Marci Ien
Marci Ien PC MP (born July 29, 1969) is a Canadian politician serving as the minister for women and gender equality and youth since October 26, 2021. A member of the Liberal Party, Ien represents Toronto Centre in the House of Commons. Previously, she was a broadcast journalist for CTV.[2] She co-hosted the CTV daytime talk show The Social from 2017 until 2020.[3] Previously, she was a reporter for CTV News and a co-anchor on the CTV morning program Canada AM.
Marci Ien | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth | |
| Assumed office October 26, 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Maryam Monsef (Women and Gender Equality) Bardish Chagger (Youth) |
| Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre | |
| Assumed office October 26, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Morneau |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 29, 1969 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Davisville Village,[1] Toronto |
| Alma mater | Ryerson University (BA) |
| Occupation | Journalist, television host |
| Known for | Former co-host of The Social, former news anchor for Canada AM |
Background
Ien graduated with a degree in radio and television arts from Ryerson University in 1991.[4] She began her career at CHCH-TV in Hamilton, Ontario in 1991 as a news writer and general assignment reporter.[5] In 1995 she began reporting from Queen's Park in Toronto, with her reports appearing both on CHCH's local news and on WIC's national newscast Canada Tonight.[5] In 1997 she moved to CTV as a reporter for CTV Atlantic, covering major stories including the crash of Swissair Flight 111 off Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.[5]
In 1995, Ien won a Radio Television Digital News Association Award for her news serial Journey to Freedom, a look at the Underground Railroad.[5] In 2008, she was the recipient of a Black Business and Professional Association Harry Jerome Award in the media category.[5] In 2014, she was granted the Planet Africa Award for excellence in media. In 2015, Ien garnered a Canadian Screen Award nomination in the Best Host category for her work on Canada AM. In 2016, she was honoured with an African Canadian Achievement Award for her journalistic achievements.
As a child, Ien was a regular on the Crossroads Christian Communications program Circle Square.[5]
Politics
On September 17, 2020, Ien was announced as the Liberal Party of Canada's candidate in Toronto Centre for a by-election to fill the seat vacated by former Finance minister Bill Morneau.[6] She won the by-election on October 26, 2020, defeating Green Party of Canada leader Annamie Paul.[7] She was re-elected in 2021 with increased support
On September 17, 2020, Ien was announced as the Liberal candidate for the by-election to the 43rd Canadian Parliament for Toronto Centre,[8] following the resignation of Bill Morneau. She was elected to the Parliament of Canada on October 26, 2020.[9]
On September 20, 2021, Ien was re-elected as the member of Parliament for the riding of Toronto Centre.[10][11] Ien was appointed as Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth on October 26, 2021.
Personal life
Marci Ien is a Black Canadian[5] of Trinidadian descent. Ien was born in St. James Town and raised in Toronto where she now lives with her two children, Blaize and Dash.[2]
Her father, Joel Ien, came to Canada in the late 1960s to attend university and went on to a career in education as a teacher, principal, and school superintendent in Toronto.[2]
Electoral record
| 2021 Canadian federal election: Toronto Centre | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Marci Ien | 23,071 | 50.35 | +8.35 | ||||
| New Democratic | Brian Chang | 11,909 | 25.99 | +8.99 | ||||
| Conservative | Ryan Lester | 5,571 | 12.16 | +6.46 | ||||
| Green | Annamie Paul | 3,921 | 8.56 | –24.14 | ||||
| People's | Syed Jeffrey | 1,047 | 2.29 | –1.19 | ||||
| Communist | Ivan Byard | 181 | 0.40 | – | ||||
| Animal Protection | Peter Stubbins | 117 | 0.25 | – | ||||
| Total valid votes | 45,817 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 366 | 0.79 | +0.29 | |||||
| Turnout | 46,183 | 57.42 | +26.52 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 80,430 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | –0.32 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Canada[12] | ||||||||
| Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020: Toronto Centre Resignation of Bill Morneau | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Marci Ien | 10,581 | 42.0 | -15.4 | $116,839 | |||
| Green | Annamie Paul | 8,250 | 32.7 | +25.6 | $100,008 | |||
| New Democratic | Brian Chang | 4,280 | 17.0 | -5.3 | $71,222 | |||
| Conservative | Benjamin Gauri Sharma | 1,435 | 5.7 | -6.4 | $0 | |||
| People's | Baljit Bawa | 269 | 1.1 | – | $22,752 | |||
| Libertarian | Keith Komar | 135 | 0.5 | – | ||||
| Independent | Kevin Clarke | 123 | 0.5 | – | ||||
| Free Party Canada | Dwayne Cappelletti | 76 | 0.3 | – | $1,570 | |||
| No affiliation | Above Znoneofthe | 56 | 0.2 | – | $0 | |||
| Total valid votes | 25,205 | 100.0 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 118 | 0.5 | -0.2 | |||||
| Turnout | 25,323 | 30.9 | -35.2 | |||||
| Electors on lists | 81,861 | |||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | -20.5 | ||||||
| Elections Canada[13][14] | ||||||||
References
- "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- Rushowy, Kristin (November 23, 2012). "Canada AM host Marci Ien inspired to call son Dash thanks to her own father's motivational story". thestar.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
- "Former 'Canada AM' host Marci Ien new co-host of 'The Social' | Toronto Sun". March 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- "Marci Ien". Ryerson University. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
- Marci Ien Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. Who's Who in Black Canada, January 4, 2011.
- Gilmore, Rachel (September 17, 2020). "Broadcast journalist Marci Ien to run as Liberal candidate in Morneau's former riding". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- "Federal Liberals projected to hold onto Toronto Centre in byelection". CBC News. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- Gilmore, Rachel (September 17, 2020). "Broadcast journalist Marci Ien will be Liberal nomination in Morneau's former riding". CTV News. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- Bryden, Joan (October 26, 2020). "Liberals win two Toronto byelections despite stiff challenges from Greens, Tories". CTV News. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- "Liberal Marci Ien wins Toronto Centre". thestar.com. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- "Federal election fallout: Green Party leader loses Toronto-Centre riding, coming in fourth". Nationalpost.com. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
- "Election night results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- "Toronto Centre: October 26, 2020, by-elections — Poll-by-poll results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
- "October 26, 2020, By-elections: Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2021.