Rechie Valdez

Early life, education and work Valdez was born Rechie Aileen Salazar on September 17, 1980 to overseas Filipino workers Zosimo Jr. and Normita Salazar in Kitwe, Zambia. The family eventually migrated to Canada in 1989, residing in the Erin Mills neighbourhood of Mississauga, Ontario together with her brother. Valdez went to St. Joseph Secondary School and Holy Name of Mary College School where she graduated in 1993; and completed a computer science degree at the University of Windsor in 2003.

She is the first woman of Filipino heritage to be elected as an MP and serve as a Cabinet minister.

During her tenure, the federal government modified the Canadian Entrepreneurs' Incentive after criticism from business and innovation groups. The changes included a faster phase-in schedule, reduced ownership requirements, and expanded eligibility for small business owners, farmers, and fishers. The Council of Canadian Innovators said the changes did not fully address concerns about the government's capital gains tax changes.

Valdez promoted federal small-business programs through meetings with local business owners and chambers of commerce. In July 2024, she met with entrepreneurs in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where participants raised issues including taxes, labor shortages, public safety concerns, drug use, homelessness, vandalism, and theft affecting downtown businesses.

Her term included changes to payment processing costs for small businesses. In October 2024, the federal government announced that credit card transaction fees for eligible small businesses would be reduced by up to 27 percent, a measure Reuters reported was expected to save eligible businesses more than $1 billion over five years.

The Canada Digital Adoption Program, a $4-billion program launched before Valdez's appointment to help small businesses adopt digital tools, was partly ended during her tenure. The Globe and Mail reported that the grant and loan portions of the program were cancelled after budget reductions, rather than only because the program was fully subscribed as the government had publicly stated. Valdez's office said that the grant and advisory services budget had been reduced from $1.4 billion to $755 million, while the interest-free loans budget had been reduced from $2.6 billion to $494 million.

Minister for Women and Gender Equality (2025–present) Valdez's appointment as Minister for Women and Gender Equality in May 2025 restored a designated women and gender equality ministerial portfolio after Carney's first ministry in March 2025 had removed several portfolios, including women and gender equality. The portfolio had generally included responsibility for federal LGBTQ issues and its earlier removal had drawn criticism from gender equity and LGBTQ organizations.

In the portfolio, Valdez was associated with the government's stated commitments on gender equality, gender-based violence, and LGBTQ inclusion. In October 2025, she and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced more than $660 million over five years for programs related to equality, safety, and inclusion for women, girls, and LGBTQ communities. The proposed funding included support for women's and girls' economic security and leadership, pride parade security costs, and federal responses to gender-based violence.

Valdez has represented Canada internationally on gender equality issues. In March 2026, she led Canada's delegation to the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The session focused on access to justice for women and girls, including inclusive legal systems and the removal of discriminatory laws and barriers; Valdez was also expected to address women's participation in public life and violence against women and girls.

Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism) (2025–present)

Valdez was also appointed Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism in May 2025.

In November 2025, she announced federal funding in Windsor, Ontario, to support the implementation of the Buy Canadian Policy, a federal procurement policy that directs federal agencies to prioritize Canadian suppliers, goods, services, and materials in government contracts, while allowing purchases from trusted partner countries when Canadian options are unavailable. The announcement included $186 million in total support, including $98.2 million over five years for Public Services and Procurement Canada and $7.7 million over three years for the Treasury Board Secretariat, with the stated goal of helping federal departments and Crown corporations incorporate the policy into procurement practices.

Valdez has announced additional support for Indigenous tourism projects. In March 2026, she announced $6 million in additional funding for the Indigenous Tourism Fund's Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream, with selected projects in Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association, which administers the stream, said the second round of funding supported six Indigenous-led tourism projects and followed an earlier $9.5 million round that supported 11 projects.

Personal life She is married to Christopher Valdez, and has two children. Outside politics, Valdez plays basketball as a hobby, where she once held a basketball fundraising activity for Montreal Children's Hospital and SickKids in Toronto.

Election results