Soraya Martinez Ferrada Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Soraya Martínez Ferrada
Honorific-Suffix:PC MP
Office1:Minister of Tourism
Primeminister1:Justin Trudeau
Term Start1:July 26, 2023
Predecessor1:Randy Boissonnault
Office2:Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Primeminister2:Justin Trudeau
Term Start2:July 26, 2023
Predecessor2:Pascale St-Onge
Riding3:Hochelaga
Parliament3:Canadian
Term Start3:October 21, 2019
Predecessor3:Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet
Office4:Montreal City Councillor for Saint-Michel
Term Start4:November 6, 2005
Term End4:November 2, 2009
Successor4:Frantz Benjamin
Birth Name:Soraya Marisel Martínez Ferrada
Birth Date:28 August 1972
Birth Place:Santiago, Chile
Party:Liberal
Otherparty:Vision Montreal (2005–2009)
Residence:Saint-Michel,[1] Montreal, Quebec

Soraya Marisel Martínez Ferrada[2] [3] (born August 28, 1972) is a Chilean-Canadian Liberal politician who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding Hochelaga during the 2019 Canadian federal election.[4] She has served as Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec since 2023.

Early life

Martínez Ferrada was born on 28 August 1972 in Santiago de Chile,, Chile, to Omar Martínez Prieto and Maritza Inés Ferrada Videla.[3]

Career

Prior to her election in the House of Commons, she served as a city councillor for the Montreal City Council in the municipal electoral district of Saint-Michel as a member first of Union Montréal (2005 to 2007) and then of Vision Montreal from 2007 to 2009, when she lost to Union Montreal candidate (now Quebec Liberal Party MNA for Viau), Frantz Benjamin.

She worked as a Parliament Hill staffer.[5] She gained her seat from the New Democratic Party, by a tight margin over the Bloc Québécois.[6]

After her election to Parliament, Martínez Ferrada was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco Mendicino.[7] [8] In 2023, she was appointed Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.[9]

Personal life

Martínez Ferrada moved to Canada in 1980, and lived in the East End of Montreal.

Election

When Martinez Ferrada was first elected in 2019, it was the first time the riding had been won by a Liberal since Jean-Claude Malépart had won it in 1988. The riding had been held by the New Democrat Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet since 2011, but Catheryn Roy-Goyette, representing the NDP, failed in 2019 and 2021 to retain the seat for that party.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Search For Contributions. Elections Canada. 2021-06-23.
  2. Padrón electoral, comuna de Providencia, plebiscito constitucional de 2022. "Martinez Ferrada Soraya Marisel, 12.246.696-5, MUJ, Sueia 2998, Providencia". Published by the Electoral Service of Chile https://cdn.servel.cl/padron/A13123.pdf
  3. [:File:Birth certificate of Soraya Marisel Martínez Ferrada.pdf|Birth certificate of Soraya Marisel Martínez Ferrada]
  4. Web site: Canada election results:Hochelaga. . 22 October 2019 . 22 October 2019.
  5. Web site: 2019-10-30. From staffer to MP: five former Hill staffers among newly elected. 2020-11-01. The Hill Times. en-CA.
  6. Web site: Bloc Québécois concedes Liberal win in Hochelaga, ending recount. 2020-11-01. Montreal Gazette. en-CA.
  7. Web site: Soraya Martinez Ferrada. 2019. Prime Minister of Canada. 6 April 2020.
  8. Web site: Office. Prime Minister's. Prime Minister welcomes new parliamentary secretaries. 2020-11-01. www.newswire.ca. en.
  9. Web site: Pablo Rodriguez becomes Minister of Transport; Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism . PAX News . 26 July 2023 . 27 July 2023.