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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 and Northern Affairs

Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

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

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

Bonnie Crombie

Leader, Ontario Liberal Party

MBA ’92 Schulich

The Hon. Doug Downey

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

LLM ‘08 Osgoode

Shannon Fuller

Deputy Minister and Associate Secretary of the Ontario Cabinet

BA ‘00 LA&PS

Chris Glover

NDP MPP
Spadina-Fort York, ON

Adjunct Faculty


Joel Harden

NDP MPP
Ottawa Centre, ON

PhD ‘06 LA&PS MA ‘97 LA&PS

John Jordan

PC MPP
Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, ON

BA ‘84 LA&PS

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

Tom Rakocevic

NDP MPP
Humber River-Black Creek, ON

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

Effie Triantafilopoulos

PC MPP
Oakville North-Burlington, ON

LLM ‘99 Osgoode

Laura Smith

PC MPP
Thornhill, ON

Ali Veshkini

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Infrastructure

BA '03 LA&PS

Dr. Catherine Zahn

Chair, Ontario Health

BSc ’74 Biology

Daniele Zanotti

Deputy Minister, Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

BA '91 LA&PS

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

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

Eric Jolliffe

Chairman
Regional Municipality of York

BA ’85 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
PhD '91 Osgoode

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