Yasir Naqvi
Biography
MPP Ottawa Centre
Minister of Labour
A first generation Canadian, Yasir’s family arrived in Canada in 1988 after the Pakistani government imprisoned his father for leading a pro-democracy march. With an upbringing deeply rooted in the values of social justice and compassion, Yasir feels it is important to be involved in the community and give back.
Yasir 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), the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue, the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, and the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance. In February, 2013 he was appointed as the Minister of Labour for the province of Ontario.
As the MPP of a diverse, urban riding, Yasir has been a tireless advocate for public services and sustainable community growth. Working closely with the community, Yasir helped secure funding to build over 350 new affordable housing units, two new buildings at Carleton University and over $250 million in infrastructure upgrades and community projects throughout Ottawa Centre. In representing the views of his diverse riding, he has also introduced four Private Member’s Bills, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, 2009, the Independent Public Health Act, 2009, the Escaping Domestic Violence Act, 2010, and the College and University Student Associations Act, 2011 each born of an idea from one of his constituents.
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. Over the last seven years, the food blitz raised 320,000 pounds of food for those in need in our community!