Diane Finley

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Hon. Diane Finley

Member of Parliament
for Flag of Ontario Haldimand—Norfolk
Incumbent
Assumed office 
2004 Federal Election
Preceded by Bob Speller

Born October 3, 1957 (1957-10-03) (age 50)
Hamilton, Ontario
Political party CPC
Spouse Doug Finley
Residence Simcoe
Profession Businesswoman, executive, management consultant, school administrator
Cabinet Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Diane Finley PC, MP (born October 3, 1957 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian politician. She serves as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in the cabinet of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She is a current member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk for the Conservative Party.

Finley was raised in Port Dover and Charlotteville, and has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario. After graduation, she became the administrator of Western's French Immersion School. She then worked in a series of private and public sector jobs, in a variety of fields. She was named "one of Canada's future leaders" by the Governor-General’s Study Conference 2000.

Finley has promoted increased private-sector involvement in health services. She was the founder of Canada's largest private-sector ambulance service, Canadian Medical Response, and has chaired the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

Long active in conservative politics, Finley first ran for public office herself in the federal election of 2004. She defeated Bob Speller, a Liberal cabinet minister, by 1,645 votes. After being re-elected in the federal election of 2006, she was appointed to the cabinet as Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. An order in council transferred authority for Social Development Canada to her as well, and accordingly she served under the style Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.

Shortly after the 39th Parliament convened, Finley announced to the House that she had been diagnosed with Graves' disease, a non-life-threatening thyroid condition which causes an increase in metabolism and sensitivity to heat, cold and bright lights. Because of the bright lighting in the House of Commons, Finley must wear tinted glasses to protect her eyes.

She was shuffled from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to Citizenship and Immigration Canada on January 4th, 2007 by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Finley will be a Conservative Party of Canada candidate for Haldimand—Norfolk in the 40th Canadian federal election.

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28th Ministry - Government of Stephen Harper
Cabinet Posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Monte Solberg Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
(2007-)
incumbent
Belinda Stronach Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
(2006-2007)
styled as
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development
Monte Solberg
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by
Electoral district created in 2003. See Erie—Lincoln and Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant
Member of Parliament for Haldimand—Norfolk
2004-present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Languages