Soraya Martinez Ferrada

Soraya Marisel Martínez Ferrada (born August 28, 1972) is a Chilean-Canadian Liberal politician who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal riding Hochelaga during the 2019 Canadian federal election. She has served as Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec since 2023.

Early life
Martínez Ferrada was born on 28 August 1972 in Santiago de Chile, Santiago (historical province), Chile, to Omar Martínez Prieto and Maritza Inés Ferrada Videla.

Career
Prior to her election in the House of Commons, she served as a city councillor for the Montreal City Council in the municipal electoral district of Saint-Michel as a member first of Union Montréal (2005 to 2007) and then of Vision Montreal from 2007 to 2009, when she lost to Union Montreal candidate (now Quebec Liberal Party MNA for Viau), Frantz Benjamin.

She worked as a Parliament Hill staffer. She gained her seat from the New Democratic Party, by a tight margin over the Bloc Québécois.

After her election to Parliament, Martínez Ferrada was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marco Mendicino. In 2023, she was appointed Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

Personal life
Martínez Ferrada moved to Canada in 1980, and lived in the East End of Montreal.

Election
When Martinez Ferrada was first elected in 2019, it was the first time the riding had been won by a Liberal since Jean-Claude Malépart had won it in 1988. The riding had been held by the New Democrat Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet since 2011, but Catheryn Roy-Goyette, representing the NDP, failed in 2019 and 2021 to retain the seat for that party.