Hassam Munir | Executive Editor (Online)
Featured image: Ahmed Hussen graduated from York’s history program in 2002. | Courtesy of The Toronto Star
York alumnus Ahmed Hussen—a Somali-Canadian Muslim and former refugee— has been appointed Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
On January 10, Hussen was appointed to the federal cabinet by Trudeau in a move lauded as being in stark contrast to the anti-immigrant rhetoric used by president-elect Donald Trump in the United States.
Hussen replaces veteran politician John McCallum, who has recently been appointed as Canada’s envoy to China—a move that potentially indicates the Trudeau government’s shifting attention from the United States to China.
Hussen came to Canada from Somalia as a refugee at the age of 16 in 1993, eventually settling down in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. In 2002, he graduated from York with an undergraduate degree in history before going on to study law at the University of Ottawa.
He became involved in politics by obtaining a position as an assistant to Dalton McGuinty, who was serving as the leader of the official opposition in Ontario. Hussen accompanied McGuinty to the premier’s office after their win in the 2003 election.
In the 2015 federal election, Hussen was elected from the York-South Weston riding, becoming the first Somali-Canadian to obtain a seat in federal parliament.
He was one of 15 York alumni and one of the record 46 visible-minority MPs who were elected to the legislature in that election.
Many in the York community celebrated Hussen’s appointment.
“As a Somali and a York student, it feels really great that an individual that has accomplished a lot for himself and our community is holding an important position within the government,” says Deni Wais, fourth-year history student.
“Becoming the first Somali to be appointed into a federal cabinet is a huge landmark for not only Somalis, but for other minorities [as well], especially those of colour.”
Hussen faces complex challenges in his new role, such as reconsidering McCallum’s changes to Canada’s family reunification programme, as well as a recent decision to remove a rule limiting the length for which foreign workers can stay in Canada. He will also have to carefully handle the Trudeau government’s commitment to resettling Syrian refugees.
Wais believes Hussen’s personal background has given him the experience to fulfill his responsibilities.
“I feel that Ahmed’s personal experience will positively affect policies towards refugees because he has been through the process and would know the pros and cons in our immigration system. His background is essential to his position,” says Wais.
As a history student himself, Wais believes that the education students receive at York can prepare them to emulate Hussen’s success.
“I believe an education at York would prepare me or anyone else for a role within the government, as long as community engagement and activism is [also] happening outside campus,” says Wais.
