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Mary Ng

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The Honourable
Mary Ng
PC MP
伍鳳儀
Ng in 2022
Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 18, 2018
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded by
  • Bardish Chagger (Minister of Small Business and Tourism)
  • Jim Carr (Minister of International Trade Diversification)
Member of Parliament
for Markham—Thornhill
Incumbent
Assumed office
April 3, 2017
Preceded byJohn McCallum
Personal details
Born (1968-12-16) December 16, 1968 (age 56)
British Hong Kong
Political partyLiberal
Residence(s)North York, Ontario, Canada[1]
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
Mary Ng
Traditional Chinese伍鳳儀
Simplified Chinese伍凤仪
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǔ Fèngyí
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingNg5 Fung6-ji4

Mary Ng PC MP (1968-12-16) December 16, 1968 (age 56) is a Canadian politician. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, she has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Markham—Thornhill since a by-election on April 3, 2017. She has served as Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development since 2023. In addition to this role, Ng has held various portfolios including Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development (2021), Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade (2019)[2], Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion (2018).[3] As of January 2025, Ng holds the record as Canada's longest-serving minister responsible for international trade at over 5 years in the role.[4]

Early life

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Ng was born in British Hong Kong on (1968-12-16) December 16, 1968 (age 56), and is the eldest child of three.[5] In the 1970s (1976), Ng's parents, Ng Yin-Foo and Ng Wan Lin,[6] immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong, later establishing a family-owned restaurant (Ka-Hing Chinese & Szechuan Foods 2346 Dufferin Street[7]) in Toronto, Ontario. Along with her brother Ken and sister Vera,[8] Ng grew up working in the family's restaurant.[9] She attended the University of Toronto in political science.[10]

Career

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Ng has worked for over 20 years in the public service, focusing on the areas of education, women's leadership, job-creation, and entrepreneurship. Before entering politics, Ng worked in the Government of Ontario in the Province’s Cabinet Office, with the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario, and the Ministry of Education of Ontario. She has also worked for Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) in the President’s Office, and served as Director of Public Appointments in the Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[11]

Federal politics

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Following the resignation of Markham—Thornhill MP John McCallum in February 2017, Ng announced her candidacy for the nomination of the Liberal Party of Canada for the riding.[12] Ng won the nomination against two other candidates and went on to win the seat with 51.5% of the vote in a riding by-election held on April 3 that year.[13] Ng went on to win the seat again in the 2019 Canadian Federal election with 53.9%[14] of the vote and in the 2021 Canadian Federal election with 61.5%[14] of the vote.

Member of Parliament

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As the Member of Parliament for Markham-Thornhill, Ng helped to facilitate the government's commitment to invest in Canadian ideas and innovators in the riding by advocating for the inclusion of Markham's tech-innovation hub, VentureLabs, in the Southern Ontario Supercluster.[15] Ng has also helped deliver infrastructure improvements to Markham and the surrounding area for clean water and wastewater improvements[16], flood protection[17], public transit expansion which includes the Yonge Subway North extension[18], additional housing[19], and the retrofitting of community facilities throughout the riding.[20]

Cabinet Minister

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Ng at the 2023 G7 Trade Ministers' meeting in Osaka
Ng with Denys Shmyhal in Ukraine in June 2024

Ng was appointed Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion in a cabinet reshuffle in July 2018.[21] Following her re-election as MP in the 2019 federal election, she was named Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, adding the trade portfolio to her responsibilities.[22]

As Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, Ng oversaw the development and implementation of several key support programs during the COVID-19 pandemic including: The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)[23] which provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and non-profits, The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)[24] to help small businesses with rent payments during Covid-19 lockdowns, and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to support businesses in rural communities.[25]

Under Ng’s leadership, the Ministry of Small Business and Export Promotion created the Black Entrepreneurship Program, a $221 million investment to support Black business owners and entrepreneurs, [26] and developed the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a $6 billion investment to increase women-owned businesses' access to financing, talent, networks and expertise.[27][28]

In 2020, Ng led Canada’s first-ever virtual trade mission to South Korea - an innovative approach to support Canadian businesses during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission focused on key sectors such as clean technology, information and communications technology, and health technology. It connected over 200 Canadian businesses with South Korean industry leaders and potential partners, facilitating commercial opportunities in one of Canada’s most significant trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region.[29]

In November 2020, Ng led negotiations resulting in the Canada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement, ensuring continued preferential trade access between the two nations following Brexit.[30]

After the 2021 election, Ng's responsibilities expanded to include Economic Development becoming the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.[31] She remained the minister responsible for Canada's trade negotiations, overseeing Export Development Canada and promoting small business.[32]

In 2022, Mario Dion, the Ethics Commissioner of Canada, released a report finding that Ng had broken ethics rules in 2019 and 2020 by failing to recuse herself and awarding two government media training contracts – worth $16,950 and $5,840 – to the public relations firm that her friend of 20 years had co-founded.[33] After the release of the report, Ng apologized and issued a statement saying that she should have recused herself.[34][35] When pressed on whether she would resign over this, Ng said "I've said that in making this mistake I need to work very, very hard to earn the trust of those to whom I serve in my riding, but indeed across Canada. But no, I will keep working hard for Canadians."[33]

In July 2023, Ng's appointment changed to Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development.[36] In this role, Ng has led Canada's trade diversification strategy through trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement[37], strengthened trade relations with ASEAN nations[38] and launched Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. She also oversaw the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.[39]

Ng’s inaugural Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan in 2023 marked a pivotal step in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The mission enabled Canadian businesses to establish connections and pursue commercial opportunities in Japan, one of Canada’s top trading partners.[40]

In 2024, Ng conducted subsequent trade missions in Malaysia, Vietnam[41], the Republic of Korea[42], Indonesia, and the Philippines.[43] The mission to Indonesia and the Philippines in December 2024 was Canada’s largest-ever trade mission[44], with over 300 representatives from more than 190 Canadian organizations participating. This mission facilitated significant engagements, including the conclusion of negotiations for the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding between Canadian and Indonesian companies.[45]

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Markham—Thornhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Mary Ng 23,709 61.5 +7.6 $67,977.46
Conservative Melissa Felian 10,136 26.3 -8.3 $57,520.72
New Democratic Paul Sahbaz 3,222 8.4 +1.1 $633.62
Green Mimi Lee 813 2.1 -0.7 $4,285.37
People's Ilia Pashaev 648 1.7 +0.9 $1,203.75
Total valid votes/expense limit 38,528 – – $106,559.92
Total rejected ballots 398
Turnout 38,926 55.70
Eligible voters 69,883
Source: Elections Canada[46]
2019 Canadian federal election: Markham—Thornhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Mary Ng 23,899 53.91 +2.55 $80,357.71
Conservative Alex Yuan 15,319 34.56 -4.43 $74,064.17
New Democratic Paul Sahbaz 3,233 7.29 +3.81 none listed
Green Chris Williams 1,247 2.81 +0.60 none listed
People's Peter Remedios 357 0.81 $0.00
Independent Josephbai Macwan 276 0.62 none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,331 100.0
Total rejected ballots 448 1.00 +0.41
Turnout 44,779 61.76 +31.14
Eligible voters 72,499
Liberal hold Swing +3.49
Source: Elections Canada[47][48]
Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017: Markham—Thornhill (federal electoral district)
Resignation of John McCallum
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Mary Ng 9,856 51.53 −4.19
Conservative Ragavan Paranchothy 7,501 39.22 +6.91
New Democratic Gregory Hines 671 3.51 −7.21
Progressive Canadian Dorian Baxter 566 2.96
Green Caryn Bergmann 426 2.23 +0.98
Libertarian Brendan Thomas Reilly 118 0.62
Independent Above Znoneofthe 77 0.40
Total valid votes/expense limit 19,125 100.0   –  
Total rejected ballots -
Turnout 27.51
Eligible voters 69,838
Liberal hold Swing −5.55

References

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  1. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "Profile - Ng, Mary". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on 2020-02-16. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
  3. ^ "The Honourable Mary Ng - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada". 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  4. ^ "Departments and Roles: 1867 - Today". Parlinfo. 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  5. ^ "Profile - Ng, Mary". Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  6. ^ "YIN NG Obituary (2014) - Scarborough, ON - Toronto Star". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  7. ^ "Ka-Hing Chinese & Szechuan Foods · Ng, Yin-Foo · 2346 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6E 3S4 · Eating Establishment". Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  8. ^ "YIN NG Obituary (2014) - Scarborough, ON - Toronto Star". Legacy.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
  9. ^ "Biography | Mary Ng | Your member of parliament for Markham-Thornhill". maryngmp.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  10. ^ Haikara, Nina. "Anita Anand, an alumna and a professor at U of T's Faculty of Law, named to federal cabinet". University of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2019-12-09. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  11. ^ "The Honourable Mary Ng". pm.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2024-12-14. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
  12. ^ "PMO staffer Mary Ng will run for the Liberals in federal byelection". The Canadian Press, via CBC News. 2017-03-04. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  13. ^ Fraser, Laura (2017-04-03). "Liberal Mary Ng wins Markham-Thornhill byelection". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  14. ^ a b "Voter Information Service - Past results". Elections Canada.
  15. ^ "Advanced Manufacturing Supercluster - ventureLAB". ventureLAB. 2018-03-05. Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  16. ^ "Better wastewater and water infrastructure for York Region residents". Newswire.ca. 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  17. ^ Zarzour, Kim (2019-07-09). "Markham trades industrial land for nature to solve flooding problems". YorkRegion.com. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  18. ^ "Largest public transit investment in GTA history will create jobs and kickstart the economy". Newswire.ca. 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  19. ^ "Markham receives $58.8M from federal government to build more homes, faster". Markham.ca. 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  20. ^ "Backgrounder: Federal government and the City of Markham invest in improvements to community and recreation centres". Canada.ca. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  21. ^ "Complete list of Justin Trudeau's first-term cabinet". CBC News. 2018-07-18. Archived from the original on 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  22. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (2019-11-20). "Who's who in Justin Trudeau's 2019 cabinet". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  23. ^ "Minister Morneau and Minister Ng mark the launch of the Canada Emergency Business Account". Canada.ca. 2020-04-09. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  24. ^ "Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance now open for applications". pm.gc.ca. 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  25. ^ "Statement by Minister Ng welcoming the Office of the Auditor General's report on the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund". Newswire.ca. 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  26. ^ Shecter, Barbara (2021-06-24). "'It's a win, win, win': Mary Ng on how the $290 million Black Entrepreneurship Program is boosting Black businesses". FinancialPost.ca. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  27. ^ "Minister Ng announces Women Entrepreneurship Strategy investments". Canada.ca. 2019-08-22. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  28. ^ "Minister Ng announces new call for proposals under the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund". Canada.ca. 2022-01-11. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  29. ^ "Minister Ng to lead virtual trade mission to South Korea for Canadian businesses". Canada.ca. 2020-11-04. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  30. ^ "Minister Ng celebrates successful Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan". Canada.ca. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  31. ^ "Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet". Prime Minister of Canada. 2021-10-26. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
  32. ^ "Prime Minister welcomes new Cabinet". Canada.ca. 2021-10-26. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  33. ^ a b Lee, Michael (12 March 2023). "Trade Minister Mary Ng did not consider resigning, repaying money after ethics breach". CTV News. Archived from the original on 17 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  34. ^ Raycraft, Richard (December 13, 2022). "Trade minister apologizes for breaking conflict of interest rules". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  35. ^ Dion, Mario (December 13, 2022). "Ng Report". Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  36. ^ "Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry". pm.gc.ca. 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  37. ^ "Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mandate Letter". pm.gc.ca. 2021-12-16. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  38. ^ "Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Malaysia during first Team Canada Trade Mission to Southeast Asia". Canada.ca. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  39. ^ "Minister Ng introduces modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement legislation in the House of Commons". Canada.ca. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  40. ^ "Minister Ng celebrates successful Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan". Canada.ca. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  41. ^ "Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Malaysia during first Team Canada Trade Mission to Southeast Asia". Canada.ca. 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  42. ^ "Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Republic of Korea through Team Canada Trade Mission". Canada.ca. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  43. ^ "Minister Ng strengthens trade relations with Indonesia during Team Canada trade mission". Canada.ca. 2024-12-04. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  44. ^ "In Manila, Philippines, Minister Ng concludes Canada's largest Team Canada Trade Mission". Canada.ca. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  45. ^ "In Manila, Philippines, Minister Ng concludes Canada's largest Team Canada Trade Mission". Canada.ca. 2024-12-06. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  46. ^ "Official Voting Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  47. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  48. ^ "FORTY-THIRD GENERAL ELECTION 2019 — Poll-by-poll results (Markham—Thornhill)". Elections Canada. April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
[edit]
29th Ministry – Cabinet of Justin Trudeau
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Bardish Chagger Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
July 17, 2018 – 		Incumbent
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