Jonathan Genest-Jourdain
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain, (born July 16, 1979) is a Canadian politician from Quebec. Genest-Jourdain served as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Manicouagan and as a member of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet from 2011-2015. Career. Jonathan Genest-Jourdain entered municipal politics in Sept-Îles in 2009. Through his legal work, Genest-Jourdain has been an ardent activist for Aboriginal, Quebec and Canadian heritage issues. Genest-Jourdain defeated Bloc Québécois incumbent MP Gérard Asselin at the 2011 Canadian federal election, becoming the first-ever NDP member to represent the Manicouagan riding. Along with  fellow NDP member Romeo Saganash, Genest-Jourdain was one of two First Nations members currently representing Quebec in the House of Commons of Canada. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. A member of the Innu Nation, Genest-Jourdain is a lawyer originally from the reserve village of Uashat-Maliotenam located in the Sept-Rivières Regional County Municipality. Genest-Jourdain obtained a law degree from Université Laval in 2004 and started a graduate certificate in corporate law. He has been a member of the Bar of Quebec since 2007 . Genest-Jourdain has devoted himself to the application of professional principles, including social intervention. Genest-Jourdain was a supporter of Outremont MP Thomas Mulcair's candidacy for federal leadership of the NDP to succeed the late Jack Layton. Genest-Jourdain finished third in his own riding of Manicouagan in the 2015 Canadian Federal Election. Shadow Cabinet. Shortly after entering Parliament in May 2011, Genest-Jourdain was appointed Deputy Critic for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development by Layton.