Bill Blair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Bill Blair PC COM MP
Blair in 2023
Minister of National Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Anita Anand
Minister of Emergency Preparedness
In office October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Himself (as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)
Succeeded by	Harjit Sajjan
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
In office November 20, 2019 – October 26, 2021
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Ralph Goodale
Succeeded by	Marco Mendicino (as Minister of Public Safety) Himself (as Minister of Emergency Preparedness)
Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction
In office July 18, 2018 – November 20, 2019
Prime Minister	Justin Trudeau
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice
In office January 28, 2017 – July 18, 2018
Minister	Jody Wilson-Raybould
Preceded by	Sean Casey
Succeeded by	Marco Mendicino
Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	Dan Harris
Chief of the Toronto Police Service
In office April 6, 2005 – April 25, 2015
Preceded by	Mike Boyd
Succeeded by	Mark Saunders
Personal details
Born	William Sterling Blair 1954 (age 70–71) Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Susanne Blair
Children	2 sons; 1 daughter
Residence	South Hill, Toronto
Alma mater	University of Toronto (BA)
Awards	Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces Police Exemplary Service Medal Member of the Order of St. John Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Police career
Department	Toronto Police Service
Rank	Chief of Police

William Sterling Blair (born in 1954) is a Canadian politician and a former police officer. He has been the Minister of National Defence since 2023. As a member of the Liberal Party, Blair represents the area of Scarborough Southwest in the House of Commons. Before becoming a politician, he worked for 40 years with the Toronto Police Service. He was the Chief of Police from 2005 until he retired in 2015.

About Bill Blair

Bill Blair was born in 1954 in Scarborough, Ontario. His father was also a police officer for 39 years. Bill first studied economics at the University of Toronto Scarborough in the 1970s. He later returned to the university and earned a degree in economics and criminology.

Blair is married to Susanne McMaster. They have three grown children, two sons and one daughter, and two grandchildren.

Police Career

Blair joined the Metropolitan Toronto Police while he was still in university. He started by walking a beat near Regent Park. Later, he worked as an undercover officer in the city's drug squad.

After getting his degree in criminology, Blair moved up in the police service. He worked to improve how police officers connected with the community. For example, he sent officers to read to kids in schools. He also encouraged them to work with local businesses and churches.

Chief of Toronto Police

Blair in 2015.

Bill Blair became the Chief of the Toronto Police Service on April 26, 2005. He was chosen after a vote by the Toronto Police Services Board. Before becoming chief, Blair had worked as a Toronto police officer for about 30 years. He had experience in areas like drug enforcement and major criminal investigations. He also served as the president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

In 2009, Tamil Canadians in Toronto held protests about the Sri Lankan Civil War. They blocked roads to show their feelings. Instead of using force, Chief Blair used his experience in community policing. He spoke respectfully about their right to protest. He helped to find a peaceful way to end the demonstrations. The Canadian Tamil Congress later gave him an award for his leadership during these events.

During the G20 Toronto Summit in 2010, there were many protests. The police faced criticism for how they handled some arrests. Blair stated he would not resign despite the criticism. A lawsuit was filed against the Toronto Police Service. In 2020, this lawsuit resulted in a large settlement for those who were arrested.

In his final years as chief, Blair had disagreements with some members of the Toronto Police Services Board. These disagreements were about new ideas for the police and cutting the police budget. His contract was not renewed, and he retired from the police service on April 25, 2015.

Political Career

After retiring from the police, Bill Blair decided to enter politics. The Liberal Party asked him to run in the Scarborough Southwest area. He won the Liberal nomination on June 13, 2015.

On October 19, 2015, Blair was elected to the House of Commons. This meant he became a Member of Parliament (MP).

Important Roles

Blair has held several important jobs in the Canadian government:

• In 2018, he became the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction. This role focused on keeping Canada's borders safe and reducing organized crime.
• In 2019, he was made Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. In this job, he helped manage the closure of the border between Canada and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• In 2021, he became the Minister of Emergency Preparedness. In this role, he helped coordinate help for people in British Columbia during severe floods in November 2021. He also played a key part in the government's response to the Canada convoy protest. In September 2022, he helped coordinate the federal response to Hurricane Fiona.
• In July 2023, Bill Blair became the Minister of National Defence. This is his current role, where he is responsible for Canada's military and defence.

Awards and Recognition

Bill Blair has received several awards for his service:

• In 2007, he was named an Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. In 2012, he was promoted to Commander within the Order.
• He is also a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John.
• In 2013, the Canadian Tamil Congress gave him their first "Leaders for Change Award." This was to recognize his leadership during the 2009 protests in Toronto.

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Merit of the Police Forces (COM)	Commander 5 January 2012. Officer 11 January 2007.
	Order of St John	Member
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012 Canadian Version of this Medal
	Police Exemplary Service Medal	Medal 17 July 1997 1st Bar 21 June 2007