🔦 Black Light: Elected Leader of the Week

Marci Ien – Toronto’s Voice for Women, Youth, and Equity

After securing re-election in the April 28, 2025 federal election, Marci Ien continues to serve as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre, one of the most diverse and historically significant ridings in the country.

While not re-appointed to Cabinet in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly announced government on May 13, Ien remains one of the most influential Black voices on the Liberal benches — a champion for gender equity, anti-racism policy, and youth empowerment, both inside and outside Parliament Hill.

From Broadcasting to Benchmarks

Before stepping into politics, Ien was a familiar face across Canadian media as a respected journalist and co-host of CTV’s The Social and Canada AM. She used her platform to highlight issues of race, gender, and justice — conversations she later brought to the House of Commons.

Her election in 2020 signaled a turning point for Black Canadian representation in Ottawa. In 2023, she made history as Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth, becoming one of the few Black women to serve in federal Cabinet. In that role, Ien spearheaded key initiatives including:

• Canada’s National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence

• Expanded investments in Black-led community organizations

• Groundbreaking support for youth mental health services

Advocacy Beyond the Cabinet

Though now serving from the backbenches, Ien has made it clear her advocacy will continue unabated. In her victory speech, she pledged to remain a strong voice for Toronto Centre’s marginalized communities, racial justice, and inclusive policymaking.

Her political legacy as Canada’s second Black woman to ever serve in Cabinet, following Jean Augustine, cements her place as a trailblazer — and her re-election ensures that her voice remains in the national conversation.

Why It Matters

Marci Ien’s career reminds Canadians that political power is not confined to Cabinet. Backbenchers can hold governments accountable, amplify community voices, and fight for justice from the grassroots to Parliament Hill.

Her continued service in Toronto Centre is a testament to resilience, community leadership, and the importance of representation that speaks truth to power — no matter the title.

Black Light is Vision Newspaper’s weekly editorial spotlight on Black elected leaders around the world — amplifying the voices shaping justice, democracy, and change from inside the system.

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