Leah Gazan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leah Gazan
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| Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre |
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| Assumed office October 21, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Robert-Falcon Ouellette |
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| Born | April 8, 1972 Thompson, Manitoba, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Residences | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
Leah Gazan is a Canadian politician who became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Winnipeg Centre in 2019. She was born on April 8, 1972. As an MP, she represents the people of her area in the House of Commons of Canada, which is where laws are made for Canada.
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Early Life and Background
Leah Gazan was born in Thompson, Manitoba. Her family has a very interesting background! Her mother's family includes Lakota and Chinese heritage. Her father's family is Jewish.
Her father was born in Holland in 1938. When he was very young, the Germans invaded his country during World War II. He had to hide with Dutch families to stay safe. Leah's paternal grandmother also spent time in a concentration camp during the war. This means her family has a history of overcoming difficult times.
Both of Leah's parents were involved in politics. They worked for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which was the party before the NDP.
Before she became an MP, Leah Gazan taught at the University of Winnipeg. She also led the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, an organization that helps improve the community. She was part of the Idle No More movement, which supported Indigenous rights. She also worked to pass a law called Bill C-262. This bill aimed to make sure Canadian laws matched the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Leah also represented Manitoba at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Here, she spoke up about the unfairness faced by Indigenous children who were adopted away from their families.
Political Career Highlights
Leah Gazan believes in socialism, a political idea focused on fairness and equality for everyone. In 2019, she was chosen by the NDP to run for election in Winnipeg Centre. She won the election, becoming the MP for her area.
Working in Parliament
When she became an MP, the leader of the NDP, Jagmeet Singh, gave Leah Gazan an important job. She became the Critic for Families, Children, and Social Development. This means she helps keep an eye on what the government is doing in these areas. She also suggests new ideas for families and children.
Leah Gazan has worked on important issues in Parliament.
Climate Change Action
She introduced a special bill called Bill C-323. This bill was about creating a plan to deal with the climate change. It wanted the Minister of the Environment to make a framework to meet the goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, this bill did not pass.
Basic Income Support
In 2020, Leah Gazan suggested a plan called Motion 46. This idea was to turn the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (a payment given during the COVID-19 pandemic) into a permanent basic income program. A basic income means everyone would get a regular payment to help them meet their basic needs. She spoke in Parliament to support this idea.
Indigenous Women and Girls
Leah Gazan also presented a motion to Parliament about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. She asked Parliament to declare this a Canada-wide emergency. Her motion passed, which means everyone in Parliament agreed. It also called for a new system to send out alerts when people go missing. This helps find people faster and keep communities safe.
