The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, is a devoted community leader who has always believed in the power of public service. She was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Markham-Thornhill in April 2017 and has served as Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion since July 2018.
Her years working for the Ontario Public Service, Ryerson University, and the Ontario Minister of Education led her to be recognized as one of Canada’s top-performing public sector leaders, before being recruited to serve as Director of Appointments for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
I had the opportunity to ask Minister Ng some questions about her campaign for re-election. I also sat with Malliha Wilson, Senior Partner at Nava Wilson LLP and Ontario’s former Assistant Deputy Attorney General. Malliha is a co-chair of Mary Ng’s campaign.
[MARY]: You have spent over 20 years working in the Ontario Public Service, including the Ministry of the Attorney General and Cabinet Office Ontario as well as the Ministry of Education. What made you take the leap into federal politics and how has your experience been so far?
As you said, for over twenty years, I have served the public, from helping students reach their full potential, bringing peace and stability to the Ontario Education system with our province’s first-ever four year contract between the teacher’s union and the government, to helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into innovative businesses.
When the opportunity presented itself to run to be MP for the diverse, innovative, hardworking people of Markham-Thornhill, I knew I had to take it. Being a leader means getting involved and getting things done for people.
It is an honour to serve as MP for Markham-Thornhill, advocating for the community in Ottawa and delivering results for people in Markham-Thornhill.
[MARY]: You were elected in a by-election in 2017, about halfway into Trudeau’s mandate as Prime Minister. As the MP for Markham-Thornhill over the past 2 years, what have you accomplished to serve the needs of your constituents?
Our government was elected on a plan to ensure all Canadians have a real and fair chance to succeed. We are better off today because our Liberal government is investing in us and in our children’s future.
We have cut taxes for 18,000 hardworking Canadians in Markham-Thornhill and put more money in the pockets of 17,500 families in our community through the Canada Child Benefit.
We are helping nearly 5,000 students and teachers learn how to code and we are investing $1 million into the New Horizons for Seniors Program, helping local organizations like the Middlefield Seniors Wellness Club and the Markham Tamil Seniors’ Association keep seniors engaged and active.
We have done a lot of great work in Markham-Thornhill, and we must continually build on this progress. A re-elected Liberal government has a plan to keep our community moving forward.
[MARY]: The Tamil community is an important demographic in Markham-Thornhill, making up about 10% of the constituents in this riding. Many of these constituents are from the middle-class and are hardworking citizens. Do you feel that you have responded to the needs of the Tamil community during your time in office?
The Tamil Canadian community in my riding is vibrant and hardworking. I am proud to serve as their MP. To help middle-class families in our riding, we cut taxes, saving them on average $1,620.
I also want to talk about something that members of the Tamil community have spoken to me about often and that is the Conservatives Plan to cut foreign aid spending by 25% and their claims that refugees are line-jumpers. I want to set the record straight. These claims are false.
Canadians want a system that is safe and fair, and that is what we have. What is dangerous is the Conservatives’ continuous spread of disinformation with the sole purpose of scaring cultural communities. That is wrong.
When our Liberal government was elected in 2015, we re-invested into our borders, giving border agents the tools they need to be successful.
For generations, Canada has kept its doors open to talent and people from around the world, creating a safe refuge for those fleeing war and hatred.
Our Liberal government will always stand up for cultural communities and defend human rights - in Canada and around the world.
[MALLIHA]: As a member of the Tamil community, you have decided to take on an active role this election season by teaming up with Mary and supporting the Liberal Party of Canada. What inspired you to do so? Do you think there are shared values that link the Tamil community and the Liberals?
I have personally known Mary for many years through my work with her in the Ontario Public Service. Mary is authentic, committed, hardworking, and has an understanding of the issues that immigrant communities face.
The Tamil community makes up a significant portion of the demographics in many ridings. In my view, it is important for the community to be engaged in the political process in Canada to ensure that our voices are heard and we engage in a dialogue with politicians and political parties.
I believe that there are shared values between the Tamil community and the Liberal Party of Canada, led by Justin Trudeau. The Liberal Party under Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the father of Justin Trudeau, brought in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter protects and promotes multiculturalism.
This forms the foundation for the success of the Tamil community, and all immigrant communities as they establish themselves and contribute to the Canadian fabric.
[MALLIHA]: The Tamil community makes up a significant portion of many ridings in the Greater Toronto Area. Why is it important for the Tamil community to exercise their right to vote this October? Do you feel that the Tamil community should also play a more active role during this election campaign?
It is very important for the Tamil community to exercise their right to vote. Tamil Canadians make up a significant portion of many ridings and are influential in the voting process. This means that we have electoral power.
The right to vote is an important democratic right. Here in Canada, Tamil Canadians are able to engage in decisions affecting our community. Many Tamils live in the Greater Toronto Area. Domestic issues that we are concerned about include among other things, community safety, education and public transit. Voting for the political party that best reflect these values is the most powerful thing we can do.
At the same time, the diaspora can also try to help Tamils in Sri Lanka by asking for foreign aid to help rebuild a community devastated by war and human rights abuses.
Voting and engagement in the political process brings us visibility. The Tamil Canadian community has electoral influence because of strength in numbers, especially in key ridings in the Greater Toronto Area. The Tamil voice is influential and candidates and political parties need to address our concerns during their campaigns.
There is more that the Tamil Canadian community can do to be actively involved. We can volunteer for candidates whose campaigns are important to us. We must attend debates and town halls and ask questions so that we are informed of each party’s platforms.
By getting involved, the power and influence of the Tamil Canadian voice can be heard.
[MARY]: How confident are you about winning this election? What would you do to continually keep the Tamil community engaged should you be re-elected?
I am confident that Canadians in our community and across the country recognize the importance of this election.
On October 21, we have a choice. Choose a Liberal government to defend the progress we have made and build on it, or risk sliding backwards. It is that simple and that important.
The progress we have made over the last four years was made by listening to Canadians. As long as I am the MP for the diverse, innovative, hard-working people of Markham-Thornhill, my door will always be open to listen to my constituents, learning more about what matters most to them.
