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Sean Fraser (politician)

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The Honourable
Sean Fraser
PC MP
Fraser in 2023
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
In office
July 26, 2023[1] – December 16, 2024
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byAhmed Hussen (Housing), Dominic LeBlanc (Infrastructure and Communities)
Succeeded byTBD
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
In office
October 26, 2021 – July 26, 2023
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byMarco Mendicino
Succeeded byMarc Miller
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
In office
December 12, 2019 – October 26, 2021
MinisterBill Morneau
Chrystia Freeland
Preceded byJoël Lightbound
Succeeded byTerry Beech
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity
In office
December 12, 2019 – October 26, 2021
MinisterMona Fortier
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
In office
August 31, 2018 – September 11, 2019
MinisterCatherine McKenna
Preceded byJonathan Wilkinson
Succeeded byPeter Schiefke
Member of Parliament
for Central Nova
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 19, 2015
Preceded byPeter MacKay
Personal details
Born
Sean Simon Andrew Fraser

(1984-06-01) June 1, 1984 (age 40)
Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseSarah Burton
Residence(s)New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Alma materSt. Francis Xavier University (BSc)
Dalhousie University (JD)
Leiden University (LLM)
ProfessionLawyer

Sean Simon Andrew Fraser[2] PC MP (born June 1, 1984) is a Canadian politician who served as minister of housing, infrastructure and communities between July 26, 2023 and December 16, 2024, when he tendered his resignation because of family issues. Previously, he had served as the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship from October 26, 2021, to July 26, 2023. A member of the Liberal Party, Fraser has represented the riding of Central Nova in the House of Commons since 2015.

Early life and education

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Raised in Merigomish in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Fraser earned a Bachelor of Science at St. Francis Xavier University in 2006.[3] He went on to earn a law degree from Dalhousie University and a master's degree in public international law from Leiden University in the Netherlands, graduating in 2009 and 2011 respectively.[4]

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He spent three years working in Calgary as an associate at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, and also did work related to the Promotion of Access to Information Act for an NGO in South Africa.[5]

Political career

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41st Parliament of Canada

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A Liberal, Fraser was elected for the federal riding of Central Nova in the 2015 federal election which saw the Liberals under Justin Trudeau win a majority government.[6][7]

42nd Parliament of Canada

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From 2018 to 2019, Fraser served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

43rd Parliament of Canada

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From December 2019 to 2021 in the 43rd Parliament of Canada, Fraser served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Minister of Finance (Canada).

44th Parliament of Canada

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On 26 October 2021, soon after his re-election to the 44th Parliament of Canada, Fraser was appointed Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. In February 2022, Fraser tabled the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan, which outlined a 1.14% growth in population per year, with increased targets surpassing 450,000 permanent residents by 2024.[8][9] After Fraser's news release, the Century Initiative, released their statement, commending Fraser.[10][11] In November of the same year, Fraser announced the government's plan to increase Canada's annual immigration target to 500,000 by 2025; Fraser cited labour shortages as the reason for the increase.[12] Concerns over the effects higher immigration targets would have on health care, housing affordability and the labour market, were dismissed by Fraser, who explained some people, like international students, who had become permanent residents, were already living in the country.[13] Further criticism arose when Radio-Canada revealled sources within Fraser's ministry said McKinsey & Company, which had received $100 million in consulting fees from the Liberal government, was influencing immigration policy.[14] Fraser insisted he had not been influenced by McKinsey, and decided on the increase, independently.[15]

In October 2022, the Fifth Estate reported on the exploitation of international students by private colleges. Fraser expressed his concern with these private colleges, and stated provincial governments could proceed with shutting them down without approval from the federal government.[16]

Fraser was immigration minister when the Roxham Road migrant crisis peaked.[17] After Quebec complained it was "unfairly shouldering the cost of taking care of asylum-seekers," crossing at the irregular port of entry, Fraser announced a "Pan-Canadian" solution to the crisis: the federal government would transfer thousands of migrants to Ontario towns, such as Niagara Falls, which was already having a housing crisis.[18] Roxham Road closed in March 2023. The same month, the government proposed $1 billion for short-term accommodation and temporary health-care coverage for asylum-seekers and refugees.[19][20][21]

On July 26, 2023, Fraser was appointed Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. After the population increased by over 430,000 in three months, the government was criticized for "having lost control". With international students, temporary foreign workers, and migrants, competing for social programs, jobs, housing and health care, Fraser stated the government would look at reforms to the international student program but "closing the doors to newcomers" was not the solution and developers needed "access to the labour force to build the houses they needed."[22] A Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) report showed the number of construction workers had hit an all-time high in 2023, but the industry's potential output was not met and structural changes were needed.[23]

In 2022, when Fraser was the immigration minister, Canada's population growth was the highest of any G7 country. The population grew by 4.7 people for every housing unit completed the previous year.[24] In 2023, after homelessness in Halifax, Nova Scotia doubled in one year, and Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario declared homelessness an emergency, Fraser announced $100 million towards emergency winter funding to support communities in their response to homelessness.[25][26][27][28] In February 2024, Fraser stated homelessness was not a policy failure but a "generational moral failure," Canadians share.[29]

In March 2024, the federal government negotiated deals with municipalities to add 750,000 homes to Canada's housing supply in the next decade, to be paid through the Housing Accelerator Fund, at a cost of $4 billion.[30] In April 2024, the Liberals unveiled their plan to build 3.9 million homes by 2031 to solve the housing crisis.[31] The CMHC estimates nearly six million new homes are needed by 2030.[32] On 25 August 2024, Fraser announced the government's intention to offer 99-year leases of government lands for the purpose of affordable housing.[33]

In December of 2024, Fraser announced he would leave federal cabinet during the next cabinet shuffle and pushed for Mark Carney to be added to PMO. Fraser also announced he would not seek re-election.[34]

Awards

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In January 2021 Fraser was selected as "Best Orator"[35] and was a finalist for "Rising Star"[36] during the 12th annual Maclean's Parliamentarians of the Year Awards.

Electoral record

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2021 Canadian federal election: Central Nova
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Sean Fraser 18,682 45.89 -0.4 $88,208.43
Conservative Steven Cotter 13,060 32.08 +2.6 $38,393.01
New Democratic Betsy MacDonald 6,225 15.29 +2.3 $11,093.54
People's Al Muir 1,445 3.55 +1.5 $0.00
Green Katerina Nikas 494 1.21 -6.6 $0.00
Independent Harvey Henderson 365 0.90 N/A $0.00
Communist Chris Frazer 138 0.34 -0.1 $0.00
Rhinoceros Ryan Smyth 65 0.16 N/A $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 40,474 99.4 +0.3 $107,714.33
Total rejected ballots 236 0.58 -0.3
Turnout 40,710 66.7 -7.8
Registered voters 61,073
Liberal hold Swing -1.5
Source: Elections Canada[37][38][39]
2019 Canadian federal election: Central Nova
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Sean Fraser 20,718 46.59 −11.94 $99,263.87
Conservative George Canyon 13,201 29.69 +3.89 $89,511.25
New Democratic Betsy MacDonald 5,806 13.06 +2.82 none listed
Green Barry Randle 3,478 7.82 +3.68 $6,467.76
People's Al Muir 938 2.11 New $2,862.69
Communist Chris Frazer 180 0.40 New $749.95
Independent Michael Slowik 149 0.33 New $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,470 100.0     $102,724.82
Total rejected ballots 412 0.92 +0.40
Turnout 44,882 74.49 −0.19
Eligible voters 60,251
Liberal hold Swing −7.92
Source: Elections Canada[40]
2015 Canadian federal election: Central Nova
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Sean Fraser 25,909 58.53 +44.58 $113,362.49
Conservative Fred DeLorey 11,418 25.80 –29.49 $109,137.26
New Democratic Ross Landry 4,532 10.24 –16.57 $63,038.54
Green David Hachey 1,834 4.14 +0.34 $11,206.15
Independent Alexander J. MacKenzie 570 1.29 – –
Total valid votes/expense limit 44,263 100.00   $204,540.28
Total rejected ballots 233 0.52
Turnout 44,496 74.68
Eligible voters 59,585
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +37.04
Source: Elections Canada[41][42]

References

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  1. ^ Tunney, Catharine (July 26, 2023). "Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffles most portfolios". CBC News. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  2. ^ The Canadian Ministry (by order of precedence
  3. ^ "Famous HKIN Alumni". April 27, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Honourable Sean Fraser". October 23, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  5. ^ Meet Sean Fraser Archived 2015-10-01 at the Wayback Machine, Liberal.ca.
  6. ^ "Liberal Sean Fraser takes Central Nova from the Conservatives". The Chronicle Herald. October 19, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Peter MacKay's former riding goes to Liberal Sean Fraser". CBC News. October 19, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  8. ^ "New immigration plan to fill labour market shortages and grow Canada's economy". www.canada.ca. February 14, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Influential Liberal advisers want Canadian population to triple by 2100 - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Statement by Century Initiative in Response to the New Immigration Levels Plan". www.centuryinitiative.ca. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  11. ^ Wakabayashi, Osamu (July 13, 2024). "The Century Initiative: a Blueprint for a Bigger, Broken Canada". Population Institute Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  12. ^ Berthiaume, Lee (November 1, 2022). "Ottawa reveals plan to welcome 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025". CTV News. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Immigration minister says more newcomers needed amid mixed reviews on targets - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Influential Liberal advisers want Canadian population to triple by 2100 - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "McKinsey's federal contracts are worth more than $100M. Will MPs vote to probe? - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  16. ^ Bazkh, Nazim. "International students enticed to Canada on dubious promises of jobs and immigration". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  17. ^ "Roxham: The little country road that became a big political headache for the Trudeau government". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Niagara Falls facing 'limits' in accommodating influx of asylum seekers, mayor says". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Despite curbing Roxham Road, Ottawa ramps up to $1B in asylum-seeker costs this year". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "Close Roxham Road border crossing within 30 days, Poilievre urges | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "Housing asylum seekers at Niagara hotels cost Canada more than $100 million - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "New housing minister says closing door on newcomers is no solution to housing crunch". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Home building lags despite record number of construction workers, CMHC finds". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Canada's Growing Housing Gap: Comparing Population Growth and Housing Completions in Canada, 1972–2022". Fraser Institute. October 12, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "Halifax homeless population doubled in a year, according to not-for-profit group". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  26. ^ "Toronto city council declares homelessness an emergency". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  27. ^ "Hamilton set to declare state of emergency for homelessness, mental health and opioid addiction". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "Helping communities respond to unsheltered homelessness this winter". www.canada.ca. December 22, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "'Generational moral failure' to blame for homelessness in Canada". Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "Ottawa says its housing deals with cities will build 750,000 homes in the next decade". Montreal Gazette. March 4, 2024.
  31. ^ "Liberals unveil 'ambitious' housing plan to build 3.87 million homes by 2031 - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "One-on-one with Canada's housing minister: Lack of affordability a 'crisis' and an 'opportunity'". CTVNews. August 22, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "Canada announces government land will be leased to build more affordable housing".
  34. ^ Cochrane, David (December 15, 2024). "Sean Fraser to leave federal cabinet as PMO pushes to add Mark Carney". CBC News.
  35. ^ "The winners of the Maclean's Parliamentarians of the Year Awards - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  36. ^ "The finalists for the Maclean's Parliamentarians of the Year Awards - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  37. ^ "Confirmed candidates — Central Nova". Elections Canada. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  38. ^ "September 20, 2021 General Election - Election Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  39. ^ "Candidate Campaign Returns". Elections Canada. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  40. ^ "Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  41. ^ "October 19, 2015 Election Results — Central Nova (Validated results)". Elections Canada. October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  42. ^ Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates Archived August 15, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
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