Patty Hajdu

Patricia A. Hajdu PC MP (/ˈhaɪdjuː/;[1] born November 3, 1966) is a Canadian Liberal politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Thunder Bay—Superior North in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election.[2][3] Since November 2019, she has been the Minister of Health in the federal Cabinet. Previous to this, she was the Minister of Status of Women and Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

The Honourable

Patty Hajdu

PC MP
Minister of Health
Assumed office
November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byGinette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
In office
January 10, 2017 – November 20, 2019
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byMaryAnn Mihychuk
Succeeded byCarla Qualtrough (Employment)
Filomena Tassi (Labour)
Minister of Status of Women
In office
November 4, 2015 – January 10, 2017
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byKellie Leitch
Succeeded byMaryam Monsef
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Thunder Bay—Superior North
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byBruce Hyer
Personal details
Born (1966-11-03) November 3, 1966
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceThunder Bay, Ontario
Alma materLakehead University
University of Victoria

Early life and education

Born in Montreal, she spent her early years in Chisholm, Minnesota with her brother Sean Patrick Hajdu (1969-2003), raised by her aunt and uncle.[4] Her Hungarian last name comes from her stepfather.

At 12 years old, Hajdu moved to Thunder Bay to live with her mother. Due to a tumultuous relationship, she ended up living on her own at age 16, attempting to finish high school.[4] After graduating from high school, she got a job in Thunder Bay through an employment-insurance initiative, at a non-profit adult-literacy group, where she trained in graphic design.[4]

Hajdu then attended Lakehead University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts.[4] In 2015, she received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.[5][6]

Career

Hajdu worked mainly in the field of harm prevention, homelessness, and substance misuse prevention, including nine years as the head of the drug awareness committee of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. She also worked as a creative director and graphic designer in marketing. Prior to her election in 2015 she was the executive director at Shelter House, the city's largest homeless shelter.[7]

On November 4, 2015, she was appointed the Minister of Status of Women in the federal Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[8] In this capacity, she convened in July 2016 an advisory council to help develop of Canada's strategy against gender-based violence.[9] She was sworn in as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour on January 10, 2017.

On October 29, 2018, Minister Hajdu, alongside Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef and President of the Treasury Board and Minister for Digital Government Scott Brison introduced pay equity legislation for federally regulated workplaces.[10]

Minister of Health

Hajdu was shuffled to Minister of Health in the Trudeau government following the 2019 federal election.

Coronavirus pandemic

As Minister of Health, Hajdu oversees the Department of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, key agencies coordinating the Canadian government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

On March 25, Hajdu informed the Senate that she would invoke the Quarantine Act effective at midnight, federally mandating that all travellers (excluding essential workers) returning to the country must self-isolate for 14 days, prohibiting those who are symptomatic from using public transit as transport to their place of self-isolation, and prohibiting self-isolation in settings where they may come in contact with those who are vulnerable (people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly).[11]

Personal life

Hajdu is the mother of two adult sons.[12]

Electoral record
2019 Canadian federal election: Thunder Bay—Superior North
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPatty Hajdu18,50242.9-2.09
ConservativeFrank Pullia11,03625.6+8.17
New DemocraticAnna Betty Achneepineskum9,12621.1-2.08
GreenBruce Hyer3,6398.4-5.40
People'sYoussef Khanjari7341.7–
LibertarianAlexander Vodden1400.3–
Total valid votes/Expense limit 43,177100.0
Total rejected ballots 416
Turnout 43,59366.1
Eligible voters 65,928
Liberal hold Swing -5.13
Source: Elections Canada[13][14]
2015 Canadian federal election: Thunder Bay-Superior North
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalPatty Hajdu20,06944.99+28.51$90,854.71
New DemocraticAndrew Foulds10,33923.18-26.97$121,837.34
ConservativeRichard Harvey7,77517.43-12.22$59,457.39
GreenBruce Hyer6,15513.80+10.78$123,098.51
IndependentRobert Skaf2700.61–$6,944.34
Total valid votes/Expense limit 44,608100.0   $248,538.44
Total rejected ballots 178––
Turnout 44,786––
Eligible voters 63,995
Source: Elections Canada[15][16][17]
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References
  1. "Minister Hajdu wishes you a Happy Indigenous Peoples Day 2019". Employment and Social Development Canada. June 21, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. "First-time candidate Patty Hajdu wins Superior-North for Liberals". tbnewswatch.com. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  3. "Thunder Bay-Superior North goes Liberal red with Patty Hajdu". CBC News. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  4. Stone, Laura (February 9, 2018). "Employment Minister Patty Hajdu has a mission – protecting the vulnerable". theglobeandmail.com. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  5. "Three UVic alumnae in new federal cabinet". uvic.ca. University of Victoria. January 21, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  6. "3 Alumnae Named to Federal Cabinet". uvic.ca. University of Victoria. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  7. Meet Patty Hajdu, Liberal.ca.
  8. "Full list of Justin Trudeau's cabinet". CBC News. 4 November 2015.
  9. Smith, Joanna (27 June 2016). "How to empower women holistically". Toronto Star.
  10. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2018/10/government-of-canada-introduces-historic-proactive-pay-equity-legislation.html
  11. Dunham, Jackie (2020-03-25). "Travellers returning home must enter mandatory self-isolation: health minister". CTV News. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  12. Bryden, Joan (6 April 2020). "Nothing prepared Patty Hajdu for this". National Observer. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  13. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  14. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  15. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Thunder Bay—Superior North, 30 September 2015
  16. "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on 2015-08-15. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  17. "Download latest results for all electoral districts (tab-delimited format)"
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Minister of Health
November 20, 2019 –		 Incumbent
MaryAnn Mihychuk Minister of Employment, Workforce, and Labour
January 10, 2017 – November 20, 2019		 Carla Qualtrough
Kellie Leitch Minister of Status of Women
November 4, 2015 – January 10, 2017		 Maryam Monsef
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