Peggy Nash is the Member of Parliament for Parkdale-High Park. A lifelong activist, she is known for her tireless work to build a better, stronger, and more equal Canada. Since the May 2011 election, Peggy has served as Opposition finance critic and has consistently challenged the Conservative government’s economic policy and inaction on rising inequality and unemployment in Canada. She also sits as Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance.
With years of experience as a top negotiator for Canada’s largest private-sector union, Peggy has distinguished herself as a national leader on economic affairs. She was first elected to Parliament in 2006. As Industry Critic she successfully pressed the government to reject – for the first time in more than 20 years – the foreign takeover of a major Canadian company.
Peggy served as a Canadian election observer in South Africa’s first post-apartheid elections in 1994 – which saw Nelson Mandela elected President. She also served as an observer for the 2004 and 2007 elections in Ukraine. In November 2005, Peggy led a delegation to Mar del Plata, Argentina to oppose the failed Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. She has also been a delegate to the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre Brazil.
Peggy holds an Honours BA in French language and literature from the University of Toronto and is fluent in English, French and Spanish. She is proud to be a founding member of Equal Voice, a multi-partisan organization that advocates for the election of more women in Canada.
In recognition of her outstanding efforts, Peggy has been the recipient of numerous awards, including: two awards from the Sierra Club of Canada for her leadership on the NDP Green Cars strategy with Greenpeace and the CAW; a certificate of honour for contributing to women's equality from the City of Toronto for her work to end violence against women; and the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.
Peggy lives in Toronto with her husband, Carl. They have raised three sons in Parkdale-High Park.
