Committee members biographies

PACP Member Biographies

Evergreen

CPC:

Kelly Block - Chair
Luc Berthold
Philip Lawrence
Len Webber

BQ :

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas - Vice-Chair

NDP :

Matthew Green

LPC :

Lloyd Longfield - Vice-Chair
Kody Blois
Greg Fergus
Francesco Sorbara
Jean Yip

PACP Member Biographies

Kelly Block

Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek
PACP Chair

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • No recent publication was found. However, in 2012, media reported that M.P. Block “shocked hundreds of Saskatoonians” when she distributed a flyer from her Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar M.P. office, entitled, “Ending Unfair Benefits for Refugee Claimants,” which stated, “New arrivals to Canada have received dental and vision care paid by your tax dollars. They’ve had free prescriptions. Not anymore.”

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • N/A

Biography

Background

  • Born and raised in Saskatchewan
  • She is married and has four children

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
  • Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Chair of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Member of the Liaison Committee
  • Member of the   Subcommittee on Committee Budgets of the Liaison Committee
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
  • Elected as the MP for the newly created riding of Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek in 2015

Education and Career

  • Served on the town council of Waldheim, Saskatchewan for three terms, serving two of those terms as Mayor.
  • Was a member of the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority and the Director of Administration at Forest Grove Community Church.
  • Was first elected to the House of Commons representing the riding of Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar on October 14, 2008 and was re-elected on May 2, 2011.

Lloyd Longfield​

Guelph, Ontario
PACP Vice-Chair

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • /A

Biography

Background

  • A native of Winnipeg, he moved to Guelph in 1992.
  • He is married and has three daughters.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology
  • Elected to Parliament as the Liberal Party of Canada candidate for Guelph, Ontario in 2015.

Education and Career

  • BA in English and Mathematics from the University of Manitoba; and a
  • Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Red River College.
  • He led the Guelph Chamber of Commerce for 7 years.
  • Had a successful career in hydraulic and pneumatic automation that ranged from business startup to working with distributors across Canada as Managing Director of European multinationals.

Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

Rimouski-Neigette Témiscouata—Les Basques,  Quebec
PACP Vice-Chair

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

Twitter

  • March 2, 2020

International student: "Comment expliquer que le Québec peine à recruter des forces vives francophones de l’étranger? Le Québec doit reprendre plein contrôle de son immigration, au profit de régions comme la nôtre!"

Radio-Canada

  • March 6, 2020

Immigration resources: Maxime Blanchette-Joncas indicates that his riding office in Rimouski welcomes at least one immigration case every day, the delays of which are getting longer. “One should normally be the solution of last resort. Currently, we are more like an immigration office.”

Biography

Background

  • Born and raised in Rimouski

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Elected as the MP for Rimouski-Neigette Témiscouata—Les Basques, Quebec in October 2019.

Education and Career

  • Has a degree in Business Administration
  • He is the former Deputy Director of the Municipality of L’Isle-Verte.

Luc Berthold

Mégantic—L'Érable, Quebec

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • Immigration process time

Interventions in Parliament

Oct. 5, 2020 Speech from the Throne (Resumption of Debate) - “The throne speech did not address the extremely long waiting periods for citizens dealing with immigration issues.”

Social Media and Press Conferences

Regional Newspaper

  • November 28, 2019 - Temporary Foreign Workers: was quoted asking the “Liberal Government” to accelerate the hiring process for agriculture foreign workers.

Biography

Background

  • He was born in Sherbrooke
  • Father of three children
  • Luc has lived in the riding of Mégantic-L’Érable for the past twenty-nine years.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
    • Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
  • Elected as the MP for Mégantic—L'Érable, Quebec in October 2015.

Education and Career

  • His professional experience began as a journalist and radio host for CKLD radio, and in 1996, he became Chief Editor of the ‘’Courrier Frontenac’’.

Philip Lawrence

Northumberland—Peterborough South, Ontario

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • N/A

Biography

Background

  • He has a wife, and two children.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Elected as the MP for Northumberland—Peterborough South, Ontario in October 2019.

Education and Career

  • He has a BA in Political Science at Brock University.
  • He went on to attend Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business to obtain his law degree and MBA.
  • He started his practice in law with a focus on taxation and corporations.

Len Webber

Calgary Confederation, Albert

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • N/A

Biography

Background

  • Len, with his late wife Heather, have three daughters.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Health
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Health
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada of the Standing Committee on Health
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Health
  • Elected as the MP for Calgary Confederation, Albert in October 2015.

Education and Career

  • He was vice-president and director of Webber Academy, a non-denominational university preparatory private school in Calgary.

Matthew Green

Hamilton Centre, Ontario

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

Twitter

  • July 22, 2020

Safe Third Country Agreement: “The only change that can be made to the STCA that respects the humanity of asylum seekers and allows Canada to live up to its domestic and international obligations is to suspend the agreement.”

Biography

Background

  • Not available

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Elected as the MP for Hamilton Centre, Ontario in October 2019.

Education and Career

  • He served as a city councilor for the Hamilton, Ontario City Council from 2014 to 2018, representing Ward 3.

Kody Blois

Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • N/A

Biography

Background

  • Born and raised in Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Standing Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Elected as the MP for Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia in October 2019.

Education and Career

  • Has a degrees in Commerce, Law and Public Administration
  • He helped launch the East Hants Sport Heritage Society and the Come Home East Hants Association.

Greg Fergus

Hull—Aylmer, Quebec

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

Twitter

  • November 11, 2019

Don Cherry’s comments on immigrants and Remembrance Day : “My Montreal-born and bred grandfather signed up for the RAF and served as a tailor, for that was as far as they would let that young Black man serve. He did so with pride. Because of that service, he was able to bring his young family to Canada.  Seven decades later, I am able to take my seat in the House of Commons and serve my country. Mr. Cherry: my grandfather's story is not unique. I trust you are a big enough man to apologize for your comments.”

Biography

Background

  • He has a wife and three kids

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Finance
    • Parliamentary Secretary — Non-Voting Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Parliamentary Secretary — Non-Voting Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Elected as the MP Hull—Aylmer, Quebec in October 2015.

Education and Career

  • Bachelor’s degrees in Social Science and in International Relations from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
  • He worked for Liberal Cabinet Ministers Pierre Pettigrew and Jim Peterson. In 2007, Mr. Fergus was named National Director of the Liberal Party.

Francesco Sorbara

Vaughan—Woodbridge, Ontario

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

  • N/A

Biography

Background

  • He is a first-generation Canadian whose parents emigrated from southern Italy 50 years ago.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Finance
    • Member of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Finance
  • Elected as the MP of Vaughan—Woodbridge in October 2015.

Education and Career

  • Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Simon Fraser University; and a
  • Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto.
  • He worked in the global financial markets in both Canada and the United States for approximately 20 years for JPMorgan Chase, DBRS, and the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Jean Yip

Scarborough—Agincourt, Ontario

Immigration Topics of Interest

  • N/A

Interventions in Parliament

  • N/A

Social Media and Press Conferences

Twitter

  • February 8, 2019

Citizenship Ceremony: “Woo Hoo! We are Canadian Citizens now (showing a video of newly confirmed citizens). This is one of the best parts of my job witnessing the joy of these new citizens and their families. Happy to represent Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Minister.”

Biography

Background

  • She is a Chinese Canadian born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario.

Parliament

  • 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations
  • 43rd Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
    • Member of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations
    • Member of the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • 42nd  Parliament, 1st Session:
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates
    • Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
  • Elected as the MP of Scarborough—Agincourt, Ontario in December 2017.

Education and Career

  • Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto
  • Ms. Yip pursued a career in insurance.
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