François-Philippe Champagne
- Born
- June 25, 1970 — Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
- Education
- Law at the Université de Montréal and Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Career
- Senior attorney for Elsag Bailey Process Automation; ABB Group, group vice president and senior counsel; Amec PLC as a strategic development director
- Political Experience
- Elected to Parliament in 2015; Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance until 2017; Minister of International Trade (2017); Minister of Infrastructure and Communities (2018–2019); Minister of Foreign Affairs (2019–2021); Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry (2021–2025); Minister of Finance and National Revenue (2025-present)
- Property
- Two mortgages with the state-owned Bank of China
- Notable
- Designated a "young global leader" by the World Economic Forum; trilingual, speaking English, French and Italian.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering politics, François-Philippe Champagne had an extensive international business career. He worked for over 20 years in Europe and Asia. He was reportedly the Vice-President and Senior Counsel of ABB Group, a large Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation. He also served as Group Vice-President and Senior Counsel at AMEC Foster Wheeler, a global engineering and project management company. His work focused on major infrastructure projects and international trade. According to his public disclosures, upon entering cabinet he placed his assets in a blind trust, which is a standard practice to avoid conflicts of interest. His professional background is often cited in relation to his roles as Minister of International Trade and later as Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.
Key Relationships & Connections
As a senior cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Champagne is a key member of the Liberal Party's inner circle. He has held several major portfolios, including Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of International Trade, and Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, indicating a close working relationship with Trudeau and other senior ministers like Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Through his international business career and his time as Foreign Affairs Minister, he has reportedly developed a network of contacts in global business and diplomatic circles. He is also a prominent political figure in Quebec, particularly in the Mauricie region represented by his Saint-Maurice—Champlain riding.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
In 2020, media reports revealed that François-Philippe Champagne held two mortgages with the state-owned Bank of China, with an outstanding balance reportedly totaling approximately $1.2 million. At the time, he was serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The situation raised concerns among opposition parties and some analysts about the potential for the Chinese government to exert influence over a Canadian cabinet minister. Champagne stated that he had properly disclosed the mortgages to the Ethics Commissioner upon becoming a Member of Parliament and a minister. Following the public scrutiny, he announced that he had paid off both mortgages. The Ethics Commissioner's office did not launch a formal investigation, having been aware of the mortgages through the standard disclosure process.
Public Controversies
The primary public controversy involving François-Philippe Champagne centered on his mortgages with the Bank of China. The revelation became a significant political issue, with critics questioning the judgment of a senior minister, especially the one responsible for Canada's foreign policy, being indebted to an institution controlled by an authoritarian state like China. The controversy fueled broader debates about Canada's relationship with China and the potential for foreign influence. Separately, he has faced some criticism for past comments that were seen as being favorable toward China's global ambitions. For instance, a video from 2017 surfaced showing him praising China's "Belt and Road Initiative," which later drew scrutiny given growing international concerns about the project.
Where François-Philippe falls on key policy spectrums
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People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
François-Philippe Champagne won with 31,095 votes (50.0%)
Total votes cast: 62,240
How does François-Philippe Champagne's voting record line up with your values?
C-30 Mr. Speaker, we will not take any lessons from those Conservatives. Rather than standing up and asking the same question over and over every day this week, my colleague, whom I respect, should instead stand up and vote in favour of Bill, a bill that will put more money in the pockets of 12 million Canadians. I know people in Portneuf who will be happy about that. Will the member do the
Madam Chair, in the spirit of teaching my colleague some of the facts, let me quote Kevin Page. He said, “The hard target of a balanced operating budget in 2028‑29 will put more constraints on the government than would fiscal rules tied to changes in the size of the economy”. This is coming from Kevin Page.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear from my colleague this morning, but I am a little surprised by his comments. The people in his riding are capable of keeping things in perspective. First, I want to congratulate him on becoming a grandfather. He will be happy to know that we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7 for his grandson or granddaughter. We know people are watching us at
Mr. Chair, as I said, I followed all the rules required by law, and of course I complied with the screen that was put in place.
Madam Chair, I will be happy to remind my colleague, who is a learned member of the House, that we have two fiscal anchors. One is a declining deficit-to-GDP ratio. The other is to balance the operating budget with revenues by 2028-29. Those are the two fiscal anchors of the Government of Canada.
Madam Chair, as I said, it is going to be interesting for Canadians to learn that the projected debt charge, as a percentage of GDP, for 2026-27 will be 1.7%. That is far below the peak of 6.5% that Canadians faced in the 1990s. What I am saying is that we are on a very solid fiscal track.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise and set the record straight. We have heard a lot of things this morning, but I believe that folks listening at home want the facts. They know we are facing the biggest energy crisis in decades, according to the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I am therefore very pleased to take part in today's debate on an issue that affects all
Mr. Speaker, I recognize the wisdom behind my colleague's question. Yes, when it was time to stand up for Canadians, the Conservatives remained seated. When it was time to stand up for families, the Conservatives were nowhere to be found. I remember the votes. It is important to vote for affordability at every opportunity. My colleague is right. What I saw with him in New Brunswick, we are
Madam Chair, what I would say is that affordability is top of mind for the government, and it is top of mind for Canadians. We understand. That is why we are acting on the price of homes, the price of food and the price of gas.
Madam Chair, I have the opportunity to speak before you tonight, which I would say is a great privilege. I want to thank my colleagues for being here this evening and for taking the time to debate important issues, because we are talking about the budget, after all. We are talking about Canada's public finances. I also want to thank the deputy chair, who plays a very important role in Canada's
Mr. Chair, as I said, I followed all the rules under the law and I complied with the screen that was put in place.
Madam Chair, the member will be pleased to hear that the International Monetary Fund just stated that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. Actually, we have the second-fastest growth in the G7. I am sure that my colleague will be happy to report to his constituents that the country is on a good fiscal track.
Madam Chair, it is a real pleasure to be spending the whole evening with my colleagues. My colleague will be happy to learn, because I know he will be very interested, that we made generational investments in infrastructure, housing, productivity and innovation. The plan of Canada, according to the International Monetary Fund, is the way forward in order to create growth. I am sure tonight my
Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to learn, because tonight is a learning exercise for my colleagues, that in fact the percentage, when we look at the debt charge of Canada, is pretty low by historical standards. It is close to 2%. If we look at the historical figures in the 1990s, they were around 6%. I would say that Canada is in a very strong fiscal position.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that important question. I am grateful to her. She has always encouraged the House to consider measures that will help Canadians across the country. She will be pleased to learn that, as I was saying, in the 2026 spring economic update, we actually put two-thirds of that $7 billion in additional revenue toward helping people. We are helping them
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here to listen to the remarks of my colleague. If she wants to talk about affordability, I am sure she knows that the three things that concern Canadians are the price of rent, the price of food and the price of gas. I am sure she will go back to her constituents to say that Canada has taken the lead in helping Canadians with more affordable homes. I am sure she