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Rechie Valdez

Canadian politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rechie Valdez
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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]

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Early life, education and work

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

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]

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Political career

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]

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Personal life

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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References

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