Ahmed Hussen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Ahmed Hussen PC MP
Hussen in 2017
Minister of International Development
In office July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Harjit Sajjan
Succeeded by	Mélanie Joly
Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion
In office October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Bardish Chagger (Diversity and Inclusion)
Succeeded by	Sean Fraser (Housing) Kamal Khera (Diversity and Inclusion)
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
In office November 20, 2019 – October 26, 2021
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Jean-Yves Duclos
Succeeded by	Karina Gould
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
In office January 10, 2017 – November 20, 2019
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	John McCallum
Succeeded by	Marco Mendicino
Member of Parliament for York South—Weston—Etobicoke York South—Weston (2015–2025)
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	Mike Sullivan
Personal details
Born	1976 (age 48–49) Mogadishu, Somalia
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Ebyan Farah
Residence	Vaughan, Ontario
Alma mater	York University University of Ottawa
Profession	Lawyer, activist

Ahmed Hussen is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He was born in 1976 in Mogadishu, Somalia. He is a member of the Liberal Party. Since 2015, Hussen has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Toronto area. An MP is someone elected to represent a specific area in the Canadian Parliament.

Hussen has held several important jobs in the Canadian government. He was the Minister of International Development until March 2025. Before that, he was the Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion. He also served as the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He is the first Somali-Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. He is also the first Somali-Canadian to be a federal Cabinet Minister.

Ahmed Hussen's Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Somalia and Moving to Canada

Ahmed Hussen grew up in Mogadishu, Somalia. He has five older brothers and sisters. His father worked as a long-distance truck driver. Ahmed learned English from a cousin while living there.

When he was 15, a civil war started in Somalia. His family decided they had to leave for their safety. They packed a few things and left on a truck with other families. They lived in Kenya for a while, staying in a camp and then in apartments.

Two years later, Ahmed moved to Canada as a refugee. His parents bought him a plane ticket to Toronto. Two of his brothers were already living there. He first stayed with a cousin in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1994, he moved to Toronto and settled in Regent Park in 1996.

Education and Becoming a Lawyer

Ahmed finished high school in Hamilton. He was a talented runner and received three scholarships to universities in the United States. However, he could not accept them because of a Canadian government policy at the time. This policy delayed giving permanent residency to people from Somalia.

He later attended York University in Toronto. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 2002. After that, he studied law at the University of Ottawa. He passed his bar exam in 2012. He became a lawyer specializing in immigration and criminal law.

Ahmed Hussen is married to Ebyan Farah. She is also a Somali-Canadian refugee. They have three sons together.

Ahmed Hussen's Early Career

Starting in Public Service

Ahmed Hussen began his career in public service in 2001. He started by volunteering at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The next year, he was hired as an assistant to Dalton McGuinty. McGuinty was the leader of the Ontario Liberal party at the time.

In 2003, McGuinty became the premier of Ontario. Ahmed was promoted to a special assistant role. For two years, he helped with important issues, policies, and communications.

Community Work and Leadership

Ahmed also worked with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was part of a committee that helped young people get involved in national security issues.

He also started the Regent Park Community Council. This group helped with a huge project to rebuild and improve Regent Park. It was the largest project of its kind in Canada. Ahmed's job was to talk with and protect the interests of over 15,000 residents during this project.

Ahmed Hussen has also been the national president of the Canadian Somali Congress (CSC). Under his leadership, the CSC worked with other groups. They created the Canadian Somali-Jewish Mentorship Project. This was the first national project to connect a large Muslim community with the Jewish community.

In 2010, the Canadian Somali Congress also helped start the Somali Women Scholarship Program. Ahmed is a founding director of this program.

Until 2012, Ahmed was a member of the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security. This group brought together people from different cultural communities and government officials. They discussed important issues and helped build understanding.

Ahmed Hussen's Political Career

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In December 2014, Ahmed Hussen decided to run for a seat in the Canadian Parliament. He wanted to represent the area of York South—Weston for the Liberal Party. He won the nomination against five other people. This made him the first Somali-Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. He was elected in the 2015 Canadian federal election.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

On January 10, 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Ahmed Hussen as the Minister of Immigration. This was a big step, making him the first Somali-Canadian to serve in the government's Cabinet.

As Immigration Minister, Hussen announced a plan in 2017. Canada would welcome almost one million immigrants over the next three years. The number of new immigrants was planned to increase each year. By 2021, the goal was to welcome 350,000 new immigrants. This plan aimed to help with Canada's need for workers and support humanitarian efforts.

Minister of Families, Children and Social Development

After the 2019 federal election, Ahmed Hussen's role changed. He became the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. In this role, he worked on policies and programs that support Canadian families and children.

Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

After the 2021 federal election, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again kept Ahmed Hussen in his Cabinet. He moved to the role of Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion. This job focused on making housing more affordable and promoting diversity across Canada.

Minister of International Development

In July 2023, Ahmed Hussen became the Minister of International Development. In this role, he worked on Canada's efforts to help other countries around the world. This includes providing aid and support for development projects.

In January 2025, Hussen traveled to the Middle East. He discussed important issues in the region. He visited the Syria–Turkey border area. There, he announced $17.25 million in humanitarian aid for Syria. He also met with officials in Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Continuing as a Member of Parliament

Ahmed Hussen was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for York South—Weston—Etobicoke in the 2025 Canadian federal election. He continues to represent his community in the House of Commons.

Awards and Recognition

Ahmed Hussen has received several awards for his public work. In January 2004, the Toronto Star newspaper recognized him. They named him one of 10 people who had made important contributions to Toronto.

In 2017, he received the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards. This award celebrates the achievements of immigrants who have made Canada their home.

He also received the Queen's Gold and Diamond Jubilee medal. This medal honors significant contributions to Canada. He also got the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Authority Award for his work in Regent Park.

Images for kids

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  Hussen in 2017

See also

In Spanish: Ahmed Hussen para niños