Sue Barnes

Susan Barnes is a former Canadian politician. Barnes represented the riding of London West from 1993 to 2008 as a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada. She was the first Maltese-born member of Parliament. She is the longest-serving MP to represent the riding of London West and was also the first woman to be elected as a federal MP in London, Ontario.

Early life

Barnes was born in Rabat, Malta, and immigrated to Canada with her family in 1957. She received bachelor's degrees in literature and law from the University of Western Ontario in 1974 and 1977, respectively. She was admitted to The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1979 and practiced law full-time until 1993.

Political career

She was the Official Opposition critic for the Minister of Justice, and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, the Minister of National Revenue and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada with special emphasis on Judicial Transparency and Aboriginal Justice.

Electoral record