Preceded by Laurie Hawn Role Politician Name Randy Boissonnault | Profession Management Consultant Political party Liberal Party Liberal Party of Canada | |
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Born July 14, 1970 (age 53)
Morinville, Alberta ( 1970-07-14 ) Profiles | ||
How To Be French: En Alberta - Ep3 - The Politician
Randy Boissonnault, MP (born July 14, 1970) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Edmonton Centre as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election.
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He is one of six openly LGBT MPs serving in the 42nd Canadian Parliament, alongside Scott Brison, Rob Oliphant, Seamus O'Regan, Randall Garrison and Sheri Benson. He is also the first openly gay MP elected in Alberta.
Early life
Boissonnault was born in the Franco-Albertan town of Morinville, Alberta on July 14, 1970.
After graduating from the University of Alberta, Boissonault studied at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He subsequently worked as a lecturer at the University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean and as a journalist and political commentator for Radio-Canada and Les Affaires.
Political career
Boissonnault was elected in the 2015 election in the riding of Edmonton Centre, the first Liberal MP to win in the riding for almost a decade.
Upon being sworn in as a Member of Parliament, Boissonnault was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
When Degas Sikorski, one of Boissonnault's constituents, received a valentine with a homophobic slur on it, Boissonnault delivered a valentine to him signed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Members of Parliament.
On November 15, 2016 Boissonnault was named special advisor on LGBTQ2 issues to the Prime Minister. The role will involve advising Trudeau "on the development and co-ordination of the Government of Canada’s LGBTQ2 agenda" including protecting LGBT rights in Canada and addressing both present and historical discrimination.