History was unexpectedly made Friday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named rookie MP Bardish Chagger Government House Leader.
Chagger, who was first elected to Parliament in October, is the first woman ever to hold the high-profile position. On top of that glass ceiling-smashing fact, she’s also the first visible minority to be appointed to the role.
“I am so proud to be part of a cabinet that reflects Canada. That's why today is another exciting day,” she said at a press conference shortly after a swearing-in ceremony.
The 36-year-old Waterloo, Ont. MP will continue her role as minister of small business and tourism. She replaces Dominic LeBlanc as House leader.
To really put things into perspective, here’s a visual representation of how far Canada has come since Ian Alistair Mackenzie was the first appointee to the role in 1944.
Liberal government house leader 1944-1948. (Photo: Library and Archives Canada)
Liberal government house leader 1948-1953. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Liberal government house leader 1953-1957. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1957-1959. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1960-1963. (Photo: Archives of Manitoba)
Liberal government house leader in 1963. (Photo: Philip S. Shackleton/National Film Board of Canada)
Liberal government house leader in 1964. (Photo: Bob Olsen/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Liberal government house leader 1964-1967. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Served as Liberal government house leader 1967-1968. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Liberal government house leader 1968-1970. (Photo: Tony Bock/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Liberal government house leader 1970-1974. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Liberal government house leader 1974-1976. (Photo: Pat Brennan/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Liberal government house leader 1976-1979. (Photo: Arthur Roy/Library and Archives Canada)
Progressive Conservative government house leader in 1979. (Photo: House of Commons)
Liberal government house leader 1980-1984. (Photo: House of Commons)
Liberal government house leader in 1984. (Photo: Don Dutton/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1984-1986. (Photo: Harry Palmer/Library and Archives Canada)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1986-1988. (Photo: Lieutenant Governor of Alberta website)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1989-1990. (Photo: House of Commons)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1990-1993. (Photo: Frank Lennon/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Progressive Conservative government house leader 1989-1990. (Photo: House of Commons)
Liberal government house leader 1993-1997. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
Liberal government house leader 1997-2002. (Photo: Patrick Doyle/AFP/Getty Images)
Liberal government house leader 1993-1997. (Photo: Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)
Liberal government house leader 1997-2002. (Photo: Patrick Doyle/AFP/Getty Images)
Liberal government house leader 2003-2004. (Photo: Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press)
Liberal government house leader 2004-2006. (Photo: Chuck Stoody/The Canadian Press)
Conservative government house leader 2006-2007. (Photo: Tom Hanson/The Canadian Press)
Conservative government house leader 2007-2008. (Photo: Chuck Stoody/The Canadian Press)
Conservative government house leader 2008-2010. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Conservative government house leader 2010-2011. (Photo: Getty Images)
Conservative government house leader 2011-2015. (Photo: The Canadian Press)
Liberal government house leader 2015-2016. (Photo:The Canadian Press)
Liberal government’s new house leader. (Photo: Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Seventy-two years of a male-dominated Parliamentary position, extinguished.
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