Heavy burden falls on first Filipina to be elected to Parliament
Analysis
Teodoro ‘Ted’ Alcuitas
Editor, philippinecanadiannews.com (PCN.Com)
As the first Filipina ever elected to Parliament took her oath of office on Tuesday, October 19,2021, Filipinos are expecting that she will take up their causes as no other can.
Rechie Valdez, Liberal, was sworn in together with 338 new members in Canada’s 44th Parliament, making history as the first woman and only the second Filipino to make it to Parliament after close to a 20 year hiatus. She is one of 50 rookie members elected last September and one of 103 women.
It was in 1988 that Liberal Dr. Rey Pagtakhan was first elected for Winnipeg’s North riding, serving for four terms or 16 years until 2004.
The 41-year old Valdez who represents the riding of Mississauga-Streetsville in Ontario, acknowledged her “huge role and responsibilities” as she assumes her office. Parliament will resume on November 22. She says she is inspired by the support system that includes her family and confident she can deliver.
The mother of two said she is “excited and honoured to represent”…(Filipinos) in an emotional speech following her election. She calls her election a “We moment” and vowed to listen to the people as she embarks on her political career.
Born in Zambia in Africa, she moved to Canada with her parents in 1989. The family settled in Mississauga and Valdez grew up in the area which she now represents as a member of Parliament. 5.2% of the riding of Mississauga-Streetsville are of Filipino descent.
In a LinkedIn post, she claims she has” the experience and drive to deliver on the things that matter most to our community. I am passionate about building a better future for our children and for future generations. So whether it’s protecting our environment and fighting climate change, investing in women entrepreneurs and advancing pay-equity legislation, continuing to invest in health care, or supporting first-time home buyers, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, I am ready to be your voice for positive change in government.”
A graduate in Computer Science at the University of Windsor, Valdez had a long career in corporate banking spanning 15 years at the BMO Financial Group before venturing into the worlds of entrepreneurship, philanthropy and community building.
Discovering her creative outlet while baking for her two children, she started her first small business – Chietopia Bakery and became a published baker.
She competed in the #TheBigBake on the Food Network Canada and went on to become co-owner of a fusion dessert company.
She parlayed her experience to become a podcaster and a TV producer and host.
Valdez organized Battle Canada, a basketball tournament started in Toronto and expanded to Montreal and Brampton. The tournament partners with SickKids Foundation and Montreal Children’s Foundation to raise funds through basketball.
Great expectations
Filipino-Canadians have rightfully pinned their hopes on the new parliamentarian. For decades, the community have to resort to their own individual contacts to get resolution. A case in point is the recent issue of Kherin Dimalanta, the caregiver who was to be deported after getting sick on the job. Others, like the nurse and medical worker who made mistakes in their documentation and were threatened with deportation despite the country’s pressing need, indicates the significance of someone who is one of us and can truly advocate our causes.
While Valdez is not in the cabinet, at least she belongs to the governing party and can utilize her networks to help the community and the wider constituency moving forward.
If she can prove that she is willing to do that and get results, she is sure to be in the radar of the party and hopefully move up the ladder of the political hierarchy. In time, she will get her chance to prove herself and kababayans will be watching. There is no doubt she will have their back.
Two Filipinos in Parliament
Dr.Rey Pagtakhan was the first Filipino-Canadian to be elected in 1988 for Winnipeg North. A Liberal, Pagtakhan defeated the long-serving NDP MP David Orlikow. He was appointed to the cabinet as Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and Minister of Veterans Affairs in 2002. He served until 2004 when he was defeated.
Tobias Enverga, Jr. (Conservative) was appointed to the Senate for Ontario by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2012. The appointment could have been lifetime or until the age of 75 but the senator died suddenly while on a parliamentary trip to Columbia on November 16, 2017.
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