". Ottawa Citizen. 9 January 2010.
  5. ^ "The race that could make Ottawans forget federal politics for a while". The Globe and Mail. 8 September 2011.
  6. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 10 October 2007. p. 10 (xix). Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 6 October 2011. p. 12. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  8. ^ "General Election by District: Ottawa Centre". Elections Ontario. 12 June 2014.
  9. ^ Ferguson, Rob; Benzie, Robert (31 October 2007). "Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area". Toronto Star. p. A13.
  10. ^ "Parliamentary Assistants Ready For New Portfolios". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2 September 2010.
  11. ^ "Ottawa MPP to introduce own SCAN legislation". Ottawa Citizen. 2 June 2008.
  12. ^ "Choose to be Kind!". United Way of Ottawa. 8 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Book on Islam condoning hitting wives features letter from Ontario labour minister". Toronto Sun. 11 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Ontario labour minister says he didn't read book on Islam condoning spousal abuse before writing letter of support". National Post. 12 March 2013.
  15. ^ "Ontario's new cabinet". Waterloo Region Record. Kitchener, Ont. 12 February 2013. p. A3.
  16. ^ Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (24 June 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  17. ^ "Yasir Naqvi appointed Ontario's AG as Kathleen Wynne shuffles cabinet". CBC News. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  18. ^ Dickson, Janice (28 May 2018). "Door-knocking with Naqvi: once a safe Liberal seat, now rife with uncertainty". CTV News. BellMedia. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  19. ^ Britneff, Beatrice. "Ottawa voters turf Naqvi, Chiarelli in Ontario election". Global News. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  20. ^ CBC, News (30 June 2021). "Naqvi to seek Liberal nomination in Ottawa Centre". CBC News. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  21. ^ @Yasir_Naqvi (9 August 2021). "I am excited to share that I have..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2019.

External links[]


Cabinet positions[]

Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Madeleine Meilleur Attorney General
2016-2018 		Caroline Mulroney
Madeleine Meilleur Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
2014–2016 		David Orazietti
Linda Jeffrey Minister of Labour
2013–2014 		Kevin Flynn
Special Parliamentary Responsibilities
Predecessor Title Successor
John Milloy Government House Leader
2014-2018 		Todd Smith
Retrieved from ""