🔦 Black Light: Elected Leader of the Week
🇨🇦 Arielle Kayabaga – MP for London West
On April 28, voters in London West made history again — re-electing Arielle Kayabaga, the first African-born Black woman to ever sit in Canada’s Parliament. With her victory, Kayabaga not only returns to Ottawa but reclaims her place as one of the most prominent Black voices in Canadian politics.
Born in Burundi and raised in Ontario, Kayabaga first captured national attention in 2021 as a new MP. By 2025, she had already made her mark as Minister of Democratic Institutions and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, appointed under Prime Minister Mark Carney in March — just weeks before the election was called.
While Carney’s new post-election Cabinet is yet to be announced, Kayabaga’s re-election signals that her star is only rising.
🌍 From Refugee to Lawmaker
Arielle Kayabaga’s journey is emblematic of what modern Canada looks like. Arriving as a refugee from a war-torn country, she grew up in London, Ontario, and made history in 2018 as the first Black woman elected to London City Council.
Her federal debut came in 2021, and over the past four years, she’s become known as a fierce advocate for housing, gender equality, newcomer support, and anti-racism policy. Her unique voice, grounded in lived experience, has helped shape the national conversation around inclusion and democratic engagement.
🏛️ A Voice for Democratic Renewal
In March 2025, just weeks before Parliament dissolved, Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed Kayabaga to Cabinet, naming her Minister of Democratic Institutions and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Though the new Cabinet will soon be reshuffled post-election, her brief but historic appointment made her the first Black woman to hold both roles — commanding attention on issues of electoral reform, civic participation, and institutional trust.
Whether she returns to Cabinet in the coming days or not, her re-election is a resounding endorsement from constituents and a vote of confidence in her continued leadership.
✊🏾 Why It Matters
Arielle Kayabaga’s victory reflects a shift in Canada’s political landscape — one where Black women not only participate in democracy but help shape it. Her win in London West affirms that representation, experience, and advocacy matter. She remains a bridge between grassroots realities and national policy.
As Prime Minister Carney prepares to unveil his new government, all eyes are on Kayabaga. Whether on the front bench or the back, her impact will be felt.
📘 Black Light is Vision Newspaper’s weekly editorial spotlight on Black elected leaders around the world — amplifying the voices shaping justice, democracy, and change from inside the system.
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