Carla_Qualtrough

Carla Qualtrough

Carla Qualtrough

Canadian politician and former Paralympic swimmer

Carla Dawn Qualtrough PC MP (/ˈkwɒltroʊ/; born October 15, 1971) is a Canadian politician and former Paralympic swimmer who has served as the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity since July 2023. A member of the Liberal Party, Qualtrough has represented the riding of Delta in the House of Commons since 2015.

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She previously served as the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion from 2019 to 2023, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility from 2017 to 2019, and the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities from 2015 to 2017. Qualthrough was also the Receiver General for Canada from 2017 to 2019.

Early life and education

Qualtrough was born in Calgary, Alberta, on October 15, 1971, to parents Patricia and Harry Qualtrough, and was raised in Langley, British Columbia.[1] Qualtrough has been visually impaired since birth and only sees 10 percent with her glasses on.[2] She graduated from Brookswood Secondary School[3] and studied political science at the University of Ottawa[4] before earning a law degree from the University of Victoria in 1997.[5][6] Her parents separated when she was a teenager and her father died in 2007.[7]

Paralympic career

Qualtrough's visual impairment qualified her to compete in the Paralympic Games. She earned three bronze medals in swimming at the 1988 and 1992 Summer Paralympics, as well as four world championship medals for Team Canada.[8] During the Paralympics, she swam in the 4x100 medley relay and 4x100 freestyle relay.[1]

After earning her law degree, Qualtrough served on the governing board of the Americas Paralympic Committee.[9] She also served as president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee from 2006 to 2011.[8] During this time, she also directed Sport Initiatives for 2010 Legacies Now and Chaired the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, leading to her election as one of Canada's Most Influential Women in Sport of 2009.[10][11]

As a lawyer, Qualtrough primarily focused on human rights matters. She served as counsel to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and prior to her election to the House of Commons, she was the vice-chair of British Columbia's Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal.[1] In recognition of her work, she was a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.[12] During the 2012 Summer Paralympics, she was the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) legal officer and later received the IPCs International Women's Day Recognition in 2016.[13] In 2021, Qualtrough became part of the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame.[14]

Political career

On November 4, 2015, Qualtrough was named minister of sport and persons with disabilities in the 29th Canadian Ministry, headed by Justin Trudeau.[15] As a result, she became the first Paralympic athlete to be elected to Canadian Parliament.[1] During her tenure, Qualtrough was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee's Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2017.[16]

In a cabinet shuffle triggered by the resignation of Judy Foote, Qualtrough succeeded Foote as minister of public services and procurement on August 28, 2017; Kent Hehr then took over as minister of sport and persons with disabilities.[17][18] After the cabinet shuffle on July 18, 2018, Qualtrough retained her ministerial position but gained the added portfolio of accessibility, styled as "minister of public services and procurement and accessibility".[19]

The November 20, 2019, cabinet shuffle had Qualtrough become minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion, building on her work in the accessibility portfolio.[20]

Personal life

Qualtrough is married to the former secretary-general of the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation, Eron Main, and they have four children together.[21]

Electoral record

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References

  1. [1]
    Hawthorn, Tom (October 23, 2019). "Carla Qualtrough". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  2. [2]
    Aiello, Rachel (February 27, 2017). "Blind cabinet minister promises Canada's first national accessibility legislation will have teeth, could be retroactive". The Hill Times. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  3. [3]
    Brown, Scott (November 4, 2017). "Five things about Carla Qualtrough, Canada's new minister for sport and persons with disabilities". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  4. [4]
    Linda Scales (December 15, 2015). "Friends in high places". uottawa.ca. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  5. [5]
    "3 Alumnae Named to Federal Cabinet". uvic.ca. University of Victoria. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  6. [6]
    "Carla Qualtrough and Murray Rankin win seats in Ottawa". uvic.ca. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  7. [7]
    Joanna Smith (September 4, 2017). "Carla Qualtrough is 'swimming the laps' as she takes on challenging role". therecord.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. [8]
    Spencer, Donna (November 6, 2015). "Life as athlete and sport leader propelled Delta's Carla Qualtrough to Trudeau's cabinet". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  9. [9]
    "CARLA QUALTROUGH – VP APC EXEC". caaws.ca. October 19, 2013. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  10. [10]
    "Canadian Paralympic Committee President Carla Qualtrough Named to Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity List for 2009". newswire.ca. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  11. [11]
    "NPC Canada President Wins Most Influential Award". paralympic.org. February 4, 2010. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  12. [12]
    "Canadian Paralympians honoured with Jubilee medal". Paralympic Games. January 28, 2013. Archived from the original on March 21, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  13. [13]
    "IPC RECOGNIZES QUALTROUGH ON IWD". caaws.ca. March 8, 2016. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  14. [14]
    "Previous Hall of Fame Inductees". The Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Person. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  15. [15]
    Larsen, Karin (November 4, 2015). "Delta MP Carla Qualtrough named minister of sport and persons with a disability". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  16. [16]
    "Carla Qualtrough named to Canadian Paralympic Hall of Fame". cbc.ca. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  17. [17]
    MacCharles, Tonda; Campion-Smith, Bruce (August 28, 2017). "Trudeau shuffles ministers, overhauls Indigenous Affairs, brings friend O'Regan into cabinet". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  18. [18]
    Zimonjic, Peter (August 28, 2017). "Who's who in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  19. [19]
    Harris, Kathleen (July 18, 2018). "Trudeau adds 5 new ministers, shifts others in cabinet shakeup". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  20. [20]
    Zimonjic, Peter (November 20, 2019). "Who is in Justin Trudeau's 2019 cabinet". CBC News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. [21]
    "Carla Qualtrough: Canada's Minister of Sport - 2023 Inductee Spotlight". BC Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  22. [22]
    "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  23. [23]
    "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  24. [24]
    "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  25. [25]
    Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Delta, 30 September 2015
  26. [26]
    Official Voting Results - Delta
  27. [27]
    "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
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