Jill McKnight (born May 31, 1979) is a Canadian politician and former business owner who operated two local businesses and served as Executive Director of the Delta Chamber of Commerce. A member of the

Liberal Party of Canada The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC; , ) is a federal political party in Canada. The party espouses the principles of liberalism,McCall, Christina; Stephen Clarkson"Liberal Party". ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''. and generally sits at the Centrism, ...

, McKnight was elected Member of Parliament for the riding of

Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...

in the

2025 Canadian federal election The 2025 Canadian federal election was held on April 28, 2025, to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons to the 45th Canadian Parliament. Governor General Mary Simon issued the writs of election on March 23, 2025, afte ...

Early life

Jill McKnight was born on May 31, 1979, and raised in Delta, British Columbia, by her parents, Tracey and Bill McKnight. She graduated from South Delta Secondary School and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Business from the University of Victoria. McKnight is married to her husband Stephen Smith and they live in Ladner.

Career

A lifelong entrepreneur, McKnight grew up in family businesses. For 28 years, Jill and her family were the owners of South Coast Casuals in Ladner, a ladies clothing boutique. For over 20 years, she worked with the Ladner Village Market, bringing together the local producers and makers with customers from all over the Lower Mainland and B.C.. These experiences provided her with invaluable lessons in listening to people, building relationships, and understanding the challenges of entrepreneurship. Prior to entering federal politics, McKnight was the Executive Director of the Delta Chamber of Commerce where she advocated for local businesses and residents. She was appointed to this role following her years of volunteering with the Ladner Business Association, including five years as the President, reflecting her strong ties to the local business community. She has also been a dedicated community volunteer and advocate, supporting local businesses, organizing large community events, and facilitating collaborative relationships to strength the community. Her fundraising activities have helped raise over $250K for various community causes, including the Ladner Business Association, the Delta Hospital Foundation, the BC Cancer Foundation, and Dress for Success. In recognition of her outstanding service, McKnight has received several honours, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Queen’s Jubilee Award, and Delta’s 2019 Volunteer of the Year Award.

Political career

On May 13, 2025, McKnight was named Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence in the

30th Canadian Ministry The Thirtieth Canadian Ministry is the Cabinet of Canada, cabinet chaired by Mark Carney, Prime Minister Mark Carney, and which has governed Canada since Justin Trudeau vacated the office. Following the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership e ...

, headed by

Mark Carney Mark Joseph Carney (born March 16, 1965) is a Canadian politician and economist who has served as the 24th and current Prime Minister of Canada, prime minister of Canada since 2025. He has served as Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, lead ...

Awards

* Delta Volunteer of the Year: Delta Chamber 2019 * Queen's Jubilee Award: Exemplary Community Service 2022 * King Charles III Coronation Medal: Community Leadership 2024

Electoral record

References

Members of the 30th Canadian Ministry Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada Women government ministers of Canada Living people Liberal Party of Canada MPs 21st-century Canadian women politicians Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia Women members of the House of Commons of Canada People from Delta, British Columbia University of Victoria alumni {{BritishColumbia-MP-stub