Rechie Valdez

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]

The Honourable Rechie Valdez PC MP
Valdez in 2021
Minister for Women and Gender Equality
Incumbent
Assumed office May 13, 2025
Prime Minister	Mark Carney
Preceded by	Marci Ien (Women and Gender Equality and Youth)
Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Incumbent
Assumed office May 13, 2025
Prime Minister	Mark Carney
Preceded by	Gerry Ritz (Minister of State)
Chief Government Whip
In office March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025
Prime Minister	Mark Carney
Preceded by	Mona Fortier
Succeeded by	Mark Gerretsen
Minister of Small Business
In office July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Mary Ng
Succeeded by	Position discontinued
Member of Parliament for Mississauga—Streetsville
Incumbent
Assumed office September 20, 2021
Preceded by	Gagan Sikand
Personal details
Born	Rechie Aileen Salazar[1] (1980-09-17) September 17, 1980 (age 44) Kitwe, Zambia
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Residence(s)	Mississauga, Ontario
Alma mater	University of Windsor
Profession	Politician

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]

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]

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

v t e 2025 Canadian federal election: Mississauga—Streetsville
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rechie Valdez	31,287	51.53	+4.19
	Conservative	Sue McFadden	27,231	44.85	+10.53
	New Democratic	Bushra Asghar	1,388	2.29	–9.80
	Green	Chris Hill	439	0.72	–1.41
	People's	Logan Araujo	366	0.60	–3.13
Total valid votes/expense limit			60,711
Total rejected ballots
Turnout			60,711	69.96
Eligible voters			86,785
	Liberal notional hold		Swing		–3.17
Source: Elections Canada[7][8]

v t e 2021 Canadian federal election: Mississauga—Streetsville
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Rechie Valdez	23,698	47.3	-3.1	$57,311.79
	Conservative	Jasveen Rattan	17,131	34.2	+1.1	$62,172.94
	New Democratic	Farina Hassan	6,186	12.3	+2.0	$3,193.29
	People's	Gurdeep Wolosz	1,851	3.7	+2.5	$2,365.54
	Green	Chris Hill	1,048	2.1	-2.5	$298.25
	Animal Protection	Natalie Spizzirri	210	0.4	±0.0	$2,470.94
Total valid votes/expense limit			50,124	99.3	–	$115,206.97
Total rejected ballots			333	0.7
Turnout			50,457	58.7
Eligible voters			85,976
	Liberal hold		Swing		-2.1
Source: Elections Canada[9]