Melissa Lantsman

Early Life and Education

Melissa Lantsman was born in Toronto in 1984 and raised in the Thornhill community she now represents in Parliament. She is the daughter of Ukrainian Jewish immigrants Ora and Michael Lantsman, who arrived in Canada in 1975. Her mother worked as an accountant while her father, an uncredentialed engineer from Odessa, worked in the taxi business and operated several pawn shops. Lantsman attended Langstaff Secondary School in York Region, where she was enrolled in a French immersion program, becoming fluent in French in addition to English and Russian. She later pursued an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Toronto and undertook graduate studies at the University of Ottawa and the Rotman School of Management. She has one brother. Her upbringing in an immigrant family instilled in her a strong work ethic and a commitment to standing up for her beliefs, which she has cited as foundational to her political career.

Career in Communications and Public Affairs

Before entering electoral politics, Melissa Lantsman built a substantial career in strategic communications and government relations. Her political involvement began with volunteering for Conservative candidates during her adolescence. During the 2008 federal election, she was appointed a senior communications advisor for the Conservative Party, which formed a minority government. From 2008 to 2011, she served as director of communications for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under ministers Lawrence Cannon and John Baird. After a brief role as a senior public affairs advisor at The Coca-Cola Company, Lantsman returned to government as director of communications for Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Following the Conservative government's defeat in 2015, Lantsman moved to the private sector as a senior director for CIBC Capital Markets.

In 2018, she served as director of communications for Caroline Mulroney's campaign for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. She then became the chief spokesperson and war room director for the Ontario PC Party's successful 2018 general election campaign, which resulted in the party's first majority government since 1999 after 15 years of Liberal government in the province. In this role, she oversaw all press communications and social media releases by the campaign. After the election, Lantsman joined the public relations firm Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Toronto. In 2020, she became vice president for National Public Affairs at Enterprise Canada, a strategic communications consultancy, a partnership she relinquished in 2021 to focus on her political candidacy. According to public disclosure records, Lantsman is also a director of a Toronto-based venture fund focused on investing in early-stage companies that prioritize women founders.

Lantsman has also served on several boards, including those of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Jewish Addiction Community Services (JACS), and Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto. Since 2019, she appeared frequently as a political panellist on CBC News' Power & Politics and CTV's Power Play, and she hosted a radio show on CFRB 1010 AM. Her writing has been featured in Canada's largest circulation publications. In 2019, she and fellow Conservative strategist Jamie Ellerton published an opinion piece in The Globe and Mail criticizing then-leader Andrew Scheer's approach to LGBTQ rights and advocating for greater party inclusivity.

Path to Parliament and 2021 Election

Melissa Lantsman's path to becoming the MP for Thornhill began after the retirement of long-serving Conservative MP Peter Kent in 2020. Kent had represented the electoral district since 2008. Thornhill, a riding with Canada's highest proportion of Jewish residents at 37 percent, became an open seat. Lantsman announced her candidacy for the Conservative nomination on November 27, 2020, receiving endorsements from a formidable array of Conservative figures including former prime minister Stephen Harper, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, and numerous federal and provincial ministers. She faced a nomination contest against the incumbent provincial member of Parliament, Gila Martow, participating in a series of debates between December 2020 and March 2021. On March 17, 2021, Lantsman defeated Martow in the nomination election and was certified as the Conservative candidate for the upcoming federal election.

In the September 20, 2021, federal election, Lantsman faced Liberal candidate Gary Gladstone. She won the seat decisively, capturing 51.3 percent of the vote according to preliminary results. Her victory was historic, making her the first openly lesbian and first Jewish woman ever elected as a Conservative MP. She was sworn into the 44th Parliament on October 26, 2021. On November 9, 2021, she was appointed by then-Opposition Leader Erin O'Toole as the Shadow Minister for Transport, a role that placed her on the front bench of the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. She was also elected vice-chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, giving her a formal role in scrutinizing government legislation and spending in that portfolio.

Parliamentary Career and Policy Positions in the 44th Parliament

As a parliamentarian, Melissa Lantsman quickly established herself as an active and vocal member of the Official Opposition. After her appointment as Shadow Minister for Transport, she was also elected vice-chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. In February 2022, she was appointed by interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen to serve as Chair of Outreach for the party, joining the Conservative Party leadership team while retaining her transport critic portfolio. Following Pierre Poilievre's election as party leader in September 2022, he named Lantsman co-deputy leader of the Conservative Party and the Official Opposition, a role she shares with Alberta MP Tim Uppal. This promotion marked her ascent to one of the most senior positions in the party's parliamentary structure.

Lantsman has been involved in several notable parliamentary incidents and debates. In February 2022, during a discussion on the government's use of the Emergencies Act, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that 'Conservative Party members can stand with people who wave swastikas.' Lantsman, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, responded forcefully, stating she had never been made to feel less except for that moment and demanded an apology, which was not forthcoming. She has also served on the Special Committee on the Canada, People’s Republic of China Relationship, focusing on a critical foreign policy file. Her work on this committee involves examining the varied and often tense relationship between Canada and China.

Her policy advocacy spans several key areas. On housing, she has called for 'more approvals and less government gatekeepers' and advocated for tying federal government funding to municipalities' housing unit approval rates as a solution to the Canadian housing crisis. On foreign policy, she is a staunch supporter of Israel, having opposed a 2024 NDP motion to recognize the State of Palestine and called for Canada to suspend funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an agency she said had members who 'actively participated' in the October 7, 2023, attacks. In response to her UNRWA stance, protesters put posters on her office reading 'Blood on your hands'. She has also advocated for isolating nations with anti-LGBTQ laws, like Uganda, and attended the raising of the pride flag on Parliament Hill. In January 2023, she called for an emergency debate on rising violence in Toronto, on the transit system, and across Canada, highlighting public safety as a major concern.

Lantsman has also engaged in internal party debates, defending the right of Conservative delegates to bring forward resolutions for discussion, including those concerning transgender issues, by arguing the party is grassroots-driven and that such debates were not the main priorities of the party. In 2024, she defended leader Pierre Poilievre's comments on transgender women's access to bathrooms as 'common sense' and supported by the caucus. After the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion to ban conversion therapy, Lantsman tweeted that 'Some days are exceptionally good days,' reflecting her advocacy for LGBTQ rights within her party. Her positions illustrate a blend of social conservatism on some issues with advocacy for LGBTQ inclusivity on others, handling the diverse views within the Conservative coalition.

Re-election and Role in the 45th Parliament

Melissa Lantsman solidified her hold on the Thornhill riding in the 2025 federal election, achieving a record-breaking result that showed her deep connection with the constituency. She was re-elected with 66.4 percent of the vote, the highest vote share in the riding's history, and also won the most raw votes ever recorded for a candidate in Thornhill. This strong mandate confirmed her status as a leading figure within her party and her community and demonstrated significant growth from her 2021 victory margin of 51.3 percent. In the 45th Parliament, she continues in her senior role as co-deputy leader of the Official Opposition, a position that involves significant media engagement, caucus leadership, and strategic planning for the party.

Her work in the current Parliament includes ongoing scrutiny of government policy, particularly on economic and affordability issues. In October 2026, she cited a Parliamentary Budget Officer report to challenge the government's fiscal assertions, arguing against the Liberal government's claim that affordability has never been better. She has continued her advocacy on specific files, such as in July 2025 when she officially authorized House of Commons petition E-6625, which called for more government action against antisemitism, marking the first petition of the parliamentary session to deal with that issue. According to parliamentary records, in the current session she has jointly seconded six private members' bills and one private member's motion sponsored by other MPs, indicating her collaborative work within the caucus and support for her colleagues' legislative initiatives. She also continues to serve on the Special Committee on the Canada, People’s Republic of China Relationship.

Personal Life and Public Profile

Melissa Lantsman is openly lesbian and married her wife, Lauren, in 2017. She lives with a severe form of Crohn's disease, a fact she has spoken about publicly. Fluent in English, French, and Russian, Lantsman is a fan of the Toronto Blue Jays. Before her election, she was a regular political commentator on programs like CBC's Power & Politics and CTV's Power Play, and she hosted a radio show on CFRB 1010 AM. Her writing has been featured in major Canadian publications, including an opinion piece in The Globe and Mail co-authored with strategist Jamie Ellerton in 2019 that criticized then-leader Andrew Scheer's approach to LGBTQ rights and argued for greater party inclusivity.

These experiences contributed to her reputation as an award-winning communicator and one of Canada's most sought-after public affairs executives prior to entering politics. Her identity as a Jewish woman and descendant of Holocaust survivors has deeply informed her advocacy on issues of antisemitism and her responses in Parliament. This was vividly displayed during the 2022 exchange with Prime Minister Trudeau and in her ongoing calls to combat antisemitism, including through parliamentary petitions. Her personal story as the daughter of immigrants who taught her to work hard and stand up for what is right is a narrative she frequently incorporates into her public messaging and political identity, connecting her background to her present role as a community representative.

Electoral Performance in Thornhill

Melissa Lantsman's electoral performances in Thornhill demonstrate her growing and now dominant support within the riding. In her first election in 2021, she won with a strong plurality of the vote, securing the seat for the Conservatives following Peter Kent's retirement. Her re-election campaign in 2025 resulted in a landslide victory that set new records for voter support in the constituency, reflecting both her personal popularity and the strong Conservative alignment of the electorate. The table below outlines the key results of her two federal election campaigns, showing a clear trajectory of increasing support. Thornhill has been a Conservative stronghold since Peter Kent first won it in a 2008 by-election.

Key Endorsements and Political Support

Throughout her political career, Melissa Lantsman has garnered support from a wide network of influential Conservative figures from both the federal and provincial levels. This support was crucial during her 2021 nomination contest against incumbent MPP Gila Martow and her subsequent election campaign. Her endorsements came from across the party's spectrum, reflecting the connections she built during her years in communications and government advisory roles. The breadth of this coalition highlights her standing within the Conservative movement and her ability to bridge different factions within the party, which was instrumental in her rapid rise to a leadership position. The list of endorsers included figures from the Harper-era cabinet, the Ontario PC government, and sitting MPs and MPPs.

• Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper
• Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney
• Former federal ministers John Baird, Joe Oliver, Pierre Poilievre, Rona Ambrose, Michelle Rempel Garner, and Lisa Raitt
• Ontario provincial ministers Caroline Mulroney, Stephen Lecce, Greg Rickford, and Paul Calandra
• Federal Conservative legislators Eric Duncan and Scott Aitchison
• Provincial Conservative legislators Logan Kanapathi, Stan Cho, Roman Baber, and Vijay Thanigasalam

Constituency Work and Community Representation

As the member of Parliament for Thornhill, Melissa Lantsman emphasizes her deep roots in the community where she was born and raised. Her constituency office in Vaughan provides services to assist residents with federal government programs, offers tours of Parliament Hill, and provides celebratory greetings for special occasions. Thornhill's demographic composition, with the highest percentage of Jewish residents in Canada, aligns closely with Lantsman's own background, allowing her to represent community concerns on issues like antisemitism with personal conviction. Her advocacy in Parliament, such as authorizing petition E-6625 on antisemitism, directly reflects constituent priorities and her commitment to addressing issues that affect the community she calls home.

Her work also involves addressing broader national issues that impact her riding, such as housing affordability, economic policy, and public safety. Lantsman's call for an emergency debate on violence in the Toronto area in 2023 was partly motivated by concerns within her constituency about safety on public transit and in neighbourhoods. Her background as a community advocate and volunteer, mentioned in her public biography, informs her approach to constituency service. The record-breaking electoral support she received in 2025 suggests that her representation and community engagement are perceived positively by a large majority of Thornhill voters, who have entrusted her with their votes in two consecutive federal elections and given her a powerful mandate to serve. She is also a member of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group.

Questions about Melissa Lantsman

What is Melissa Lantsman's role in the Conservative Party?

Melissa Lantsman is the co-deputy leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, a position she shares with MP Tim Uppal. She was appointed to this role by party leader Pierre Poilievre in September 2022. In this capacity, she is a senior member of the party's leadership team, helps shape strategy and messaging, and frequently represents the party in media appearances and parliamentary debates. She previously served as the Shadow Minister for Transport under leader Erin O'Toole and as Chair of Outreach under interim leader Candice Bergen.

What makes Melissa Lantsman's election historically significant?

Melissa Lantsman's election in 2021 was historically significant as she became the first openly lesbian person and the first Jewish woman ever elected as a Conservative member of Parliament. This broke new ground for representation within the party. Her identity as a Jewish MP is particularly notable given that she represents Thornhill, the riding with the highest proportion of Jewish residents in Canada at 37 percent. Her election marked a milestone for diversity in Canadian Conservative politics.

What did Melissa Lantsman do before becoming an MP?

Before her election, Melissa Lantsman had a distinguished career as a public relations executive and government communications advisor. She served as director of communications for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under ministers Lawrence Cannon and John Baird from 2008 to 2011, and later for Finance Minister Joe Oliver. She worked in the private sector for companies like CIBC Capital Markets, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, and as Vice President at Enterprise Canada. In 2018, she was the chief spokesperson and war room director for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party's successful election campaign, overseeing all press and social media.

What are Melissa Lantsman's key policy positions?

Melissa Lantsman has advocated for several key policy positions. On housing, she supports reducing regulatory barriers to construction and tying federal funding to municipal approval rates to increase supply. She is a strong supporter of Israel, opposing recognition of Palestine and calling for Canada to defund UNRWA. She has advocated for isolating nations with anti-LGBTQ laws, like Uganda, while also defending her party's internal debate on social issues. Domestically, she has called for action on rising violence and transit safety, and is a vocal critic of government policy on affordability. She also emphasizes 'common sense' approaches to issues like gender identity.

How did Melissa Lantsman perform in the 2025 election?

In the 2025 federal election, Melissa Lantsman was re-elected in a landslide, achieving a record-breaking result for the Thornhill riding. She won 66.4 percent of the vote, which is the highest vote share in the constituency's history. She also received the most raw votes ever for a candidate in Thornhill. This result represented a significant increase from her 2021 victory, where she won with 51.3 percent of the vote, and demonstrated her solidified support and effective representation within the community.

What committees does Melissa Lantsman serve on in Parliament?

Melissa Lantsman currently serves on the Special Committee on the Canada-People’s Republic of China Relationship. In the 44th Parliament, she was elected the vice-chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Her service on that committee corresponded with her role as the Opposition critic for transport from November 2021. Lantsman is also a member of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group.

Sources and further reading

• Melissa Lantsman (Wikipedia)
• Melissa Lantsman, Member of Parliament (ourcommons.ca)
• Melissa Lantsman | Member of Parliament | Thornhill (melissalantsmanmp.ca)
• Melissa Lantsman, Political Management (carleton.ca)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-29.