Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger named to Justin Trudeau's cabinet

Rookie Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger has been named minister of small business and tourism in the new Liberal cabinet.

The appointment makes Chagger one of 15 female MPs taking on a ministerial rolein a gender balanced cabinet.

"We recognize that small business is important and our platform promises that we made and you all know about, you'll see that we are committed to and working for Canadians for a better Canada," said Chagger on Wednesday.

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Chagger defeatedincumbent Conservative candidate Peter Braid on the Oct. 19 electionwith 50 per cent of the popular vote.

A long-time Liberal supporter, Bardish Chaggerworked as an executive assistant toformer Kitchener-Waterloo Liberal MPAndrew Telegdi, who held his seat in the ridingfrom 1993 to 2008.

After working with Telegdi, Bardish took a jobat the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre astheir special events coordinator.

"Science matters to this government and there is something that we are doing differently that we have not seen for a long time. Not only are we looking forward to speaking with media. We're looking forward to working with Canadians and that's what we'll be doing," said Chagger.

Chaggeris a life-long Waterloo resident, and graduated in 2004 from the University of Waterloo with a bachelor's degree inscience.