Rebecca Chartrand is a Canadian politician who has been Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency since 2025. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, she was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2025 Canadian federal election, serving as the member of Parliament (MP) for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski.
On May 13, 2025, she was named to the 30th Canadian Ministry as minister of northern and Arctic affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Early life and education Chartrand is Anishinaabe from Treaty 4 territory in Manitoba. She earned a Bachelor of Education in 1997 and a Master of Education in 2016 from the University of Manitoba. Her master's thesis pertained to indigenous Anishinaabe pedagogy.
Career
Chartrand served as Division Lead for Aboriginal Education at Seven Oaks School Division in Winnipeg for seven years. In 2017, Chartrand was appointed Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy at Red River College Polytechnic.
In 2019 Chartrand was criticized over the implementation of a prospective student survey for Indigenous students, which many found to be offensive due questions that were perceived as relying on stereotypes. Chartrand apologized and stated that the survey in question was "a new pilot project" and "a work in progress", and that it would be revised in response to the complaints.
Following her appointment as Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, allegations arose that Chartrand had mistreated employees who raised concerns about the controversial survey.
Electoral record
References