Leona Aglukkaq facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leona Aglukkaq
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ᓕᐅᓇ ᐊᒡᓘᒃᑲᖅ
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| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office July 15, 2013 – November 4, 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Preceded by | Peter Kent |
| Succeeded by | Catherine McKenna |
| Minister of Health | |
| In office October 30, 2008 – July 15, 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Stephen Harper |
| Preceded by | Tony Clement |
| Succeeded by | Rona Ambrose |
| Member of Parliament for Nunavut |
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| In office October 14, 2008 – October 19, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Nancy Karetak-Lindell |
| Succeeded by | Hunter Tootoo |
| Member of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly for Nattilik |
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| In office February 16, 2004 – September 10, 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Uriash Puqiqnak |
| Succeeded by | Enuk Pauloosie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 28, 1967 Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Robbie MacNeil |
| Children | Cooper |
Leona Aglukkaq (born June 28, 1967) is a Canadian politician. She is an Inuk woman who made history. She was the first Inuk woman to serve in the Canadian federal cabinet.
Aglukkaq was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut from 2004 to 2008. She then became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Conservative Party. She represented the area of Nunavut after winning the election in 2008. She was an MP until 2015.
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About Leona Aglukkaq's Early Life
Leona Aglukkaq was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. She grew up in different communities like Thom Bay, Taloyoak, and Gjoa Haven. These last two places are now part of Nunavut.
She is married to Robbie MacNeil, and they have a son named Cooper.
Before becoming an MP, Aglukkaq worked for her community. She was part of the Hamlet Council in Cambridge Bay. She also worked for the Government of Nunavut. There, she was the Deputy Minister of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth. This role meant she helped lead efforts to support Inuit culture and languages.
Since 2021, she has been on the Board of Directors for Agnico Eagle Mines Limited. This is a company that mines for gold.
Leona Aglukkaq's Political Journey
Leona Aglukkaq started her political career in Nunavut. She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut in 2004. She represented the area called Nattilik.
During her time in Nunavut's government, she held important roles. She was the Minister of Health and Social Services. She was also the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. This meant she worked on improving health care and supporting women's rights in Nunavut. She left this position in 2008 to run in the federal election.
Serving in Federal Politics
After her time in Nunavut, Aglukkaq moved to federal politics. She became a Member of Parliament for the entire territory of Nunavut.
Minister of Health for Canada
On October 30, 2008, Leona Aglukkaq was given a very important job. She was named the Minister of Health for Canada. This was a historic moment because she was the first Inuk person ever appointed to the Cabinet of Canada. The Cabinet is a group of top government officials who advise the Prime Minister.
As Minister of Health, she was in charge of Canada's health policies. She worked on important issues like public health and safety. For example, she helped lead Canada's response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic. During this time, she worked with other political parties to make sure Canadians were safe.
Re-election and New Responsibilities
Leona Aglukkaq was re-elected as an MP in 2011. She won with almost 50 percent of the votes. This made her the first Conservative MP in Nunavut to win a second term.
In 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced another big role for her. Aglukkaq became the chair of the Arctic Council. This is an important group that works on issues affecting the Arctic region. Canada took over the chairmanship from Sweden in May 2013.
Minister of the Environment
On July 15, 2013, Aglukkaq took on a new challenge. She was named Minister of the Environment. In this role, she was responsible for protecting Canada's natural environment. This included overseeing Parks Canada and other environmental agencies.
In the 2015 federal election, Leona Aglukkaq was not re-elected. She ran again in the 2019 federal election but did not win.
Images for kids
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Leona Aglukkaq as a minister.
See also
- Arctic Cooperation and Politics
- Arctic policy of Canada
