32 Facts About Yasir Naqvi

On 3 June 2023, Yasir Naqvi announced his candidacy for the 2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election.

Yasir Naqvi was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan and immigrated to Canada with his family after his father was jailed for nine months for leading a pro-democracy demonstration.

Yasir Naqvi's family moved to the United Kingdom, settling in London for a short time.

In 1988, at the age of 15, Yasir Naqvi settled in Niagara Falls, Ontario with his family where they bought a motel.

Yasir Naqvi attended McMaster University and graduated with a degree in Political Science and Life Science.

Just two years after arriving in Canada, Yasir Naqvi volunteered in the 1990 provincial election.

Yasir Naqvi has been involved with the Liberal Party of Canada and the Liberal Party of Ontario ever since.

Yasir Naqvi went on to attend the University of Ottawa Law School and was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2001.

Yasir Naqvi began practicing in international trade law at Flavell Kubrick LLP, where he eventually became a partner.

Yasir Naqvi left Flavell Kubrick in 2005 to work for Land Michener LLP.

In 2007, Yasir Naqvi joined the Centre for Trade Policy and Law at Carleton University.

Yasir Naqvi served as President of the Liberal Party of Ontario from October 2009 until February 2013.

Yasir Naqvi was recognized by Carleton University in 2017 as part of their 75 for the 75th series, which highlighted 75 notable alumni in the Faculty of Public Affairs in honour of the University's 75th anniversary.

Yasir Naqvi competed against long time Ottawa City Councillor Diane Deans, who was backed by the central party and endorsed by Patten, for the nomination.

Yasir Naqvi was successful in seeking re-election in both in 2011 and 2014.

Yasir Naqvi was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Rick Bartolucci, the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, in the cabinet announcement of 30 October 2007.

On 24 June 2009, a cabinet shuffle moved John Wilkinson into the role of Minister of Revenue and Yasir Naqvi was kept on as his Parliamentary Assistant.

On 2 September 2010, Yasir Naqvi was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Education Leona Dombrowsky.

On 17 September 2009, Yasir Naqvi introduced a co-sponsored notion with NDP member of Provincial Parliament France Gelinas declaring the third week of February "Kindness Week", inspired by a successful Kindness Week initiative underway in Ottawa.

Yasir Naqvi co-sponsored Toby's Act with NDP MPP France Gelinas and Progressive Conservative 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 Yasir Naqvi had endorsed an Islamist book on men physically punishing their wives.

Yasir Naqvi made a statement where he strongly condemned 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".

Yasir Naqvi unsuccessfully sought a fourth mandate in the June 2018 Ontario general election.

Yasir Naqvi came in second behind New Democrat Joel Harden.

Yasir Naqvi was chosen to serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness.

In July 2022, Yasir Naqvi announced the creation of the Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force to explore ideas and create recommendations that will assist policymakers in the reimagining of downtown Ottawa.

Yasir Naqvi was "disappointed" regarding the reopening of Wellington Road, in front of the Parliament of Canada, citing this would result in having cars and buses return to the street, even though the City of Ottawa planned bicycle lanes, further enhancing commuting.

Yasir Naqvi indicated that he preferred having "conversations" to find a good result for Wellington Street.

Yasir 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.

Yasir Naqvi officially announced his candidacy on 3 June 2023 while continuing to sit as a federal MP.

Yasir Naqvi returned to the provincial scene in 2023 running for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, while remaining a federal MP.

Yasir Naqvi placed third in the 2023 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election behind Mississauga mayor Bonnie Crombie, who won the vote, and runner-up Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.