Filipinos' Voice in Canada's House of Commons

Volume 3, Issue No. 6

OPINION/COMMENTARY

/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail. com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .

 

Our latest as of Tuesday, October 5, 2021 

~ The formal swearing-in as a member of parliament has yet to take place but Filipinos in Canada are so enthused with the election on Monday, September 20, 2021, of one of their own, Rechie Valdez, to the House of Commons. Celebrations are quite modest because of the pandemic but just the same, her ascent to a federal post is a consequential episode that needs to be memorialized in the Filipinos' continued quest for mainstream recognition and acceptance.

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FIRST FILIPINO WOMAN TO WIN SEAT IN CANADA'S PARLIAMENT

Filipinos in Canada Celebrate Rechie Valdez 

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ

Editor, The Filipino Web Channel

“Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.” ― Mark Twain

TORONTO - From close-knit families to diverse neighborhoods to the bigger communities in and outside Ontario province, a collective sigh of relief was palpable as Rechie Valdez, a 41-year-old mother of two, emerged triumphant in her first and only known foray into mainstream Canadian politics.

Outside of her "fearless" and "creative" self as "a community leader", not so much is known about her political thoughts and leanings. As it appears, she's more like a corporate and management person working in multiple industries, including banking where she says she's has had 15 years of experience.

From what is claimed on her website (https://www.chietopia.com/about), Rechie Valdez is good at multitasking, thus, she became a self-taught baker and solo entrepreneur, co-founded a line of pastries, spearheaded a non-profit basketball fest, became producer and co-host of a culture podcast, and hosted a global conference for professionals. (Background video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW_8DFPz9pw).

A local entertainment writer, obviously carried away by "this new winsome member of our Parliament" as she calls her, describes Rechie Valdez as "the modern power woman who brings an additional vibe, a beacon of sureness, like a breath of fresh air in an era of near-constant masked uncertainty". Whatever that means.

Now, just over two weeks after the federal election on September 20, 2021, Rechie Valdez is celebrated near and far and across Canada for having earned - with her win - the distinction of being the first Filipino woman Member of Parliament in Canada.

Considering the paucity of Filipino representation in the 338-member House of Commons since 2004, the historic breakthrough is reason enough for Canadians of Filipino descent and non-Canadian Filipinos to commemorate her rise from virtual partisan anonymity to a high-profile MP for Mississauga-Streetsville, one of six federal electoral districts in the city of Mississauga, a western suburb of Toronto.

The Canadian census of 2016 showed there are 851,410 Filipinos all over Canada, which is equivalent to 2.25 percent of the population as of that year. Most of them live and work in Ontario, specifically in the provincial capital of Toronto, also Canada's largest city.

Rechie Valdez will be the second MP of Filipino heritage. The first is Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, now 86 years old, who served from 1988 to 2004 representing Winnipeg North-St. Paul riding in Manitoba province.

Orientation sessions are underway for 52 newly-elected MPs - Rechie Valdez is one of them - preparatory to the opening session of the 44th Canadian Parliament sometime this fall. 

Related story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2021/09/rechie-valdez-makes-history-as-first.html).

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau retains his seat as Prime Minister even as his administration will still be a minority government as his party falls short of 170 seats needed for a majority. Per the election, the Liberals has 159 seats in the House of Commons; the Conservative Party, 119; Bloc Quebecois, 33; the New Democratic Party, 25; and Green Party, two.

"MP-elect Valdez’s achievement became an inspiration and a role model to young boys and girls," says Consul General Orontes V. Castro who welcomed her and her family during a visit to the consulate office in midtown Toronto on Thursday, September 30.

To which she replied, according to a press release from the consulate: "We all know how big of a moment this is for our community and what this election meant to us. 

"I want you all to understand that this is not just about me or about us here," she stresses. "It’s about what this means for our Filipino Community as a whole and that finally we have a voice in Parliament.” 

At the same event, Consul General Castro presented MP-elect Valdez "the Quincentennial Award as her election victory coincides with this year’s Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines".

Just how much of a "voice in Parliament" would Zambia, Africa-born Rechie Valdez be for the Filipino community? 

That's the big question whose answer lies in the near future.

Three attempts, the first on September 24, and the third and fourth on October 3, to get Rechie Valdez to respond to 10 questions from this reporter proved futile. As of this writing today, Oct. 5, she still has not replied.

I hope her nonresponse is not an indication of what she will be as a sitting member of Parliament. The novelty of being a first or a second this and that wears off easily. (Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved).