The Current

Meet Maryam Monsef, Canada's first Afghan-born MP

She fled Afghanistan with her widowed Mom in the early days of Taliban rule. And now the girl who would not have been allowed an education or a job will now take her place among the Liberals as the first Canadian-Afghan MP. Meet Maryam Monsef.
Maryam Monsef is the new Liberal MP for Peterborough-Kawartha. She was born in Afghanistan.

UPDATE: As of November 4th, Maryan Monsef is also now the Minister for Democratic Institutions in the new cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

"My Canadian story begins about twenty years ago when my mom, my two sisters and I, arrived here in Peterborough as refugees... and, the desire to serve this community really begins there."- Maryam Monsef, new Liberal MP

Monday's election will bring a lot of new Liberal MPs to Ottawa.

And of the 184 Liberal candidates elected, one holds the distinction of being the first elected MP to be born in Afghanistan. That is Maryam Monsef, the new MP for the Ontario riding of Peterborough-Kawartha.

Maryam Monsef is also Peterborough's first female MP and she joined Anna Maria Tremonti on the line from Peterborough.
 

This segment was produced by The Current's Julian Uzielli.