The Honourable Rechie Valdez Our Filipino Voice in Canada’s Cabinet

and pleased. Your ministerial appointment today…reflects Prime Minister Trudeau’s trust in your capabilities and the importance he has attached to small businesses as a force for economic prosperity. As well as to the vital role Canadian Filipinos can continue to play in the affairs of Canada, including as a vital political force – a validation that Canadian Filipinos have come of age! I salute you on your exciting ministerial appointment… to the Government of Canada.”

I’m confident all Canadian Filipinos across the country –close to a million – and Filipinos in the Philippines and abroad beyond Canada share my sentiments. Michelle Abad, a multimedia reporter at Rappler.com based in the Philippines, promptly featured Valdez’ profile the following day, “Who is Rechie Valdez, first Filipino woman in the Canadian Cabinet?” As well, mainstream Canadian media like the Canadian Press provided their coverage.

Indeed, we can all salute Minister Valdez for this additional milestone in her political career even as we say “Thank You” to Prime Minister Trudeau for making a timely and welcome choice in Rechie Valdez’ appointment to the cabinet.

What does it mean being at the cabinet table?

“The cabinet is the central decision-making forum in government, responsible for its administration and the establishment of its policy,” reads the prime minister’s website. “Its members are each responsible for individual portfolios or departments.”

Let me elaborate briefly. Responsible government is a cornerstone of the Canadian system of government, that is, “that a government must be responsive to its citizens; that it must operate responsibly (i.e., be well organized in developing and implementing policy); and that its ministers may be regarded as the device for achieving it.”

With respect to ministerial responsibility, “Ministers have both individual and collective responsibilities to parliament… (They) are expected to take responsibility for, and defend, all cabinet decisions (cabinet solidarity). The principle provides stability within the framework of ministerial government by uniting the responsibilities of the individual Ministers under the collective responsibility of the crown.

In Canada, the state is commonly referred to as “the Crown in right of Canada,” which is the country’s “supreme executive authority.”

In practice, “executive authority” in Canada is vested “in the governor general acting with the advice and consent of the prime minister and cabinet.”

Thus, being at the cabinet table means Rechie Valdez’ arc of public service obligations has just become wider. Her duties

With Dr. Rey & Gloria Pagtakhan and responsibilities as MP for Mississauga-Streetsville have become heavier. They will continue even as she attends to her ministerial mandate. She will certainly need more working hours and time management, but assuredly her promotion will be personally fulfilling.

Being at the cabinet table also means she is able to bring the Filipino voice directly to national decision-making. And that perspective includes bringing to the attention of the Canadian Government a range of issues that matter not only to Canadians in general but also to Canadian Filipinos in particular. One most recent example is helping “boost Canadian-Philippines ties.

The Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M., LL.D.,

Sc.D., M.D. M.Sc. – a former Member of Canada’s Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and cabinet minister and a retired lung specialist and professor of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine and – graduated from the University of the Philippines, did postgraduate studies at the Children’s Hospitals of Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, and spent a sabbatical year as Visiting Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson. He has maintained this column, Medisina at Politika, since 2012 as part of his continuing civic and political engagement.

by Regina Ramos Urbano

More than 40 athletes from the Philippine National Police (PNP) are in Winnipeg to compete in the 2023 World Police and Fire Games from July 28 to August 6, 2023. The full Philippine delegation, including support staff and family members proudly paraded into the Canada Life Centre for the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, July 28th to cheers from the excited crowd.

Police Master Sergeant Jose Daryl P. Sobretodo, a member of the Police Security and Protection Group, was overwhelmed by the geniality he has experienced so far since landing in Winnipeg on Thursday. “The people here are so friendly! So many people have come up to say ‘Hi’ and to welcome us.” Jose, with his teammate Edgar Cabral, represented the Philippines in the boxing competition at the RBC Convention Centre – Jose in the 81kg and Edgar in the 75kg weight class on July 31.

While the athletes are here to do their best to make their country proud, they are also here to enjoy the camaraderie of colleagues and have new experiences. Police Staff Master Sergeant Adora Aquino is a veteran participant of the WPFG in the sport of karatedo. She is also a seasoned dragon boat paddler and joined the International Dragonflies, a composite team (made up of athletes from different countries) as the sole Filipina competitor in the Dragon Boat Event. Several paddlers on the