Melissa Lantsman

Melissa Lantsman, born on April eighth, nineteen eighty-four, is a prominent Canadian politician and former public relations executive. She has represented Thornhill as a member of Parliament since two thousand twenty-one and is a key figure in the Conservative Party, serving as its co-deputy leader alongside Tim Uppal. Lantsman holds the distinction of being the first openly lesbian and first Jewish woman elected as a Conservative MP.

Before her election to Parliament, Lantsman had an extensive career in communications, advising several cabinet members during the tenure of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She played a significant role as a senior advisor to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and was the chief spokesperson during the two thousand eighteen Ontario provincial election. Her expertise in strategic communications was further demonstrated in her role as the national vice president of Public Affairs at Enterprise Canada.

In two thousand twenty, following Peter Kent's retirement, Lantsman announced her candidacy for the federal Conservative nomination in Thornhill. She successfully defeated the incumbent member of Provincial Parliament, Gila Martow, to secure her position as the Conservative candidate on March seventeenth, two thousand twenty-one. Lantsman was elected to Parliament on September twentieth, two thousand twenty-one, and was sworn into office on October twenty-eighth of the same year.

Since her election, Lantsman has been active in the Opposition Shadow Cabinet, serving as the critic for transport under Erin O'Toole. She has also taken on the role of vice-chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Infrastructure and currently participates in the Special Committee on the Canada–People’s Republic of China Relationship.