Yasir Naqvi
Biography
MPP Ottawa Centre
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education
Yasir Naqvi was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in October 2007. He served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services (Community Safety) until he was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue on October 3, 2008. On September 2, 2010 he was appointed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education. He is the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly, and a member of the Cabinet Committee of Legislation and Regulation.
As the MPP of a diverse, urban riding, Yasir has been a tireless advocate for public transportation and sustainable community growth. Along with his colleagues, he helped to secure an historic $600 million investment in public transit for Ottawa, and over $250 million in infrastructure upgrades and community projects throughout the community. This includes over $26 million for two new buildings at Carleton University, $125,000 for the Chinatown Gateway Project, $3 million to upgrade the Metro Central YMCA/YWAC, and half a million dollars to rebuild the historic Rideau Canoe Club.
Prior to being elected, Yasir was the Associate Director and International Trade Counsel at the Centre for Trade Policy and Law (CTPL). Before joining CTPL, he practiced international trade law with Lang Michener LLP and Flavell Kubrick LLP.
Yasir obtained his law degree (LL.B.) from the University of Ottawa, and is called to the bars of Ontario, and England and Wales. He holds a Masters in International Affairs from the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and Bachelor of Sciences (Life Sciences) from McMaster University.
Yasir is recognized by his peers as a strong community leader and involved resident of Ottawa Centre. He has sat on the Board of Directors of the Centretown Community Health Centre for four years and he has been the Co-Chair of the Capital Food Bank Blitz since 2005. This summer, the food bank blitz raised 86,000 pounds of food for those in need in our community!
A first generation Canadian, Mr. Naqvi’s family arrived in Canada in 1988 after the Pakistani government imprisoned his father for leading a pro-democracy march. Canada welcomed his family and allowed them to prosper.