Electoral Firsts in Canada - Chinese Canadians

Chinese Canadians

First Chinese Canadian candidate in Canada: Catherine Emily Ling, 1941 BC provincial election for the Emancipation Party in Vancouver Point Grey

First Chinese Canadian MP:

1. Douglas Jung (鄭天華), Progressive Conservative MP for Vancouver Centre (1957–1962), first Chinese Canadian to hold elected office
2. Art Lee (李僑棟), Liberal MP for Vancouver East (1974–79)
3. Raymond Chan (陳卓愉), Liberal MP for Richmond (1993–2000, 2004–2008), First Chinese-Canadian federal cabinet minister
4. Sophia Leung (梁陳明任), Liberal MP for Vancouver Kingsway (1997–2004), First Chinese-Canadian female MP
5. Inky Mark (麥鼎鴻), Reform/Progressive Conservative/Conservative MP for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette (1997–2010)
6. Michael Chong (莊文浩), Conservative MP for Wellington—Halton Hills (2004–present)
7. Olivia Chow (鄒至蕙), New Democratic MP for Trinity—Spadina (2006–present)
8. Alice Wong (黃陳小萍), Conservative MP for Richmond (2008–present)
9. Ted Hsu (徐正陶), Liberal MP for Kingston and the Islands (2011–present)
10. Chungsen Leung (梁中心), Conservative MP for Willowdale (2011–present)
11. Wai Young (楊蕭慧儀), Conservative MP for Vancouver South (2011–present)
12. Laurin Liu, New Democratic MP for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles (2011–present)

First Chinese-Canadian member of provincial legislature:

1. George Ho Lem (何榮禧), Alberta Social Credit MLA for Calgary-McCall (1971–75)
2. Bob Wong (黄景培), Ontario Liberal MPP for Fort York (1987–90)
3. Gary Mar (馬健威), Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA for Calgary Nose Creek/Calgary Mackay (1993–2007)
4. Ida Chong (張杏芳), BC Liberal MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head (1996–present), together with Jenny Kwan were the First Chinese Canadian women elected in Canada
5. Jenny Kwan (關慧貞), BC NDP MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant (1996–present), together with Ida Chong were the First Chinese Canadian women elected in Canada
6. Richard Lee (李燦明), BC Liberal MLA for Burnaby North (2001–present)
7. Tony Wong (黃志華), Ontario Liberal MPP for Markham (2003–06)
8. Michael Chan (陳國治), Ontario Liberal MPP for Markham—Unionville (2006–present)
9. Teresa Woo-Paw (鮑胡嫈儀), Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA for Calgary-Mackay (2008–present)

First Chinese Canadian leader of a political party (federally or provincially)

1. Arthur Lee (李僑棟), BC Liberal leader, 1984–1987 (*The BC Liberals had no seats)
2. Victor Lau, Saskatchewan Green Party Leader 2006 (interim), 2011–present

First Chinese-Canadian in Cabinet:

1. Bob Wong (黄景培), Ontario Liberal, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure (1987–89), Minister of Citizenship(1989–90)
2. Raymond Chan (陳卓愉), Federal Liberal, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) (1993–2001), Minister of State (Multiculturalism)(2004–2006), First Chinese-Canadian federal cabinet minister
3. Gary Mar (馬健威), Alberta Progressive Conservative, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister of Learning, Minister of the Environment, and twice Minister of Community Development (1993–2007)
4. Jenny Kwan (關慧貞), BC NDP, Minister of Municipal Affairs (1998–99), Minister of Women's Equality (1999–2000), Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers (2000–01)
5. Ida Chong (張杏芳), BC Liberal, Minister of Advanced Education (2004–05), Minister of Community Services (2005–08), Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development (2008–09), Minister of Science and Universities & Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development (2010–present)
6. Michael Chong (莊文浩), Federal Conservative, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs & President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (2006)
7. Michael Chan, Ontario Liberal, Minister of Revenue (2007), Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2007–present)
8. Alice Wong (黃陳小萍), Federal Conservative, Minister of State for Seniors (2011–present)

First Chinese Canadian Senator: Vivienne Poy (利德蕙), 1998-current

First Chinese Canadian Governor General of Canada: Adrienne Clarkson (伍冰枝), Governor General of Canada, 1999–2005

First Chinese Canadian Lieutenant Governors

1. David Lam (林思齊), British Columbia Lieutenant Governor 1988–1995
2. Norman Kwong (林佐民), Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2005–2010
3. Philip S. Lee (李紹麟), current Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba

First person of Chinese descent in Canada to be elected in a municipal election: George Ho Lem

First Chinese Canadian mayor in Canada:

• Peter Wing (吳榮添), Mayor of Kamloops, first elected 1966, served for three terms