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Arielle Kayabaga

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The Honourable
Arielle Kayabaga
PC MP
Kayabaga in 2019
Kayabaga in 2019
Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 5, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded byMark Gerretsen
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
In office
March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded bySteven MacKinnon
Succeeded bySteven MacKinnon
Minister of Democratic Institutions
In office
March 14, 2025 – May 13, 2025
Prime MinisterMark Carney
Preceded byRuby Sahota
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of Parliament
for London West
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 20, 2021
Preceded byKate Young
London City Councillor
In office
December 1, 2018 – September 20, 2021
Preceded byTanya Park
Succeeded byJohn Fyfe-Millar
ConstituencyWard 13
Personal details
Born1990/1991 (age 34–35)
Bujumbura, Burundi
PartyLiberal
Children1[1]
Carleton University
OccupationPolitician, settlement worker

Arielle Kayabaga (born 1990 or 1991) is a Canadian politician who has represented the electoral district of London West as a member of Parliament since 2021. She is currently serving as the Deputy House Leader of the Government in the 45th Canadian Parliament.

Biography

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Born in Bujumbura, Burundi,[2] Kayabaga's family moved to Canada when she was 11 as refugees from the Burundian Civil War, living in Montreal for a year before moving to London, Ontario.[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Carleton University in Ottawa in 2013.[3] Before her election to the London City Council, Kayabaga worked as a settlement worker for newcomers to London and nearby Sarnia, Ontario.[1]

Political career

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Municipal politics (2018-2021)

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In 2018, she was elected to the London City Council at age 27,[1] becoming the first black woman to do so in the city's history.[4] As a city councillor, she chaired the Corporate Services Committee and sat on the Standing Committee on Municipal Finance,[5][additional citation(s) needed]

Federal politics (2021–present)

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Ahead of the 2021 Canadian federal election, she announced her intention to run for the federal House of Commons, winning the Liberal nomination for the riding of London West three days before the start of the electoral campaign.[6] She won the seat with 36.8% of the vote, replacing outgoing Liberal MP Kate Young.[7][8] She is the first Franco-Ontarian to serve as MP for London West.[9]

In 2023, she passed a private member's motion, M-59, which amended the federal framework on housing for individuals with non-visible disabilities.[10]

On March 14, 2025, she was appointed Government House Leader and Minister of Democratic Institutions as part of Mark Carney's cabinet.[11] After being reelected in the 2025 federal election on April 28, Kayabaga was not chosen to remain in cabinet in the subsequent shuffle on May 13.[12]

On June 5, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Kayabaga as the Deputy House Leader of the Government.[13] In November 2025, reports raised questions about $173,574 in personnel costs recorded during her tenure as Government House Leader. Kayabaga clarified that $57,872 represented actual personnel costs for the office, while the remainder consisted of mandatory vacation leave payouts automatically administered under Treasury Board policy. No new staff were hired during her tenure, as she inherited an existing, fully staffed office. .[14]

Electoral record

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2025 Canadian federal election: London West
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalArielle Kayabaga34,88456.30+19.43
ConservativeAdam Benni22,92036.99+2.84
New DemocraticShinade Allder3,3705.44–17.44
GreenJeff Vanderzwet4180.67N/A
Canadian FutureRussell Benner1830.30N/A
UnitedChristine Oliver1920.29N/A
Total valid votes/expense limit
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 61,95771.82
Eligible voters 86,269
Liberal notional hold Swing +8.30
Source: CBC[15], Elections Canada[16]
2021 Canadian federal election: London West
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalArielle Kayabaga25,30836.88-6.08$91,373.14
ConservativeRob Flack22,27332.46+4.53$114,644.53
New DemocraticShawna Lewkowitz16,85824.57+3.22$72,003.76
People'sMike McMullen3,4094.97+3.33$17,546.25
LibertarianJacques Y. Boudreau7731.13+0.4$0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 68,62199.25
Total rejected ballots 5170.74+0.27
Turnout 69,13868.49-3.00
Eligible voters 100,947
Liberal hold Swing -5.31
Source: Elections Canada[17]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 De Bono, Norman (October 24, 2018). "Meet London's council newcomers". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ Akim, Miranda (July 30, 2018). "Les burundais de la diaspora : Arielle KAYABAGA, candidate au conseil municipal au Canada". AKEZANET (in French). Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ Steele, Alistair (September 25, 2021). "Grad student and rookie MP gives new meaning to 'learning on the job'". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Meet the London city councillor who made history because of ranked ballots". CBC News. October 24, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Arielle Kayabaga". Liberal Party of Canada. Archived from the original on September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ Lale, Brent (August 15, 2021). "'The riding is wide open'; London West candidates start short and furious campaign". CTV News. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Arielle Kayabaga, étudiante universitaire et nouvelle députée fédérale" (in Canadian French). Radio-Canada. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  8. ↑ de Bono, Norman (September 9, 2021). "London West Liberals downplay campaign manager's sudden exit". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  9. ↑ Chakkouche, Soufiane (September 21, 2021). "La Franco-Ontarienne Arielle Kayabaga écrit l'histoire dans London-Ouest". onfr.tfo.org (in French). Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 26, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Vote No. 272". OurCommons. March 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Prime Minister Mark Carney cabinet terminates consumer carbon price". March 17, 2025. Archived from the original on March 14, 2025.
  12. ↑ Ballingall, Alex (May 13, 2025). "Arielle Kayabaga and Ali Ehsassi out of cabinet". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ Kuivenhoven, Lauren (June 5, 2025). "Carney announces Parliament Hill positions for London MPs". CTV News. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  14. ↑ https://x.com/KayabagaArielle/status/1989095818020999373/
  15. ↑ "Canada Votes 2025". CBC. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  17. ↑ "September 20, 2021 General Election Results Validated by the Returning Officer". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
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