Biography of Minister Chris Alexander

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Riding: Ajax-Pickering (Ontario)

Chris Alexander was elected to the House of Commons in 2011 for the riding of Ajax-Pickering. Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Alexander served Canada as a diplomat for 18 years.

He served at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow from 1993 to 1996 and again from 2000 to 2003. During the four years between these postings he was Assistant to the Deputy Minister, then Deputy Director (Russia) in the Eastern Europe Division at Foreign Affairs.

In 2003, Mr. Alexander became Canada’s first resident Ambassador in Kabul, Afghanistan. From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Alexander served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Afghanistan, with responsibility for political affairs, rule of law, governance and police reform. He is the author of ‘The Long Way Back: Afghanistan's Quest for Peace,’ published in 2011.

Chris Alexander grew up in Toronto. He has a BA from McGill University and an MA from Oxford University.

Mr. Alexander was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. He is also one of the World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders. In 2007, he received the Atlantic Council of Canada Award and in 2010, the Birchall Leadership Award.

In May 2011, Mr. Alexander was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence. He was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in July 2013.

He lives in Ajax, Ontario, with his wife Hedvig and their two daughters.