The Honourable Bill Blair was elected as the Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest in 2015. He has previously served as President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness, as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and as Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.

Before entering politics, Minister Blair served the people of Toronto for over 39 years, starting as a beat officer in downtown Toronto and continuing with assignments in drug enforcement, organized crime units, and major criminal investigations. In 2005, he was named Chief of the Toronto Police Service, overseeing the largest municipal police service in Canada, and one of the largest in North America. In this role, he oversaw important efforts to combat violent crime, while supporting local policing initiatives. He also served as President of both the Ontario and Canadian Associations of Chiefs of Police.

In recognition of his contributions to the policing profession, Minister Blair was named an Officer then a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces. He is the proud recipient of the 2011 Beth Sholom Brotherhood Humanitarian Award, a member of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and was honoured in 2013 by the Canadian Tamil Congress for his leadership and tremendous service to the people of Toronto.

Minister Blair holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Criminology as well as a Certificate in Law Enforcement Administration from the University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, the Police Leadership Program from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and the National Executive Institute.