Lisa Raitt
A pragmatic Conservative Cabinet minister who steered Canada's transport and energy portfolios through periods of major economic and environmental debate.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Former Canadian politician·Birthday: May 7·Generation X
Biography
Lisa Raitt brought a sharp, non-ideological competence to Canadian federal politics. Born in 1968, she first built a career outside politics, earning a law degree and working as a port authority executive. Elected as a Conservative MP in 2008, she was immediately thrust into Cabinet by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As Minister of Natural Resources, she navigated the contentious debates around pipeline development and energy exports. Later, as Transport Minister, she oversaw a vast portfolio including rail safety and aviation security, facing challenges like the 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail disaster. Known for her direct style and policy depth, Raitt was seen as a steady hand and a potential leadership contender. After the Conservative defeat in 2015, she served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, providing a voice of economic pragmatism until her retirement from politics in 2019.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Lisa was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lisa Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Lisa's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a federal Cabinet minister in three high-profile portfolios: Natural Resources, Labour, and Transport.
- Played a key role in shaping Canada's energy policy and advocating for major pipeline projects as Minister of Natural Resources.
- Oversaw Canada's transportation network as Minister of Transport during a period focused on safety and infrastructure.
- Elected as the Member of Parliament for Halton for three consecutive terms from 2008 to 2019.
- Served as Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition from 2017 to 2019.
Did You Know?
Before politics, she was the President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority.
She has a background in biology and law, holding a Master's degree in Chemistry and a law degree from Osgoode Hall.
She is a breast cancer survivor and has been open about her diagnosis and treatment.
She co-hosted a podcast called 'Blue Sky' with former Liberal MP Navdeep Bains after both left politics.
“The job is to get the goods to market safely and efficiently.”
