Yasir Naqvi

Naqvi ran in the 2007 provincial election as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Ottawa Centre. He defeated New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Will Murray by 2,094 votes.[6] He was re-elected in 2011 and 2014.[7][8]

He was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Rick Bartolucci, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, in the cabinet announcement of 30 October 2007.[9] On 3 October 2008, he was named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Revenue Dwight Duncan. On 24 June 2009 a cabinet shuffle moved John Wilkinson into the role of Minister of Revenue and Naqvi was kept on as his Parliamentary Assistant. On 2 September 2010 Naqvi was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky.[10]

Naqvi introduced six Private Member's Bills – the "Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act",[11] the "City of Ottawa Amendment Act", the "Escaping Domestic Violence Act", the "College and University Student Associations Act", the "Enhancing Red Light Camera System Enforcement Act", and the "Protection of Public Participation Act". Parts of the City of Ottawa Amendment Act were passed as part of the 2010 budget and parts of the Escaping Domestic Violence Act were passed in March 2016 as part of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. On 17 September 2009, Naqvi introduced a co-sponsored notion with NDP member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) France Gélinas declaring the third week of February "Kindness Week", inspired by a successful Kindness Week initiative underway in Ottawa.[12] Naqvi also co-sponsored Toby's Act with NDP MPP France Gelinas and Progressive Conservative (PC) MPP Christine Elliott which added gender identity and gender expression to the Ontario Human Rights Code.

In March 2013, an article appeared in the Toronto Sun which claimed that Naqvi had endorsed an Islamist book on men physically punishing their wives.[13] The following day in the National Post, Naqvi denied having endorsed the book. The Post reported that "Naqvi acknowledged that he wrote a letter of support for the book two years ago, but says he didn't read it…. The minister says he also didn't authorize the use of his name or comments in the "reviews" section of the book."[14] Naqvi said that he wrote a congratulatory note to the author for the publication but had not read the book nor endorsed the messaging within it.[15] He also made a statement where he strongly condemmed violence against women and stated "I believe that abuse of any kind is unacceptable and I do not share the views expressed in this book".[16]

Yasir Naqvi at 2023 Ontario Liberal Party Annual General Meeting in Hamilton, ON.

In February 2013, when Kathleen Wynne took over as Premier, she appointed Naqvi to her first cabinet as Minister of Labour.[17] After the June 2014 election, Naqvi was moved to the position of Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Government House Leader.[18] In 2016 Naqvi and the Ontario Government were criticized for the state of provincial prisons and the human rights violations of inmates.[19][20][21]

On 13 June 2016 he assumed the role of Attorney General following a cabinet shuffle.[22]

Naqvi unsuccessfully sought a fourth mandate in the June 2018 Ontario general election.[23] He came in second behind New Democrat Joel Harden.[24]

Naqvi was elected for the Liberal Party of Canada in Ottawa-Centre on Sept. 20, 2021, handily winning his seat with 45.5% of the popular vote. He was chosen to serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

Naqvi resigned from his role as a Parliamentary Secretary in March 2023 as he began seriously considering running in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election.[25]