PRIME MINISTER HARPER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF JASON KENNEY AS SECRETARY OF STATE (MULTICULTURALISM AND CANADIAN IDENTITY)
January
4, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario
Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the appointment of Jason
Kenney, MP for Calgary Southeast, Alberta, as Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity).
“Jason Kenney is an experienced Member of Parliament who has ably served
me as my Parliamentary Secretary. He has done exemplary work for the
Government with New Canadians and all multicultural communities. He will
continue to work with them to ensure that Canada works for all of us,”
said the Prime Minister.
As Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), Mr. Kenney
will work with the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
Jason Kenney’s appointment was part of Prime Minister Harper’s
announcement designed to strengthen his ministerial team as well as create
six Secretaries of State, as Canada’s New Government gets ready for the
return of Parliament and its second year in office.
“This is a recognition of the growing importance of Canada’s ethno-cultural communities, “ said Mr. Kenney. “It is the perfect progression of my outreach work since our first day as the new government with these communities on behalf of the Prime Minister. After much dialogue across this country with many communities, I look forward to delivering results and policies for Canada’s New Government with respect to the needs and issues of Canada and our ethno-cultural communities.”
Press
Contact:
Tenzin
Khangsar, tel: 613-957-5599, 613-992-2235; e-mail: kennej@parl.gc.ca
Biographical
notes and photo are attached.
* * * *
The Honourable Jason Kenney
Jason Kenney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 and was
re-elected in 2000, 2004 and 2006. He was appointed Parliamentary
Secretary to the Prime Minister in February 2006.
Mr. Kenney was Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of
the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in
2006 and has served on the Standing Committee on Access to Information,
Privacy and Ethics. He served as the Opposition Deputy House Leader from
2004 until 2006, and as the Official Opposition Critic on a number of
files.
Prior to seeking election, Mr. Kenney served as president and chief
executive officer of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Mr. Kenney was born in Ontario and raised in southern Saskatchewan, where
he graduated from Notre Dame College. He did undergraduate studies in
philosophy at the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San
Francisco.
