Patty Hajdu
- Born
- November 3, 1966 — Montreal
- Family
- Mother of two adult sons
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, Lakehead University; Masters of Public Administration, University of Victoria
- Career
- Worked in harm prevention, homelessness, and substance misuse prevention; head of the drug awareness committee of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit; creative director and graphic designer in marketing; executive director at Shelter House
- Political Experience
- Minister of Status of Women (2015–2017), Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour (2017–2019), Minister of Health (2019–2021), Minister of Indigenous Services (2021–2025), Minister of Jobs and Families (2025-)
- Notable
- Spent early years in Chisholm, Minnesota; raised by her aunt and uncle; lived on her own at age 16 while finishing high school
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Patty Hajdu had a career focused on public health and social issues in Thunder Bay. She was the executive director of Shelter House, a local homeless shelter, and also worked on projects related to drug policy, harm reduction, and community health. Her public disclosures with the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner have listed assets such as a rental property and various publicly traded securities.
Key Relationships & Connections
As a long-serving cabinet minister in the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Hajdu is a senior member of the Liberal Party's leadership team. She has held several high-profile portfolios, including Minister of Health and her current role as Minister of Indigenous Services, indicating a close working relationship with the Prime Minister and other key cabinet members. In her capacity as Minister of Indigenous Services, she works directly with the leaders of national Indigenous organizations such as the Assembly of First Nations, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and the Métis National Council.
Public Controversies
As Minister of Health during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Patty Hajdu faced criticism for her early assessments of the virus's risk to Canada. Her statements, which were based on the World Health Organization's advice at the time, suggested the risk was low and that border closures were not an effective containment measure. These positions were later reversed as the pandemic's severity became clear, and her initial comments became a source of political controversy. Later in her tenure as Health Minister, Hajdu was involved in a significant dispute with Parliament over the government's refusal to release unredacted documents concerning the firing of two scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. The government, citing national security, took the Speaker of the House of Commons to court to prevent the release of the documents to a parliamentary committee, a move that was widely criticized as a breach of parliamentary privilege.
Where Patty falls on key policy spectrums
Your Money
People & Society
How We're Governed
Land & Community
How does Patty Hajdu's voting record line up with your values?
Mr. Speaker, here is a big idea: Do not vote against child care that is saving families in Saskatchewan thousands of dollars a month per child, one of the most effective measures to make sure that young families get ahead, that women can participate in the workforce, that women's productivity and wages grow along with their career and that CPP enhancements are there for women at the end of their
Mr. Speaker, on one hand, they say that families do not want help. They have fought against school food programs. They have fought against early learning and child care. They have fought against support for families. Now, when we actually move forward to support the skilled trades community and get more great-paying jobs across the country, they fight against that too. Here is what Russ Shewchuk
Mr. Speaker, it is disappointing to hear a northern Ontario member of Parliament run down the very things that he himself knows northern Ontario leaders and workers have been advocating for, for years, such as investment in infrastructure, investment in major projects, investment in mining and investment in the kinds of things that create great-paying jobs, and on top of it, they are endorsed by
Mr. Speaker, since the program to modernize these processes began, $1.8 billion has been invested out of a total budget of $4.8 billion. In fact, the modernization of old age security was delivered under budget, which is a testament to how rigorously this project was managed. This information was disclosed in a fully transparent manner and reviewed by the opposition parties and the committee
Mr. Speaker, in that member's province alone, the national school food program is feeding nearly 60,000 children, and with early learning and child care spots, families are saving up to $13,700 per child per year. In fact, we have the Canadian dental care plan in that riding as well, which helps over 155,000 people in Alberta. All across the province that the member claims to represent, people
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to share with the members opposite the number of projects in their ridings, the number of people who have received early learning and child care, the number of people who have received dental care, and the number of people who are getting fed in schools. That is the information on these sheets, by province and by MP. I will stand up for our records any day.
Mr. Speaker, I do not know which Canadians the member is talking about, but let me talk about some of the hard-working people across the country who are working so hard together to build up this country, people like electricians, plumbers, automotive technicians, crane operators and heavy-equipment operators. In fact, many are our sons and daughters all across this country are getting their
Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect their government to pay them their benefits reliably. The modernization of the system is one of the best ways we have to protect the benefits Canadians depend on. The members opposite would rather have Canadians use an outdated system that was breaking down.