Rey Pagtakhan
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The Honourable Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., M.D., M.Sc. (born January 7, 1935) is a Canadian politician. He was a cabinet minister in the governments of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, and served as a member of parliament from 1988 until his defeat in the election of 2004.
Born in Manila, in the Philippines, Pagtakhan trained as a doctor and became a professor of pediatrics and child health. He also worked as a pediatric respirologist at the Winnipeg Children's Hospital between 1971 and 1988. In 1986, he was elected as a Winnipeg school trustee in the St. Vital district.
Pagtakhan was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1988 federal election in the riding of Winnipeg North, defeating incumbent New Democrat David Orlikow who had held the riding since 1962. He became the first Filipino-born Canadian to be elected to the House of Commons. He was easily re-elected in the 1993 election, defeating New Democratic challenger Judy Wasylycia-Leis. In the elections of 1997 and 2000, he was elected for the redistributed riding of Winnipeg North-St. Paul.
Pagtakhan served as parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from February 23, 1996 to July 15, 1998. He was appointed to cabinet on January 9, 2001, and served as secretary of state (Asia-Pacific) until January 15, 2002, when he became the minister of Veterans Affairs. On December 12, 2003, new prime minister Paul Martin shifted him to Western Economic Diversification. Pagtakhan also served as Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) from May 26, 2002 to December 12, 2003.
Further redistribution pushed Pagtakhan back into the riding of Winnipeg North for the election of 2004. He was defeated by Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who had been elected to the House of Commons for the Winnipeg North Centre riding in 1997 and 2000.
| 27th Ministry - Government of Paul Martin | |||
| Cabinet Posts (1) | |||
| Preceded by: Allan Rock | Minister of Western Economic Diversification (2003-2004) | Succeeded by: Stephen Owen | |
| 26th Ministry - Government of Jean Chrétien | |||
| Cabinet Posts (1) | |||
| Preceded by: Ron Duhamel | Minister of Veterans Affairs (2002-2003) | Succeeded by: John McCallum | |
| Sub-Cabinet Posts (2) | |||
| Secretary of State (Science, Research and Technology) (2002-2003) | |||
| Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) (2001-2002) | |||