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Engineer and entrepreneur Sima Acan has made history by becoming the first member of Parliament in Canada of Turkish descent. Representing the Liberal Party, Acan won the Oakville West riding with 52.64% of the vote, defeating her Conservative rival, Tim Crowder.
Born in Ankara, Acan graduated from Isik University in 2003 and has lived in Canada since 2007. She is a mother of two and owns a local robotics company, working in engineering and innovation.
Alongside her professional achievements, she has been active in community service, serving as president of the Oakville Lions Club and volunteering with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and various school associations.
Acan is also the former president of the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations and is a well-known figure within Canada’s growing Turkish community.
I did not enter politics because of my ethnicity, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be distant from the Turkish community. At last, there will be someone in Parliament who understands our language and our concerns.
Sima Acan
The Liberal Party, now led by Mark Carney, won the general election with 43.5% of the vote, securing 168 of 343 seats in Parliament—just shy of the 172 needed for a majority.
The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, came in second with 144 seats and 41.4% of the vote. The Bloc Quebecois followed with 23 seats and 6.4% of the vote.
In his victory speech, Carney addressed recent comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had suggested Canada could become America’s "51st state."
We’ve moved past the shock of America’s betrayal, but we must never forget the lessons. As I’ve warned for months, the U.S. wants our land, our resources, our water — our country. These are not empty threats. Canadians must realize that we have alternatives beyond the United States. This is Canada, and it is Canadians who will decide our future.
Mark Carney
Carney, 60, took over party leadership from Justin Trudeau earlier this year. Discussions to form a functioning government are expected to begin in the coming days.
Canada’s Turkish population has grown steadily in recent years, with estimates putting the number at around 100,000. The community is concentrated mainly in large cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton.
As a newly elected MP, Acan has expressed her intent to focus on immigration policy, educational support for youth, and the promotion of investment in technology and innovation.
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