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Ya'ara Saks

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The Honourable
Ya'ara Saks
PC
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Associate Minister of Health
In office
July 26, 2023 – March 14, 2025
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byCarolyn Bennett
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of Parliament
for York Centre
In office
October 26, 2020 – March 23, 2025
Preceded byMichael Levitt
Succeeded byRoman Baber
Personal details
Born (1973-03-09) March 9, 1973
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CitizenshipCanada, Israel[1]
PartyLiberal
McGill University, Hebrew University

Ya'ara Saks PC (Hebrew: יערה זקס; born March 9, 1973) is a Canadian politician who served as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. She was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in a by-election on October 26, 2020,[2] following the resignation of Michael Levitt, and later re-elected on September 20, 2021.[3] She represented the riding of York Centre as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada until her defeat in the 2025 Canadian federal election, the only sitting Liberal MP in Toronto defeated in that election.[4]

Early life

A dual citizen of Canada and of Israel,[1] Saks was born in Toronto to an Israeli father, and a Canadian mother. She has lived in both Israel (1995 to 2006) and Canada.[5][6] She graduated from McGill University with a BA in Middle East Studies and Political Science in 1995,[5] and then completed her Master's degree in International relations and Diplomacy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, at the same time working in Jerusalem's City Hall's foreign relations under Ehud Olmert who was mayor at the time.[5][6] Before entering politics, Saks owned a yoga studio in York Centre (in the north end of Toronto) and was the director of Trauma Practice for Healthy Communities, a charity that focuses on mental health.[6]

Political career

Saks won the 2020 York Centre federal by-election as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada.

Upon being sworn in as a member of Canada's House of Commons (along with fellow rookie parliamentarian Marci Ien) it took the number of female MPs in Canada to 100, which, at 30%, is the highest proportion of women in that chamber in its history.[7]

In December 2021 she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.[3]

In July 2023 she was appointed Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health.[8] After Mark Carney became Prime Minister, Saks was shuffled out of Cabinet.

Political views

Views on antisemitism and Israeli politics

Saks has been deeply critical of the direction of the Netanyahu government in Israel for its treatment of its Israeli Arab citizens and the 2018 Nation-State law and has expressed the concern that it is leading Israel to be "deeply racist towards its minorities and ... not to see itself as a light and shelter or future home to asylum seekers fleeing war," as well as its elevation of leadership at the expense of the justice system.[9]

Saks has stated that she is "an unapologetic Zionist who believes passionately in the State of Israel" and that she condemns the BDS Movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel), considering it antisemitic.[1]

Saks has spoken publicly and repeatedly about antisemitism and online hate, including remarks during parliamentary debate on the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests that referenced concerns raised by researchers about extremist symbolism and coded language.[10][11][12][13]

In February 2022, when speaking in the House about confirming the Emergencies Act in response to the "Freedom Convoy" protest, Saks referenced concerns about antisemitic symbolism associated with the phrase "Honk Honk" (a phrase used by convoy supporters in reference to truck horns). Saks noted that while the phrase was widely used by protestors to mimic truck horns, some observers and researchers had previously identified it as a coded slogan used by white supremicists and neo-Nazi communities as a Dog whistle (politics) for "Heil Hitler".[14] (often abbreviated "HH") She asked how much further evidence of such vitriol was necessary to address online hate and extremist content. Saks provided evidence for her claim on Twitter, citing antifascist researcher and organizer Gwen Snyder, who posted a 4chan post that promoted using the claim as a prank—similar to the site's previous hoax that the "OK" hand gesture was code for "white power".

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network, in reporting on Saks's comments and related context, noted that "Honk Honk" had been circulated in extremist online spaces prior to the convoy and that Saks's remarks highlighted concerns about subtle forms of antisemitism and hate speech in contemporary protest movements.[15]

Ministerial work and policy initiatives

As Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Ya’ara Saks advanced federal initiatives focused on mental health, substance use, family safety, and health equity. She announced $6 million in funding through the Youth Substance Use Prevention Program to support community-based prevention initiatives aimed at reducing substance-use related harms among young people.[16] Saks also announced investments under the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund, supporting projects to improve access to culturally responsive mental health services for Black communities.[17] She further announced additional federal funding to expand community mental health supports in Nova Scotia, including grief and emotional wellness services,[18] and funding for recovery and harm-reduction services in the Tłı̨chǫ region of the Northwest Territories through the Substance Use and Addictions Program.[19]

Saks supported national suicide prevention efforts, including the implementation of the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline, and the establishment of the Youth Mental Health Fund.[20] In 2025, she supported the development and federal launch of Canada's first Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety and Related Disorders, which provides evidence-based guidance for the identification and treatment of perinatal mental health conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period, accompanied by a national clinician implementation guide.[21]

Her work as Associate Minister of Health included contributions to women's health initiatives, including policy development related to breast cancer screening guidelines.[22]

Family safety and gender-based violence

In the area of family safety, Saks announced more than $17.5 million in federal funding over five years to support projects aimed at preventing family and gender-based violence across Canada."Government of Canada funds new initiatives to prevent family and gender-based violence". Women and Gender Equality Canada. She also contributed to legislative development related to Keira's Law, which addresses coercive control in intimate partner relationships.[23]

Public safety and countering hate

Saks has advocated within government for measures addressing national security and hate-motivated activity, including support for the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Samidoun as terrorist entities and for closing associated financial and corporate loopholes. She also contributed to federal policy development related to combating antisemitism, including work associated with the IHRA Handbook, which supports implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism across federal institutions.[24]

Electoral record

2025 Canadian federal election: York Centre
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeRoman Baber26,08254.82+16.97
LiberalYa'ara Saks20,30342.68–4.61
New DemocraticYusuf Ulukanligil1,1892.50–7.68
Total valid votes/expense limit
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 47,57463.63
Eligible voters 74,764
Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.79
Source: Elections Canada[25][26]
2021 Canadian federal election: York Centre
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYa'ara Saks17,43047.3+1.6$106,060.49
ConservativeJoel Yakov Etienne13,94937.8-4.0$98,838.17
New DemocraticKemal Ahmed3,75310.2+4.4$5,586.43
People'sNixon Nguyen1,7264.7+1.1$1,816.68
Total valid votes/expense limit 36,85898.6–$106,565.66
Total rejected ballots 5071.4
Turnout 37,36553.4
Eligible voters 69,971
Liberal hold Swing +2.8
Source: Elections Canada[27]
Canadian federal by-election, October 26, 2020: York Centre
Resignation of Michael Levitt
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
LiberalYa'ara Saks8,25345.70−4.50$96,612.31
ConservativeJulius Tiangson7,55241.82+5.11
New DemocraticAndrea Vásquez Jiménez1,0465.79−4.05$2,462.86
People'sMaxime Bernier6423.56–$27,917.42
GreenSasha Zavarella4612.55−0.70$463.46
IndependentJohn "The Engineer" Turmel1040.58–—
Total valid votes/expense limit 18,058100.00–$105,734.74
Total rejected ballots 1660.91−0.61
Turnout 18,22425.64−36.12
Eligible voters 70,434
Liberal hold Swing −4.81
Source:Elections Canada[28][29]

References

  1. "Statement From York Centre Liberal Candidate Ya'ara Saks". Canadian Jewish Record. 19 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  2. Muriel Draaisma, "Federal Liberals hold onto Toronto Centre, York Centre in byelections". CBC News, October 26, 2020.
  3. "Federal election 2021 live results". CBC News.
  4. "Canada election results across Toronto and the GTA". CityNews. Rogers Communications. 2025-04-29. p. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
  5. Sarner, Robert (12 January 2021). "Canada's 1st Canuck-Sabra Parliamentarian is Zionist and Proudly Pro-Palestinian". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  6. Sarick, Lila (5 October 2020). "Israeli-Canadian Ya'ara Saks is Liberal Hopeful in York Centre". Canadian Jewish Record. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  7. Paez, Beatrice (27 October 2020). "Byelection results should give Liberals 'pause' after strong showing from Greens, Conservatives, say experts". The Hill Times. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. "Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry". Prime Minister of Canada. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  9. Saks, Ya'ara (12 September 2019). "On September 17th I'm Electing to Take Israel Off the Mantel to Teach My Kids Another Way". Confessions of a Backbench Mom. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  10. "Liberal MP Ya'ara Saks was confronted with antisemitism at her daughter's graduation. This is her response". June 17, 2022.
  11. Heritage, Canadian (November 8, 2024). "Minister Saks announces the first call for proposals for the National Holocaust Remembrance Program". www.canada.ca.
  12. "Ya'ara Saks | openparliament.ca". openparliament.ca.
  13. Holt, Faygie (June 16, 2022). "Canadian MP laments anti-Israel taunts at daughter's high school graduation". JNS.
  14. "Toronto MP thinks a Freedom Convoy term is call for Hitler". Toronto Sun.
  15. on, Posted (March 1, 2022). ""Honk Honk" Was An Antisemitic Meme Long Before The Convoy Started Using It". Canadian Anti-Hate Network.
  16. "Helping communities prevent substance-use related harms among youth". Government of Canada.
  17. "Improving access to mental health services for Black Canadians". Government of Canada.
  18. "Government of Canada and Nova Scotia increase investment in community mental health supports". Government of Canada.
  19. "Improving health outcomes for communities in Northwest Territories". Government of Canada.
  20. "Suicide Crisis Helpline 988". Government of Canada.
  21. "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Perinatal Mood, Anxiety and Related Disorders". Health Canada. 2025.
  22. Canada, Public Health Agency of (June 13, 2025). "Modernizing preventive health care guideline development in Canada: A way forward". www.canada.ca.
  23. "'Keira's Law' set to educate judges on domestic violence, coercive control". Global News.
  24. "International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism". Government of Canada.
  25. "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  26. "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  27. "List of confirmed candidates – September 20, 2021 Federal Election". Elections Canada. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  28. Elections Canada. "Official Voting Results". Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  29. Elections Canada. "Final Election Expenses Limit for Candidates – York Centre (Ontario)". www.elections.ca. Retrieved February 10, 2021.