Chagger: From campaign helper to House leader

Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger stepped in front of the microphones and into the history books Friday as the first woman to be appointed Government House Leader. But Chagger becomes the first woman – and the first visible minority Canadian – to hold the job of government House leader in the Commons. Chagger, the 36-year-old Waterloo MP and Minister of Small Business and Tourism, was among 19 Indian-origin candidates who won in last year’s general election.

In a brief statement on Friday, Trudeau expressed his confidence that Chagger will be a “worthy successor” to Dominic LeBlanc, who also holds the portfolio for fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Her new job will see her shepherding the government’s agenda through the Commons.

Chagger told reporters in Ottawa she will be positive, optimistic and collaborative in the way she approaches her new job.

The minor “adjustment” of duties also allows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resist any kind of temptation to have a wider shuffle. Some insiders say an attempt last spring to ram legislation through the House poisoned relations with opposition parties and created a toxic atmosphere in the Commons.

Bardish Chagger’s first foray into federal politics came at age 13, as she hammered in lawn signs in her Ontario hometown of Waterloo for Liberal nominee Andrew Telegdi.

She was one of four Sikhs brought into Trudeau’s cabinet a year ago – a move that drew worldwide attention.

Chagger was born and raised in the Waterloo region, attending the University of Waterloo where she was the president of the Young Liberals.