Mary Ng | |
|---|---|
伍鳳儀 | |
.jpg) Ng in 2022 | |
| Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development | |
| In office July 18, 2018 – March 14, 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by |
|
| Succeeded by | Dominic LeBlanc |
| Member of Parliament forMarkham—Thornhill | |
| In office April 3, 2017 – April 28, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | John McCallum |
| Succeeded by | Tim Hodgson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1968-12-16)December 16, 1968 (age 56) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence(s) | North York,Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
 | This articlecontainspromotional content. Please helpimprove it by removingpromotional language and inappropriateexternal links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from aneutral point of view.(October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Mary Ng | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 伍鳳儀 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 伍凤仪 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Mary NgPC (1968-12-16)December 16, 1968 (age 56) is a Canadian politician. A member of theLiberal Party of Canada, she served as theMember of Parliament for theriding ofMarkham—Thornhill from aby-election on April 3, 2017 until 2025. She served in the government ofJustin Trudeau, most recently asMinister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and holds the record as Canada's longest-serving minister responsible for international trade at over 5 years in the role.[2] She did not seek re-election in 2025.[3]
Ng was born inBritish Hong Kong on (1968-12-16)December 16, 1968 (age 56), and is the eldest child of three.[4] In the 1970s (1976), Ng's parents, Ng Yin-Foo and Ng Wan Lin,[5] immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong. Her family settled in Toronto, where they opened a restaurant called Kahing, which means “family” in Cantonese.[6] She graduated from theUniversity of Toronto with a degree inpolitical science.[7]
Ng has worked for over 20 years in the public service, focusing on the areas of education, women's leadership, job-creation, and entrepreneurship. Before entering politics, Ng worked in theGovernment of Ontario in theProvince’s Cabinet Office, with theMinistry of the Attorney General of Ontario, and theMinistry of Education of Ontario. She has also worked forToronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) in the President’s Office, and served as Director of Public Appointments in theOffice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[8]
In April 2025, Ng was a noted speaker at a plenary session of theWTO's 30th anniversary conference. Ng joined trade, business and civil society leaders from around the globe to offer insight on what will shape the organization’s efforts over the next 30 years.[9]
Following the resignation ofMarkham—Thornhill MPJohn McCallum in February 2017, Ng announced her candidacy for the nomination of the Liberal Party of Canada for the riding.[10] Ng won the nomination against two other candidates and went on to win the seat with 51.5% of the vote in ariding by-election held on April 3 that year.[11] Ng went on to win the seat again in the 2019 Canadian Federal election with 53.9%[12] of the vote and in the 2021 Canadian Federal election with 61.5%[12] of the vote.
As the Member of Parliament forMarkham-Thornhill, Ng helped to facilitate the government's commitment to invest in Canadian ideas and innovators in the riding by advocating for the inclusion of Markham's tech-innovation hub, VentureLabs, in the Southern Ontario Supercluster.[13] In June 2019, Ng publicly announcedMichael Chan as her re-election campaign co-chair, which led to questions of potential pro-Beijing influence in her campaign.[14]
 | Some of this section'slisted sourcesmay not bereliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.(October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Ng was appointedMinister of Small Business and Export Promotion in acabinet reshuffle in July 2018.[15] Following her re-election as MP in the2019 federal election, she was namedMinister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, adding the trade portfolio to her responsibilities.[16][17]
As Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, Ng oversaw the development and implementation of several key support programs during theCOVID-19 pandemic including: The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)[18] which provided interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and non-profits, The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA)[19] to help small businesses with rent payments during Covid-19 lockdowns, and the Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to support businesses in rural communities.[20]
Under Ng’s leadership, the Ministry of Small Business and Export Promotion created the Black Entrepreneurship Program, a $221 million investment to support Black business owners and entrepreneurs,[21] and developed the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES), a $6 billion investment to increase women-owned businesses' access to financing, talent, networks and expertise.[22][23]
In 2020, Ng led Canada’s first-ever virtual trade mission to South Korea - an innovative approach to support Canadian businesses during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mission focused on key sectors such as clean technology, information and communications technology, and health technology. It connected over 200 Canadian businesses with South Korean industry leaders and potential partners, facilitating commercial opportunities in one of Canada’s most significant trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region.[24]
In November 2020, Ng led negotiations resulting in theCanada–United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement, ensuring continued preferential trade access between the two nations followingBrexit.[25]
After the 2021 election, Ng's responsibilities expanded to include Economic Development becoming theMinister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development.[26] She remained the minister responsible for Canada's trade negotiations, overseeingExport Development Canada and promoting small business.[27]
In 2022,Mario Dion, theEthics Commissioner of Canada, released a report finding that Ng had broken ethics rules in 2019 and 2020 by failing to recuse herself and awarding two government media training contracts – worth $16,950 and $5,840 – to the public relations firm "Pomp&Circumstance" that her friend of 20 years, Amanda Alvaro, co-founded.[28][29] After the release of the report, Ng apologized and issued a statement saying that she should have recused herself.[30][31]
In July 2023, Ng's appointment changed toMinister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development.[32] In this role, Ng has led Canada's trade diversification strategy through trade agreements like theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership andComprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement,[33] strengthened trade relations withASEAN nations[34] and launched Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. She also oversaw the modernization of theCanada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.[35]
Ng’s inaugural Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan in 2023 marked a pivotal step in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The mission enabled Canadian businesses to establish connections and pursue commercial opportunities in Japan, one of Canada’s top trading partners.[25]
In January 2024, Ng was appointed byJustin Trudeau to co-lead Team Canada engagement withMinister of Innovation, Science and Industry,François-Philippe Champagne, andCanadian ambassador to the United States,Kirsten Hillman. Team Canada was tasked with preparing Canada for all possible outcomes of the2024 U.S. presidential election and to foster collaboration between businesses, entrepreneurs, labor organizations, civil society, and various levels of government to maintain strong Canada-U.S. relations.[36]
Also in 2024, Ng conducted subsequent trade missions in Malaysia, Vietnam,[34] the Republic of Korea,[37] Indonesia, and the Philippines.[38] The mission to Indonesia and the Philippines in December 2024 was Canada’s largest-ever trade mission,[39] with over 300 representatives from more than 190 Canadian organizations participating. This mission facilitated significant engagements, including the conclusion of negotiations for the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding between Canadian and Indonesian companies.[40]
In November 2024, Ng was named to the Cabinet Committee on Canada-U.S. Relations afterPrime Minister,Justin Trudeau re-established the committee to focus on critical Canada-U.S. issues following the election of President Donald Trump for a second term.[41]
In early 2025, Ng lead a delegation of approximately 220 Canadians from 140 organizations on a Team Canada Trade Mission toAustralia.[42] As a key initiative under Canada’sIndo-Pacific Strategy, this was Canada’s 5th Team Canada Trade Mission travelling to its 7th Indo-Pacific market since 2023. The trade mission provided participating Canadian exporters and innovators with an opportunity to make connections, further existing ones, and expand their reach into Australia’s diverse market and an important trade partner in theCPTPP.[43]
After the trade mission toAustralia, Ng visitedSingapore andBrunei to strengthen Canada’s trade, investment and nuclear partnerships.[44] Building on theGovernment of Canada’s 2024 announcement of the Canadian Trade Gateway for Nuclear Development[45] to strengthen nuclear partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, Ng participated in the third annual Canada-in-Asia Conference and the Canada-ASEAN Business Council’s Nuclear Energy Capacity Building Symposium, where she highlighted Canada’s efforts in helping Canadians working in the nuclear industry strengthen their partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region.[46]
Amid escalating tariff concerns from theUnited States, Ng conducted diplomatic engagements inGeneva in February 2025, meeting withDirector-General of the World Trade OrganizationNgozi Okonjo-Iweala andEuropean Commissioner for TradeMaros Sefcovic to reinforce Canada's trade partnerships and expand economic cooperation with European markets.[47]
Ng also engaged in strategic communications targeting American consumers and businesses, highlighting how the $2.4 billion daily Canada-U.S. trade relationship supports millions of jobs and reduces costs for everyday products in both countries.[48]
On February 10, 2025, Ng announced her intention to not seek re-election during the2025 Canadian federal election.[3]
In March 2025, Ng announced thatCanada had formally requestedWTO dispute consultations with theUnited States regarding the imposition by theUnited States of import duties on certain steel and aluminium products fromCanada. This is the first step in both the dispute settlement processes of theWTO and theCUSMA.[49]
Later that month, Ng also announced thatCanada had requestedWTO dispute consultations withChina concerning Chinese measures that impose additional import duties on certain agricultural and fishery products fromCanada.[50][51]
| 2021 Canadian federal election:Markham—Thornhill | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Mary Ng | 23,709 | 61.5 | +7.6 | $67,977.46 | |||
| Conservative | Melissa Felian | 10,136 | 26.3 | -8.3 | $57,520.72 | |||
| New Democratic | Paul Sahbaz | 3,222 | 8.4 | +1.1 | $633.62 | |||
| Green | Mimi Lee | 813 | 2.1 | -0.7 | $4,285.37 | |||
| People's | Ilia Pashaev | 648 | 1.7 | +0.9 | $1,203.75 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 38,528 | – | – | $106,559.92 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 398 | |||||||
| Turnout | 38,926 | 55.70 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 69,883 | |||||||
| Source:Elections Canada[52] | ||||||||
| 2019 Canadian federal election:Markham—Thornhill | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Mary Ng | 23,899 | 53.91 | +2.55 | $80,357.71 | |||
| Conservative | Alex Yuan | 15,319 | 34.56 | -4.43 | $74,064.17 | |||
| New Democratic | Paul Sahbaz | 3,233 | 7.29 | +3.81 | none listed | |||
| Green | Chris Williams | 1,247 | 2.81 | +0.60 | none listed | |||
| People's | Peter Remedios | 357 | 0.81 | $0.00 | ||||
| Independent | Josephbai Macwan | 276 | 0.62 | none listed | ||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 44,331 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 448 | 1.00 | +0.41 | |||||
| Turnout | 44,779 | 61.76 | +31.14 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 72,499 | |||||||
| Liberalhold | Swing | +3.49 | ||||||
| Source:Elections Canada[53][54] | ||||||||
| Canadian federal by-election, April 3, 2017:Markham—Thornhill Resignation ofJohn McCallum | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Mary Ng | 9,856 | 51.53 | −4.19 | ||||
| Conservative | Ragavan Paranchothy | 7,501 | 39.22 | +6.91 | ||||
| New Democratic | Gregory Hines | 671 | 3.51 | −7.21 | ||||
| Progressive Canadian | Dorian Baxter | 566 | 2.96 | |||||
| Green | Caryn Bergmann | 426 | 2.23 | +0.98 | ||||
| Libertarian | Brendan Thomas Reilly | 118 | 0.62 | |||||
| Independent | Above Znoneofthe | 77 | 0.40 | |||||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 19,125 | 100.0 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | - | |||||||
| Turnout | 27.51 | |||||||
| Eligible voters | 69,838 | |||||||
| Liberalhold | Swing | −5.55 | ||||||
| 29th Canadian Ministry (2015–2025) – Cabinet ofJustin Trudeau | ||
| Cabinet post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Bardish Chagger | Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development July 17, 2018 – March 14, 2025 | Dominic LeBlanc |
