Eleni Bakopanos
Encyclopedia
Eleni Bakopanos, PC
(born 1954 in Argos
, Greece
) is a Canadian
politician.
Bakopanos was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
in the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the riding of Ahuntsic
from 1997 to 2006, and Saint-Denis from 1993 to 1997 and is the first Greek-born woman to be elected to Parliament. Bakopanos has been an executive, and a policy adviser. Formerly Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole, and a former Parliamentary Secretary
to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
(1997–1999). Bakopanos was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development
with special emphasis on Social Economy on July 20, 2004. Bakopanos has served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
In the spring 2004, Bakopanos wrote a booklet titled Political Recruiting and Women in the Political Process. She argues that women continue to face serious obstacles to full participation in public life. She suggests that women bring a different character to the policy making process and they should be encouraged to enter politics in greater numbers.
Bakopanos holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in political science and history from McGill University
, where she also studied law. She is married and is the mother of two daughters.
Bakopanos sought a return to parliament in the 2008 federal election
, but was unsuccessful.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born 1954 in Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Bakopanos was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the riding of Ahuntsic
Ahuntsic (electoral district)
Ahuntsic is a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979 and since 1988...
from 1997 to 2006, and Saint-Denis from 1993 to 1997 and is the first Greek-born woman to be elected to Parliament. Bakopanos has been an executive, and a policy adviser. Formerly Assistant Deputy Chairman of Committees of the Whole, and a former Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Minister of Justice (Canada)
The Minister of Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada .This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone with formal legal training...
(1997–1999). Bakopanos was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Social Development
Minister of Social Development (Canada)
The Minister of Social Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing Social Development Canada, the federal government's department concerned with the needs of seniors, children, families and people with disabilities.On February 6, 2006, Prime...
with special emphasis on Social Economy on July 20, 2004. Bakopanos has served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.
In the spring 2004, Bakopanos wrote a booklet titled Political Recruiting and Women in the Political Process. She argues that women continue to face serious obstacles to full participation in public life. She suggests that women bring a different character to the policy making process and they should be encouraged to enter politics in greater numbers.
Bakopanos holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours in political science and history from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, where she also studied law. She is married and is the mother of two daughters.
Bakopanos sought a return to parliament in the 2008 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
, but was unsuccessful.