Arielle Kayabaga
Arielle Kayabaga | |
|---|---|
Kayabaga in 2019 | |
| Leader of the Government in the House of Commons | |
| In office March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025[1] | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Carney |
| Preceded by | Steven MacKinnon |
| Succeeded by | Steven MacKinnon |
| Minister of Democratic Institutions | |
| In office March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Mark Carney |
| Preceded by | Ruby Sahota |
| Member of Parliament for London West | |
| Assumed office September 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Kate Young |
| London City Councillor | |
| In office December 1, 2018 – September 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Tanya Park |
| Succeeded by | John Fyfe-Millar |
| Constituency | Ward 13 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1990/1991 (age 33–34) Bujumbura, Burundi |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Children | 1[2] |
| Residence | London, Ontario |
| Alma mater | Carleton University |
| Occupation | Politician, settlement worker |
Arielle Kayabaga (born 1990 or 1991) is a Canadian politician who has represented the electoral district of London West as a member of Parliament since 2021. She is currently serving as the Deputy House Leader of the Government in the 45th Canadian Parliament.
Biography
Born in Bujumbura, Burundi,[3] Kayabaga's family moved to Canada when she was 11 as refugees from the Burundian Civil War, living in Montreal for a year before moving to London, Ontario.[2] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Carleton University in Ottawa in 2013.[4] Before her election to the London City Council, Kayabaga worked as a settlement worker for newcomers to London and nearby Sarnia, Ontario.[2]
Political career
Municipal politics (2018-2021)
In 2018, she was elected to the London City Council at age 27,[2] becoming the first black woman to do so in the city's history.[5] As a city councillor, she chaired the Corporate Services Committee and sat on the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance,[6] In September 2020, London police launched an investigation after she reported her office receiving harassing phone calls.[7]
Federal politics (2021–present)
Ahead of the 2021 Canadian federal election, she announced her intention to run for the federal House of Commons, winning the Liberal nomination for the riding of London West three days before the start of the electoral campaign.[8] She won the seat with 36.8% of the vote, replacing outgoing Liberal MP Kate Young.[9][10] She is the first Franco-Ontarian to serve as MP for London West.[11]
In 2023, she passed a private member's motion, M-59, which amended the federal framework on housing for individuals with non-visible disabilities.[12]
On March 14, 2025, she was appointed Government House Leader and Minister of Democratic Institutions as part of Mark Carney's cabinet.[13] After being reelected in the 2025 federal election on April 28, Kayabaga was not chosen to remain in cabinet in the subsequent shuffle on May 13.[14]
On June 5, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Kayabaga as the Deputy House Leader of the Government.[15]
Electoral record
| 2025 Canadian federal election: London West | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | 34,884 | 56.30 | +19.43 | |||||
| Conservative | Adam Benni | 22,920 | 36.99 | +2.84 | ||||
| New Democratic | Shinade Allder | 3,370 | 5.44 | –17.44 | ||||
| Green | Jeff Vanderzwet | 418 | 0.67 | N/A | ||||
| Canadian Future | Russell Benner | 183 | 0.30 | N/A | ||||
| United | Christine Oliver | 192 | 0.29 | N/A | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | ||||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | 61,957 | 71.82 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 86,269 | |||||||
| Liberal notional hold | Swing | +8.30 | ||||||
| Source: CBC[16], Elections Canada[17] | ||||||||
| 2021 Canadian federal election: London West | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | 25,308 | 36.88 | -6.08 | $91,373.14 | ||||
| Conservative | Rob Flack | 22,273 | 32.46 | +4.53 | $114,644.53 | |||
| New Democratic | Shawna Lewkowitz | 16,858 | 24.57 | +3.22 | $72,003.76 | |||
| People's | Mike McMullen | 3,409 | 4.97 | +3.33 | $17,546.25 | |||
| Libertarian | Jacques Y. Boudreau | 773 | 1.13 | +0.4 | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 68,621 | 99.25 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 517 | 0.74 | +0.27 | |||||
| Turnout | 69,138 | 68.49 | -3.00 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 100,947 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -5.31 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[18] | ||||||||
References
- ^ "MacKinnon back as government House leader".
- ^ a b c d De Bono, Norman (October 24, 2018). "Meet London's council newcomers". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ Akim, Miranda (July 30, 2018). "Les burundais de la diaspora : Arielle KAYABAGA, candidate au conseil municipal au Canada". AKEZANET (in French). Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- ^ Steele, Alistair (September 25, 2021). "Grad student and rookie MP gives new meaning to 'learning on the job'". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Meet the London city councillor who made history because of ranked ballots". CBC News. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
- ^ "Arielle Kayabaga". Liberal Party of Canada. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Stacey, Megan (September 22, 2021). "Harassment charges dropped in case involving councillor-turned-MP". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Lale, Brent (August 15, 2021). "'The riding is wide open'; London West candidates start short and furious campaign". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "Arielle Kayabaga, étudiante universitaire et nouvelle députée fédérale" (in Canadian French). Radio-Canada. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ de Bono, Norman (September 9, 2021). "London West Liberals downplay campaign manager's sudden exit". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ Chakkouche, Soufiane (September 21, 2021). "La Franco-Ontarienne Arielle Kayabaga écrit l'histoire dans London-Ouest". onfr.tfo.org (in French). Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
- ^ "Vote No. 272". OurCommons. March 22, 2023.
- ^ "Prime Minister Mark Carney cabinet terminates consumer carbon price". March 17, 2025.
- ^ Ballingall, Alex (May 13, 2025). "Arielle Kayabaga and Ali Ehsassi out of cabinet". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- ^ Kuivenhoven, Lauren (June 5, 2025). "Carney announces Parliament Hill positions for London MPs". CTV News. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ "Canada Votes 2025". CBC. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- ^ "September 20, 2021 General Election Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2021.