BREAKING NEWS.....
Filipino Canadian Rechie Valdez Wins Mississauga -Streetsville Riding; Makes History in Canada.
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
September 24, 2021
Liberal Rechie Valdez, First Filipina and Second Filipino Canadian Elected MP for Mississauga- Streetsville, ON.
In the 44th Canadian federal election held on September 20, 2021, Filipino Canadians welcome a historical development in parliamentary politics. Filipino Canadian Rechie Valdez wins the electoral riding in Mississauga- Streetsville in Ontario. R. Valdez wins the seat for the Liberal Party of Canada(LPC). With her victory, she becomes the First Filipina and the Second Filipino Canadian to become a Member of Parliament at the House of Commons, after the final term of Liberal MP for Winnipeg North (Dr.) Rey Pagtakhan in 2004.
Political newcomer Rechie Valdez won her Member of Parliament seat against 4 opponents from the other political parties. Rechie garnered 24,054 votes, more than 6,875 against her nearest Conservative rival.
Canadian Member of Parliament-Elect Rechie Valdez with her 2 children.
The mother of two, who was born in South Africa to Filipino parents, worked for 15 years in Canada as a corporate banker, creative entrepreneuer, and published baker. A community leader, sports enthusiast, and fundraiser, Rechie has a degree in computer science from the University of Windsor, Ontario,
During the snap parliamentary pandemic election, 7 Filipino Canadians ran for Member of Parliament seats across the country, the biggest number of Filipino candidates ever. Of the 7 brave candidates, six Filipino Canadians did not make it. Among the unsuccessful candidates for Member of Parliament were Liberals Elizabeth Quinto of Oxford County, ON., Virginia Bremner of Vancouver-Kingsway, B.C., and Paul Ong of Winnipeg, MB., New Democrats Naden Abenes of Vancouver-Quadra, B.C., and Elaine Perez of Lethbridge, AB., and Green Party's Phil De Luna of Toronto-St. Paul's, ON.
Fil-Can MP Candidate Rechie Valdez(4th Left) with Liberal Party of Canada Political Stalwarts.
The Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, are returning to power in Ottawa with a minority government. Unofficially, the election results showed the Liberals are winning 158 seats, the Conservatives picking up 119 seats, the Bloc Quebecois with 34 seats, the New Democrats counted 25 winners, and the Green Party with 2 seats. A party needs to win 170 of the 338 ridings to form a majority government. With this outcome, Canadians have decided to "stay the course", that is minority government as in 2019.
Many Filipino Canadians across Canada are generally proud and honoured to have a Filipina winner who pledged to deliver by definitely working and serving her constituencies in Mississauga as well as for the many kababayans on many issues impacting their life. Sabi nga ng karamihang Pinoy: "Sa wakas dahil sa naging panalo ni Rechie ay may pagkakataon na magkaroon tayo ng tamang boses sa Legislatura ng Canada, pagkaraan ng labimpitong paghihintay.."
Rechie Valdez( 2nd Right) with Liberal Party women supporters including MP Salma Zahid( 2nd Left)
Under a Liberal government, with R. Valdez's win, many Filipinos are hoping and expecting that the Filipina legislator will represent and articulate the voice of her many compatriots in the Canadian Parliament. Her fellow Mississauga residents and the Filipino communities in Ontario are happily congratulating and wishing Rechie Valdez well. Albeit, not a "big deal", observers believe that her winning is a big step forward for Filipinos anew "to be at the table" in the realm of Canadian politics. (Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)