Skip to main content Skip to local navigation
Home » Alumni in Government

Alumni in Government

York University has a reputation for preparing engaged global citizens who have an impact in communities at home and around the world. Many of our graduates go on to make significant contributions in local, provincial and federal governments as senior leaders in the public service and as elected officials. Below are our outstanding alumni who are making a difference at all levels of government. This list also includes those who previously taught at York.

The Hon. Omar Alghabra

Liberal MP
Mississauga Centre, ON

MBA ‘00 Schulich

The Hon. Gary Anandasangaree

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Liberal MP
Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

LLB ‘05 Osgoode

Yvan Baker


Liberal MP
Etobicoke-Centre,
ON

BBA ‘00 Schulich

Shalene Curtis-Micallef

Deputy Minister of Justice
Government of Canada

LLB ‘95 Osgoode

Scot Davidson


Conservative MP
York-Simcoe, ON


BA ‘93 LA&PS

Ali Ehsassi


Liberal MP
Willowdale, ON


LLB ‘99 Osgoode

Iqwinder Gaheer


Liberal MP
Mississauga—Malton, ON


BBA ‘15 Schulich

The Hon. Patty Hajdu


Minister of Indigenous Services
Liberal MP
Thunder Bay-Superior North, ON

BA ‘84-86 Glendon

The Hon. Ahmed Hussen

Minister of International Development
Liberal MP
York South-Weston, ON

BA ‘02 LA&PS

The Hon. Helena Jaczek


Liberal MP
Markham—Stouffville, ON

MBA ‘94 Schulich

Jamil Jivani


Conservative MP
Durham, ON



BA ‘10 LA&PS

Majid Jowhari


Liberal MP
Richmond Hill, ON

MBA ‘92 Schulich

Iqra Khalid


Liberal MP
Mississauga-Erin Mills, ON

BA ‘07 LA&PS

The Hon. Kamal Khera

Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
Liberal MP
Brampton, ON

BSCN ‘13 Health

Philip Lawrence

Conservative MP
Northumberland-Peterborough South, ON


LLB ’05 Osgoode, MBA ‘05 Schulich

Leslyn Lewis


Conservative MP
Haldimand-Norfolk, ON

PhD ’19 Osgoode, JD ‘97 Osgoode, MA ’97 EUC

The Hon. Marco Mendicino


Liberal MP
Eglinton-Lawrence, ON

Adjunct Faculty

Marty Morantz


Conservative MP
Charleswood-St. James-Assinboia-Headingley, MB

LLB ’86 Osgoode

Taki Sarantakis

President
Canada School of Public Service

MA ‘93 LA&PS

Jagmeet Singh

Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party
NDP MP
Burnaby South, BC

LLB ‘05 Osgoode

Anita Vandenbeld

Liberal MP
Ottawa West-Nepean, ON

MA ’96 LA&PS

Deepak Anand


PC MPP
Mississauga-Malton, ON



MBA ‘07 Schulich

Jill Andrew


NDP MPP
Toronto-St.Paul’s, ON


BA ‘02 LA&PS
BEd ‘03 Education

The Hon. Doug Downey

Attorney General
PC MPP
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte, ON

LLM ‘08 Osgoode

Chris Glover photo

Chris Glover


NDP MPP
Spadina-Fort York, ON


Adjunct Faculty

Joel Harden


NDP MPP
Ottawa Centre, ON
Charleswood-St. James-

PhD ‘06 LA&PS, MA ‘97 LA&PS

The Hon. Michael Kerzner

Solicitor General
PC MPP
York Centre, ON

BA ‘86 LA&PS

Todd McCarthy

Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
PC MPP
Durham, ON

LLB ’87 Osgoode

Rachel Notley

NDP MLA
Edmonton-Strathcona, AB

LLB ‘90 Osgoode

Tom Rakocevic

NDP MPP
Humber River-Black Creek, ON

MSc ‘06 Science, BEd ‘06 Education, BSc ‘00 Science

Effie Triantafilopoulos photo

Effie Triantafilopoulos

PC MPP
Oakville North-Burlington, ON

LLM ‘99 Osgoode

Laura Smith

PC MPP
Thornhill, ON


Dr. Catherine Zahn

Chair, Ontario Health


BSc ’74 Biology

Paul Ainslie

Councillor – Scarborough Guildwood
City of Toronto

BA ‘90 LA&PS

Mary Asselstine

Councillor – Ward 4
King Township


MA ‘85 EUC

Roberta Bald

Councillor
Town of Midland


JD ’97 Osgoode
LLM ’09 Osgoode

Marty Beelen

Councillor – Ward 5
Clearview Township


MBA ’91 Schulich

Ken Boshcoff

Mayor
City of Thunder Bay


MES ’75 EUC

Brad Bradford

Councillor -Beaches-East York City of Toronto


BES ’09 FES

Guy Burry

District and Township Councillor
Ward C – Muskoka Lakes

BA ‘82 LA&PS

Godwin Chan

Regional and Local Councillor and Deputy Mayor
City of Richmond Hill


JD ’98 Osgoode

Bonnie Crombie

Leader
Ontario Liberal Party


MBA ’92 Schulich

Scott Crone

Councillor
Ward 3 – East Gwillimbury

BA ’92 LA&PS

Steven Del Duca

Mayor
City of Vaughan

LLB ‘07 Osgoode

Mario Ferri

Local and Regional Councillor
City of Vaughan

BA ‘78 LA&PS

John Gallo

Councillor – Ward 5
Town of Aurora


BA ’93 LA&PS

Virginia Hackson

Mayor
Town of East Gwillimbury


BEd ’99 Education

Yvonne Hamlin

Mayor
Town of Collingwood


LLB ’78 Osgoode

Shira Harrison McIntyre

Councillor – Ward 7
Town of New Tecumseth

BA ‘98 LA&PS

Alan Ho

Regional Councillor
City of Markham


BAS ‘99 LA&PS

Martin Madeiros

Regional Councillor
Wards 3 & 4 – Brampton


BA ’97 LA&PS

Nick Mantas

Councillor
Ward 22 – City of Toronto

BA LA&PS ’09

Amy Martin

Mayor
Norfolk County


BA ’13 Health

James Pasternak

Councillor – York Centre
City of Toronto



BA ‘82 LA&PS

Anthony Perruzza

Councillor – Humber River-Black Creek
City of Toronto


BA ‘86 LA&PS

Mario G Racco

Local and Regional Councillor
City of Vaughan



BA ‘81 LA&PS

Clare Riepma

Councillor Ward 1
City of Barrie



MES ‘82 EUC

Rowena Santos

Regional Councillor Wards 1 & 5 – Brampton

BBA ’01 Schulich

Dianne Saxe

Councillor – University-Rosedale
City of Toronto

JD ‘74 Osgoode
LLM ’91 Osgoode
PhD ’91 Osgoode

Debbie Schaefer

Councillor Ward 5 – King Township

MBA ‘84 Schulich

Matthew Shoemaker

Mayor
City of Sault Ste. Marie

LLM ’19 Osgoode

Anub Simson

Councillor
Ward 1 – Adjala-Tosorontio

BA ‘12 LA&PS

Harkirat Singh

Councillor Wards 9 & 10 – Brampton

MBA ‘13 Schulich

Thomas Vegh

Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor
Ward 1 – Town of Newmarket

BA ‘85 LA&PS

Steve Yamada

Regional Councillor
Town of Whitby

BA ‘01 LA&PS
MPPAL ’21 LA&PS


Gwen Boniface

Senator
Ontario

BA ‘82 LA&PS; LLB ‘88 Osgoode

Andrew Cardozo

Senator
Ontario

BA ’80 LA&PS

Marc Gold

Senator
Quebec

Former Faculty Member

Marilou McPhedran

Senator
Manitoba

LLB ’76 Osgoode

Paulette Senior

Senator
Ontario

BA ’90 Health & Social Science

Toni Varone

Senator
Ontario

BA ’80 LA&PS