Don Rusnak (born October 5, 1975) is a Canadian politician who served as the
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
Thunder Bay—Rainy River
Thunder Bay—Rainy River is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004. It first elected a member in the 2004 federal election.
History
It was created in 2003 from ...
Born and raised in Northwestern Ontario, Rusnak has deep roots in Thunder Bay–Rainy River, and as the son of Ukrainian and Anishinaabe (Ojibway) parents.
Education
Rusnak studied Political Science and Integrated Forest Resource Management at
Lakehead University
Lakehead University is a public research university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ontario, Canada. Lakehead University, shortened to 'Lakehead U', is non-denominational and provincially supported. It has undergraduate programs, gradua ...
. In 2001, Rusnak attended the
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba (U of M, UManitoba, or UM) is a Canadian public research university in the province of Manitoba.Robson Hall Faculty of Law, and during his final year, attended
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School, commonly shortened to Osgoode, is the law school of York University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The law school is home to the Law Commission of Ontario, the Journal of Law and Social Policy, and the '' Osgoode Hall L ...
to study in the Intensive Program in Aboriginal Lands, Resources and Governments.
Career prior to election
Rusnak has extensive professional experience drawing from his work in the forestry industry, public sector, and from his own legal practice. While working with Manitoba Health, Rusnak helped to improve the delivery of healthcare services for Northern Manitobans, and as a Crown Prosecutor in Eastern Alberta, he prosecuted criminal and regulatory offences. Rusnak served as the interim Executive Director for Grand Council Treaty No. 3 in Kenora.
Rusnak has volunteered his time with many organizations, such as the Ontario Justice Education Network and the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative – a group which improves elementary and secondary school education outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians through the implementation of specific programs and the application of appropriate research.
Federal politics
Rusnak was elected to represent the riding of Thunder Bay—Rainy River 2015 federal election, defeating incumbent MP John Rafferty. He was the only First Nation MP elected in the province of Ontario.
In September 2017, Rusnak was appointed as parliamentary secretary to the
Minister of Indigenous Services
The minister of Indigenous services (french: ministre des services aux autochtones) is a minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada, Canadian Cabinet. The minister is Responsible government, responsible for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), ...
. He stepped down from this role in August 2018, citing family concerns.
In November 2018, Rusnak was acclaimed as the Liberal candidate to run in the 2019 federal election. However, he later decided not to run for re-election.
Political roles
*Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs
*Standing Joint Committee of the Library of Parliament
*Chair of the Indigenous Caucus
*Director-at-Large Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group