Melissa Lantsman
- Born
- April 8, 1984 — Toronto
- Family
- Married to Lauren in 2017
- Education
- Honours Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto; graduate studies at the University of Ottawa and Rotman School of Management
- Career
- Public relations executive
- Political Experience
- Communications advisor to cabinet members in the 28th Canadian Ministry of Prime Minister Stephen Harper; senior advisor to the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party of Ontario; chief spokesperson during the 2018 Ontario provincial election; MP for Thornhill since 2021; co-deputy leader of the Conservative Party; co-deputy leader of the Official Opposition
- Property
- Director of a Toronto-based Venture Fund focused on investing in early-stage companies that prioritizes women founders
- Notable
- First openly lesbian and first Jewish woman ever elected as a Conservative MP; speaks English, French and Russian; lives with a severe form of Crohn's disease
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering politics, Melissa Lantsman had a career in public relations and communications. She was the Vice President of Public Affairs at Enterprise Canada, a strategic communications firm. She also worked as a senior advisor and director of communications for several high-profile politicians at both the provincial and federal levels. Lantsman was also a regular political commentator on television news programs, providing analysis on current events.
Key Relationships & Connections
Melissa Lantsman has well-documented ties to several prominent figures within the Conservative movement. She served as a key spokesperson and advisor for Stephen Harper's Conservative government and worked on campaigns for figures like former Finance Minister Joe Oliver and Ontario's Caroline Mulroney. She was also reportedly the head of communications for Doug Ford's successful 2018 Ontario PC Party campaign. More recently, she served as a co-chair for Pierre Poilievre's successful campaign to become the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Public Controversies
In February 2022, during the "Freedom Convoy" protests, Lantsman, who is Jewish, criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons for his use of the Emergencies Act and his rhetoric towards the protestors. In response, Trudeau accused the Conservative Party, including Lantsman, of standing with "people who wave swastikas." The comment was widely condemned by members of the opposition and some Jewish community groups as inappropriate and divisive, leading to calls for an apology, which the Prime Minister did not offer directly.
Where Melissa falls on key policy spectrums
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People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
Melissa Lantsman won with 44,419 votes (66.4%)
Total votes cast: 66,918
How does Melissa Lantsman's voting record line up with your values?
secretary of state Mr. Speaker, yesterday, theconfirmed what many Canadians already feared. A foreign government is funding and directing attacks on synagogues, businesses and the U.S. Consulate, and now the murder of a Toronto police officer. This government has known for years; they did nothing. The Liberals imported terror, they weakened criminal justice laws, they slashed penalties and they
Mr. Speaker, one thing is clear, which is that the families of those police officers deserve better answers than that. The Liberals are in government. They have been there for 11 years. They are not bystanders in any of this. They let terrorists flood our country. They built a catch-and-release bail system. They allowed judges to ignore almost every mandatory minimum, including for drive-by
Mr. Speaker, we have heard from various members on that side of the House that it is 25 hours. There is no number of hours that will replace democracy in this place. That is what we are arguing tonight. We are going to stay as long as we can and as long as Canadians have sent us here to pass legislation. We offered them part 1. They said no, and that is on them.
Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary knows full well that law enforcement did not ask for anything in part 2 of this legislation. We offered to pass part 1. We offered to pass it weeks ago and we offered to pass it today. We will still make that offer if he wants to put that on the table, but that is not really what this is about.
C-11 C-18 C-9 C-8 C-34 Mr. Speaker, I think it is yet another erosion of the rights of Canadians. The same that we see in bills like this, in Bill, Bill, Bill, Billand Billto some extent, although we are still studying it. This is an erosion of democracy, and it limits the participation of many in democracy. We hear every single day from our constituents, asking why we cannot do something about
Mr. Speaker, I have one comment to that: “Democracy Dies in Darkness”. That is what the Liberals should listen to very carefully.
Madam Speaker, before we can even talk about this bill in Parliament, we have to talk about whether members of Parliament are even allowed to talk at all anymore. That is what the motion is about. A government that claims to defend Canadian rights is using every tool at its disposal to make sure those things cannot even be debated on the floor of the House of Commons. That is what people are
C‑288, An Act to enact the Protection Against Online Fraud Act and to amend the Criminal Code moved for leave to introduce Bill. She said: Mr. Speaker, Canadians are being robbed at home on their keyboards, and the platforms where it is happening are profiting from the traffic. Today, I introduce the protection against online fraud act. In 2024, Canadians reported $643 million stolen through
C-9 Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if my colleague is arguing for this motion or against it. This is about scrutiny on this and any piece of legislation in the House. We are never going to be for turning off cameras and shutting down debate the way that this programming motion has, being brought to the floor of the House of Commons. It has not happened in 15 years, except for the last piece of