Biography
Peter Van Loan — house leader with roots in the USSR
Peter Van Loan is a Canadian Conservative politician who served as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons under Stephen Harper (2011-2015) and as Minister of International Trade and Minister of Public Safety. He represents the York-Simcoe riding in Ontario.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Estonia / Russia
His family traces roots to Estonia and Russia (then Russian Empire) — part of the Baltic and Eastern European emigration to Canada. Van Loan has acknowledged his Eastern European heritage as part of his family's Canadian story.
His grandfather was an Estonian who fled the Soviet occupation.
Family Tree
Subject
Peter Van Loan🇨🇦 Canada
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Origin
Estonia / Russia🇷🇺 USSR
Historical context
Soviet Union (USSR) · 1922–1991
Estonia / Russia. At the time, this region was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2011-2015)
02
Minister of International Trade (2008-2011)
03
Minister of Public Safety (2007-2008)
04
Conservative MP for York-Simcoe (2004-2015)
05
Key figure in Harper government's trade policy
Sources