Bardish Chagger
- Born
- April 6, 1980
- Education
- Bachelor of Science, University of Waterloo
- Career
- Executive assistant to Andrew Telegdi; Director of special events for the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre
- Political Experience
- MP for Waterloo since 2015; Minister of Small Business and Tourism (2015-2018); Government House Leader (2016-2019); Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth (2019-2021); Chair of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
- Notable
- First woman to serve as Government House Leader; involved in the WE Charity scandal
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Bardish Chagger worked as an executive assistant for former Member of Parliament Andrew Telegdi for several years. She also worked at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, where she was a special projects coordinator. Her public disclosures as an MP have not indicated significant private business holdings or investments outside of standard assets for a person of her position.
Key Relationships & Connections
Bardish Chagger has a long-standing political connection to former Liberal MP Andrew Telegdi, for whom she worked as an executive assistant before running for office herself. As a prominent member of the Liberal government, she is a key ally of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who appointed her to several high-profile cabinet positions, including Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth.
Public Controversies
Bardish Chagger was a central figure in the WE Charity controversy in 2020. As the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, her department was responsible for the Canada Student Service Grant program, which the government awarded to the WE Charity to administer. She faced intense scrutiny and questioning at parliamentary committees regarding the decision-making process and what she knew about the organization's financial issues and its close ties to the families of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-Finance Minister Bill Morneau. The program was ultimately cancelled. Separately, in 2017, Chagger faced criticism over expenses filed during her time as Government House Leader. Reports highlighted over $12,000 in hospitality expenses for a two-day retreat, which included what was described by opposition critics as a "partysize" bill for food and drinks, as well as limousine services. Chagger defended the expenses as being appropriate for the event.
Where Bardish falls on key policy spectrums
Your Money
People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
Bardish Chagger won with 37,579 votes (59.5%)
Total votes cast: 63,193
Comment l'historique de vote de Bardish Chagger concorde-t-il avec vos valeurs ?
C-218 Mr. Speaker, dozens of my constituents, through my constituent Henry, provided me with this petition and asked me to present it on behalf of residents and citizens calling upon the House of Commons to support Bill. They raise the point that Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. Mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as a symptom.
S-211 Mr. Speaker, I also received a petition from Robert with regard to the passage of Bill. The petitioners are concerned about the proliferation of gambling advertisements. They recognize that many studies have now come out to show the increase in problem gambling among young men in this country. The petitioners are calling upon the assembled House of Commons to enact a national framework to
Madam Speaker, I listen to the debates in the House, and I know that the Bloc Québécois likes to say that there is always one Liberal member who asks questions. There will be several of us today, because I really appreciated that speech. I think that here in the House, we have the opportunity to work together. It is easy to say that we have support or that we do not, but I think that what makes
Mr. Speaker, petition e-7341 was initiated by a constituent in the riding of Waterloo. With almost 45 online signatures, the petitioners are raising concerns regarding the prolonged security screen delays of applicants residing in Canada with valid immigration status. I have spoken with many of these constituents and have heard a range of perspectives. Constituents agree that we cannot
I also want to thank you for not disclosing the identities of people in your office, because it's tough. When we're at the temperature of politics that we're becoming accustomed to, it's really hard for certain people to have private lives, and doing a disservice to those individuals doesn't help. We've seen a massive attack on individuals serving in certain roles, so I want to thank you and your
There are repercussions for that.
Not everyone gets to find a life partner, but the approach it appears the official opposition and the third party are taking is that anybody who chooses to run for office needs to be single. Is that reasonable?
Everybody is.
People saw what happened.
Are you confident that the office continues to do that?
Can you tell me why Canadians should trust your office?
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Commissioner, for coming back to the team and helping Canadians understand what you do. Just to take it down to the basics, can you share when the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner was initiated?
You're not even trying to deal with this.
The Federal Court of Appeal has confirmed that conflict of interest screens represent a reasonable exercise of your authority under section 29 of the act. Do you agree with that finding?
You just need one good one.
You need a good one.