Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages - Josée Verner

Josée Verner was first elected as a Member of Parliament in January 2006, from the riding of Louis-St-Laurent. On February 6th, 2006, she was appointed as the Minister of International Co-operation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages in Prime Minister Harper’s cabinet.

In June of 2004 she was named as spokesperson for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Region of Québec in Mr. Harper’s shadow cabinet. This was widened in September 2005 to include the Official Languages portfolio. She also chaired the Québec Caucus for the Conservative Party of Canada.

Ms. Verner has spent close to 20 years in the communications and public service fields. She served in the office of former Québec Premier Robert Bourassa and in the office of the Deputy Speaker of Québec’s National Assembly, and also worked in the Ministry of Health.

Ms. Verner is deeply involved in her community and has spent a significant amount of time fundraising for the Children’s Make A Wish Foundation. She is married and has three children.