Carla Qualtrough

Carla Dawn Qualtrough PC MP (/ˈkwɒltroʊ/; born October 15, 1971) is a Canadian politician and former Paralympic swimmer who is the minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion. She was first elected as a member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal electoral district of Delta during the 2015 federal election.[1] Qualtrough was re-elected in 2019. Previously she served as minister of public services and procurement and accessibility. She played an interim role as president of the Treasury Board.

The Honourable

Carla Qualtrough

MP
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
Assumed office
November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byPatty Hajdu
Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility
Receiver General for Canada
In office
August 28, 2017 – November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byJudy Foote
Succeeded byAnita Anand
Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
In office
November 4, 2015 – August 28, 2017
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byBal Gosal
Succeeded byKent Hehr
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Delta
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byRiding established
Personal details
Born (1971-10-15) October 15, 1971
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)Eron Main
ResidenceDelta, British Columbia
Alma mater
ProfessionLawyer
Sports career
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  Canada
Paralympic Games
1988 Seoul 4×100 m medlay relay B1–3
1992 Barcelona 4×100 m medley relay B1–3
1992 Barcelona 4×100 m freestyle relay B1–3

Early life and education

Qualtrough was born in Calgary, Alberta on October 15, 1971, to parents Patricia and Harry Qualtrough, although she was raised in Langley, British Columbia.[2] Qualtrough has been visually impaired since birth and only sees 10 percent with her glasses on.[3] She graduated from Brookswood Secondary School[4] and studied political science at the University of Ottawa[5] before earning a law degree from the University of Victoria in 1997.[6][7] Her parents separated when she was a teenager and her father died in 2007.[8]

Due to her blindness, she qualified to compete in the Paralympic Games. She earned three bronze medals in swimming at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Paralympics, as well as four world championship medals for Team Canada.[9] During the Paralympics, she swam in the 4x100 medley relay and 4x100 freestyle relay.[2]

After earning her law degree, Qualtrough served on the governing board of the Americas Paralympic Committee.[10] She also served as president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee from 2006 to 2011.[9] During this time, she also directed Sport Initiatives for 2010 Legacies Now and Chaired the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, leading to her election as one of Canada’s Most Influential Women in Sport of 2009.[11][12]

As a lawyer, Qualtrough primarily focused on human rights matters. She served as counsel to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and prior to her election to the House of Commons, she was the vice-chair of British Columbia's Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal.[2] In recognition of her work, she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.[13] During the 2012 Summer Paralympics, she was the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) legal officer and later received the IPCs International Women’s Day Recognition in 2016.[14]

Political career

On November 4, 2015, Qualtrough was named minister of sport and persons with disabilities in the 29th Canadian Ministry, headed by Justin Trudeau.[15] As a result, she became the first Paralympic athlete to be elected to Canadian Parliament.[2] During her tenure, Qualtrough was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2017.[16]

In a cabinet shuffle triggered by the resignation of Judy Foote, Qualtrough succeeded Foote as minister of public services and procurement on August 28, 2017; Kent Hehr then took over as minister of sport and persons with disabilities.[17][18] After the cabinet shuffle on July 18, 2018, Qualtrough retained her ministerial position but gained the added portfolio of accessibility, styled as "minister of public services and procurement and accessibility".[19]

The November 20, 2019, cabinet shuffle had Qualtrough become minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, building on her work in the accessibility portfolio.[20]

Personal life

Qualtrough is married to the former secretary-general of the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, Eron Main, and they have four children together.[9]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalCarla Qualtrough22,25741.2-7.92
ConservativeTanya Corbet17,80933.0+0.22
New DemocraticRandy Anderson-Fennell8,79216.3+1.38
GreenCraig DeCraene3,3876.3+3.13
People'sAngelina Ireland9481.8-
IndependentAmarit Bains3980.7-
IndependentTony Bennett3850.7-
Total valid votes/Expense limit 53,976100.0
Total rejected ballots 361
Turnout 54,33770.7
Eligible voters 76,871
Liberal hold Swing -4.07
Source: Elections Canada[21][22]
2015 Canadian federal election: Delta
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalCarla Qualtrough27,35549.12+30.55$72,634.16
ConservativeKerry-Lynne Findlay18,25532.78-15.17$174,408.46
New DemocraticJeremy Leveque8,31114.92-13.13$59,352.24
GreenAnthony Edward Devellano1,7683.17-1.57–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 55,689100.00 $206,935.20
Total rejected ballots 2000.36–
Turnout 55,88974.47–
Eligible voters 75,044
Liberal notional gain from Conservative Swing +22.86
Source: Elections Canada[23][24][25]

References
  1. "Liberal Carla Qualtrough upsets Conservatives, captures Delta". Vancouver Sun. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  2. Hawthorn, Tom (October 23, 2019). "Carla Qualtrough". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  3. Aiello, Rachel (February 27, 2017). "Blind cabinet minister promises Canada's first national accessibility legislation will have teeth, could be retroactive". The Hill Times. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  4. Brown, Scott (November 4, 2017). "Five things about Carla Qualtrough, Canada's new minister for sport and persons with disabilities". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  5. Linda Scales (December 15, 2015). "Friends in high places". uottawa.ca. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  6. "3 Alumnae Named to Federal Cabinet". uvic.ca. University of Victoria. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  7. "Carla Qualtrough and Murray Rankin win seats in Ottawa". uvic.ca. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. Joanna Smith (September 4, 2017). "Carla Qualtrough is 'swimming the laps' as she takes on challenging role". therecord.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  9. Spencer, Donna (November 6, 2015). "Life as athlete and sport leader propelled Delta's Carla Qualtrough to Trudeau's cabinet". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  10. "CARLA QUALTROUGH – VP APC EXEC". caaws.ca. October 19, 2013. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  11. "Canadian Paralympic Committee President Carla Qualtrough Named to Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity List for 2009". newswire.ca. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  12. "NPC Canada President Wins Most Influential Award". paralympic.org. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  13. "Canadian Paralympians honoured with Jubilee medal". Paralympic Games. January 28, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  14. "IPC RECOGNIZES QUALTROUGH ON IWD". caaws.ca. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  15. Larsen, Karin (November 4, 2015). "Delta MP Carla Qualtrough named minister of sport and persons with a disability". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  16. "Carla Qualtrough named to Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame". cbc.ca. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. MacCharles, Tonda; Campion-Smith, Bruce (August 28, 2017). "Trudeau shuffles ministers, overhauls Indigenous Affairs, brings friend O'Regan into cabinet". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  18. Zimonjic, Peter (August 28, 2017). "Who's who in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  19. Harris, Kathleen (July 18, 2018). "Trudeau adds 5 new ministers, shifts others in cabinet shakeup". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  20. Zimonjic, Peter (November 20, 2019). "Who is in Justin Trudeau's 2019 cabinet". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  22. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  23. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Delta, 30 September 2015
  24. Official Voting Results - Delta
  25. "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Patty Hajdu Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
November 20, 2019 –		 Incumbent
Judy Foote Minister of Public Services, Procurement and Accessibility
August 28, 2017 – November 20, 2019		 Anita Anand
Bal Gosal Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
November 4, 2015 – August 28, 2017		 Kent Hehr
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