Garnett Genuis

Contents

Garnett Genuis MP /dʒɛnɪs/ (born January 23, 1987) is a Canadian politician who has served as the member of Parliament for the riding of Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan (in Alberta) since 2015,[1] and as the Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment since May 2025.[2]

Early life

Genuis was born in 1987[3] and grew up in Strathcona County, before moving to attend Carleton University in Ottawa where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Public Affairs and Policy Management in February 2010. While studying at Carleton University, he wrote a regular column for the Sherwood Park News as a political correspondent. Genuis subsequently worked as an assistant to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and adviser on the staff of former minister Rona Ambrose. Genuis obtained a master's degree in public policy from the London School of Economics in December 2011.[4]

Political career

Genuis ran in the 2012 Alberta general election as the Wildrose MLA candidate for Sherwood Park. He lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Cathy Olesen.[5]

In March 2014, Genuis announced his intention to seek the Conservative nomination for the 2015 Canadian federal election in the newly formed riding of Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. He won the nomination in November 2014.[4] Genuis won the federal election on October 19, 2015, capturing 64% of the votes in the riding,[6] becoming its member of Parliament. The Conservative government of the day lost the election to the Liberals.

In November 2015, Genuis was appointed deputy critic for Human Rights and Religious Freedom. He served under head critic David Anderson.[7]

In March 2016, Genuis was named one of the most outspoken MPs in the House of Commons by Maclean's Magazine.[8] In November 2017, Genuis was named Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year, based on a vote by members of the House of Commons. Genuis was the youngest recipient to date of the award.[9]

In May 2019, Genuis supported Conservative leader Andrew Scheer's vision for a foreign policy where "Canada can play an important leadership role as part of a partnership of free democracies."[10]

Genuis was re-elected to the 43rd Canadian Parliament on October 21, 2019, with 73.4% of the popular vote. His party, however, only won 121 of 338 seats, so he remained as part of the opposition.[1] In 2019, he was given the role as Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism by then leader of the Conservative Party Andrew Scheer.[11]

Genuis was a member of the House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations.[12] He has voiced concerns over Huawei's influence on Canadian campuses.[13] Genuis was against the appointment of Dominic Barton as Canada's ambassador to China, suggesting that Barton's past work advising more than 20 Chinese state-owned enterprises put him in a conflict of interest.[12] In September 2020, Genuis was appointed as the shadow minister for international development and human rights by the Conservative Party of Canada's leader Erin O'Toole.[14]

Genuis was re-elected to the 44th Canadian Parliament in the 2021 Canadian federal election with 57.5% of the popular vote in his constituency, despite experiencing a 16% decline in support compared to the 2019 general election. Following the election, Genuis was vocally supportive of Erin O'Toole's leadership of the party after the latter faced criticism for failing to increase the party's seat count from 2019.

Garnett Genuis was previously a committee member of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development & the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.[15]

In September 2024, during question period, when Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau if he visited Consul General Tom Clark at the new residence when he was attending the United Nations General Assembly session, Genius replied to Trudeau's response by saying "Does he engage with them in the bathtub?". Trudeau argued that Genius's comment was homophobic, while Genius denied that he intended a sexual connotation.[16] House Speaker Greg Fergus ruled that he took Genuis "at his word," and that Genuis' comment had no homophobic intent. Fergus nonetheless asked the MP to withdraw his comment because it "provoked disorder". Genuis went on to withdraw his comment "in deference to the authority of the chair".[17]

He was re-elected in the 2025 Canadian federal electionwith 66.3% of the popular vote. After that, Genuis was appointed as the shadow minister for employment by the Conservative Party of Canada’s new leader Pierre Poilievre.[2] Genuis is currently a committee member of the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.[15]

In February 2026, Garnett asked federal departments and agencies, as well as the military, if any of their employees are now, or have ever been, members of protest movements that stands in opposition to fascist and far-right ideologies.[18] His question focused on the decentralized protest movement known as "antifa". Due to the tense political relations between the United States and Canada during this time as well as the controversial listing of antifa as a domestic terrorist organization by the Trump administration,[19] Garnett Genuis's question can be interpreted as intent to seek out opposition to the Trump administration within Canadian institutions.

Policies

Bystander awareness

On April 5, 2022 Genuis put forth motion M-57 to support the development of bystander awareness and intervention training to combat sexual harassment and violence, hate crimes & other forms of criminal activity.[20]

Human rights advocacy

Genuis has been outspoken about various topics related to human rights in China. He has been a strong supporter of the Tibet cause. In January 2016, Genuis met with the Dalai Lama to discuss human rights and religious freedom.[21]

In June 2022, Genuis, along with Senator Leo Housakos, hosted a press conference with Enes Kanter Freedom calling on the Canadian government to stop the importation of products made with forced labour coming from the Xinjiang Region.[22]

Genuis supported Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs). This bill aims to protect people from the exploitative practices of organ harvesting.[23][24]

In April 2022, Genuis introduced private member motion M-57. This called on the Canadian government to support bystander intervention training as a tool to combat sexual harassment and violence, hate crimes, and other forms of criminal activity.[20]

Genuis jointly seconded the private member's bill C-281, known as the International Human Rights Act, sponsored by Philip Lawrence. This Bill contains several different important measures aimed at advancing international human rights, including changes to the Magnitsky Act, the Broadcasting Act, and the Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act.[25][26]

Democratic advocacy

Genuis spoke about democratic decline in Canada in the House of Commons, citing the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Stockholm.[27]

Charities

Genuis has been a vocal advocate for Bill S-216 – An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (use of resources of a registered charity).[28] S-216 also known as the Effective Charities Act, seeks to amend the Income Tax Act to ensure that charities can effectively collaborate with a wider range of charities (both domestic and international) including those without charitable status.[29]

Energy security

Genuis has been an outspoken supporter of promoting energy security in the West using Canadian oil and gas, especially since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.[30]

Abortion

Genuis has been identified by the Campaign Life Coalition as having a perfect voting score for Life and family issues introduced to the House of Commons.[31] Contributors to the Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan Conservative Riding Association sponsored anti-abortion ads that appeared on buses in Vancouver, BC.[32]

Genuis voted in support of Bill C-233 - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion), to combat sex-based discrimination, making it a criminal offence for a medical practitioner to knowingly perform an abortion sought solely on the grounds of the child's genetic sex.[33][34]

Conversion therapy

On June 22, 2021, Genuis was one of 63 MPs to vote against Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), which was passed by majority vote, making certain aspects of conversion therapy a crime, including "causing a child to undergo conversion therapy." Genuis stated he thinks banning conversion therapy is reasonable, but Bill C-6 was too broad in scope, and therefore did more than ban conversion therapy. Genuis consequently called on the Canadian government to fix the definition of "Conversion Therapy" in Bill C-6 by doing many things, one of which would be to ensure that no laws discriminate against Canadians by limiting what services they can receive based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.[35][36][37][38]

Residential schooling

Genuis believes in the philosophical principle of the separation of church and state.[39] This is partly why he voted against a request for papal apology for the Catholic Church's role in residential schools.[40] The motion was put forward in reaction to the discovery of 215 unmarked graves of children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, and was a reiteration of the same motion tabled in May 2018.[40][41]

Personal life

Genuis is a Roman Catholic. He is married to Dr. Rebecca Genuis and together, they have six children.[42] At the time of the 2025 Canadian federal election, he lived in Ardrossan, Alberta.[43]

Electoral record

Federal

v; t; e2025 Canadian federal election: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGarnett Genuis54,13166.32+8.77$67,911.50
LiberalTanya Holm22,17827.17+14.94$27,327.98
New DemocraticChris Jones4,1365.07–15.57$12,811.92
People'sJay Sobel4970.61–6.40none listed
GreenRandall Emmons4480.55–0.43none listed
Canadian FutureMark Horseman2370.29–$295.37
Total valid votes/expense limit81,62799.63–$148,372.54
Total rejected ballots3010.37–0.05
Turnout81,92877.98+4.52
Eligible voters105,059
Conservative notional holdSwing+12.17
Source: Elections Canada[44][45]
v; t; e2021 Canadian federal election: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGarnett Genuis41,09257.55–15.82$54,552.91
New DemocraticAidan Bradley Theroux14,74020.65+8.51$7,370.63
LiberalTanya Holm8,73012.23+2.16$23,831.90
People'sJohn Wetterstrand5,0047.01+5.18$8,937.40
MaverickTodd Newberry8491.19–$5,182.19
GreenSheldon Jonah Perris7000.98–1.20none listed
IndependentCharles Simpson2830.40–$7,678.37
Total valid votes/expense limit71,39899.58–$124,070.52
Total rejected ballots2980.42–0.02
Turnout71,69673.46–2.83
Eligible voters97,600
Conservative holdSwing–12.16
Source: Elections Canada[46][47]
v; t; e2019 Canadian federal election: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGarnett Genuis53,60073.37+9.43$56,462.67
New DemocraticAidan Bradley Theroux8,86712.14+2.33$8,662.98
LiberalRon Thiering7,35710.07–10.35$9,484.96
GreenLaura Elizabeth Sanderson1,5922.18–0.29none listed
People'sDarren Villetard1,3341.83–$1,638.00
Veterans CoalitionPatrick McElrea3000.41–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit73,05099.56–$119,505.94
Total rejected ballots3210.44+0.17
Turnout73,37176.29+2.23
Eligible voters96,171
Conservative holdSwing+3.55
Source: Elections Canada[48][49]
v; t; e2015 Canadian federal election: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeGarnett Genuis42,64263.94+14.48$137,300.11
LiberalRod Frank13,61520.42+13.95$23,559.35
New DemocraticJoanne Cave6,5409.81–1.42$15,414.43
GreenBrandie Harrop1,6482.47–1.59$3,796.57
IndependentJames Ford1,5632.34–26.44$5,420.41
LibertarianStephen C. Burry6781.02–$2,387.73
Total valid votes/expense limit66,68699.73–$228,934.10
Total rejected ballots1800.27–
Turnout66,86674.06–
Eligible voters90,289
Conservative holdSwing+0.27
Source: Elections Canada[50][51]

Provincial

v; t; e2012 Alberta general election: Sherwood Park
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive ConservativeCathy Olesen8,74745.62−17.52
WildroseGarnett Genuis5,94831.02
LiberalDave Anderson1,8379.58−16.48
New DemocraticSarah Michelin1,2106.31+0.18
IndependentJames Ford1,0645.55
Alberta PartyChris Kuchmak2301.20
Social CreditGordon Barrett1370.71
Total valid votes19,173
Rejected, spoiled, and declined184
Registered electors / turnout30,85162.74+15.06
Progressive Conservative holdSwing−24.27
Source(s) Elections Alberta. "Electoral Division Results: Sherwood Park". Retrieved July 9, 2012.

References

  1. 1.[1.2]Moray, Lindsay (October 22, 2019). "Genuis granted second term". Sherwood Park News. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  2. 2.[2.2]McDermott, Vincent. "MP Genuis appointed as employment shadow minister, blames Liberal policies, Bills C-69 and C-38, for killing jobs". www.sherwoodparknews.com. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  3. 3."PARLINFO - Parliamentarian File - Contact Information - GENUIS, Garnett". Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  4. 4.[4.2]"Our Candidate". Garnett Genuis. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  5. 5."Wildrose candidate Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Par..." Sherwood Park News. Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  6. 6.nurun.com. "Conservative Garnett Genuis wins local riding". Fort Saskatchewan Record. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  7. 7.nurun.com. "Local MP Genuis named deputy critic". Fort Saskatchewan Record. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  8. 8."Figures of Speech". Macleans.ca. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  9. 9.Wells, Paul (November 7, 2017). "Garnett Genuis: The 2017 Parliamentarian of the Year - Macleans.ca". Macleans.ca. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  10. 10.Genuis, Garnett (May 17, 2019). "A new vision for Canada's foreign policy". Sherwood Park News. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved Nov 2, 2025.
  11. 11.Dosser, Travis. "Genuis selected as Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism". The Sherwood Park Strathcona County News.
  12. 12.[12.2]Tumilty, Ryan (6 February 2020). "Canada's ambassador to China tells House committee there is a 'real chill' between the two countries". Regina Leader Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
  13. 13.Genuis, Garret (25 February 2020). "China's reach on campus". Postmedia Network Inc. Toronto Sun.
  14. 14.Stolz, Hannah. "Genuis focusing on human rights in new position on shadow cabinet". FortSaskOnline.com. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  15. 15.[15.2]House of Commons. "Garnett Genuis - Member of Parliament - House of Commons". Our Commons. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  16. 16.Mallees, Nojoud Al (2024-09-26). "'I wasn't thinking about sex,' Conservative MP says after being accused of homophobia". CP24. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-27.
  17. 17.Major, Darren. "Conservative MP withdraws 'bathtub' comment at Speaker's request". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2025-09-22.
  18. 18."Conservative MP searches for 'antifa' in federal government, Canadian Armed Forces - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  19. 19."Trump issues promised 'terrorist organization' designation for antifa". POLITICO. 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2026-02-27.
  20. 20.[20.2]House of Commons (2022-04-05). "M-57 Bystander awareness and intervention training". www.ourcommons.ca.
  21. 21.Thomas, David (2016-01-18). "Canadian MP Garnett Genius meets His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet". Tibet post International. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  22. 22.CBC (July 1, 2022). "NBA player calls out Trudeau for Canada's inaction on Uighur 'genocide'". CBC. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  23. 23.Open Parliament (May 17, 2022). "Bill S-223 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs)". OpenParliament. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  24. 24.Parliament of Canada (December 9, 2021). "An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs)". Parl. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  25. 25.Brad Vis, MP (June 13, 2022). "Conservative MP tables Private Member's Bill to address international human rights". Parl. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  26. 26.House of Commons (June 13, 2022). "International Human Rights Act". Parl. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  27. 27."Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  28. 28."Effective and Accountable Charities Act". openparliament.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  29. 29."BILL S-216". parl.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
  30. 30."Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, CPC)". www.ourcommons.ca. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  31. 31."MP Garnett Genuis CLC rating: Pro-life". Campaign Life Coalition. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  32. 32.Climenhaga, David (November 2, 2020). "Alberta MP accused of sponsoring anti-abortion messaging in Vancouver bus ads". Canadian Politics. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  33. 33.House of Commons (June 2, 2021). "2nd reading of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex-selective abortion)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  34. 34.House of Commons (February 26, 2020). "Private Member's Bill C-233 (43-1) - Sex-selective Abortion Act". Parl. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  35. 35.House of Commons (June 22, 2021). "3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy)". LEGISinfo. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  36. 36.PressProgress (June 23, 2021). "Conservative MP Who Opposed Conversion Therapy Bill Spoke at Conference Organized By European Far-Right, Anti-LGBTQ Groups". PressProgress. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  37. 37.FortSaskOnline (July 3, 2021). "MP Garnett Genuis explains why he voted against bill outlawing conversion therapy". FortSaskOnline. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  38. 38.Garnett Genuis MP. "Fix The Definition". GarnettGenuis. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  39. 39."Canadian Multiculturalism Act". Open Parliament, June 7, 2021.
  40. 40.[40.2]Hamilton, Jennifer (June 18, 2021). "Genuis votes against Papal apology and anti-conversion therapy legislation". The Record. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  41. 41.Morey, Lindsay (June 11, 2021). "Genuis blocks Papal apology again". The Sherwood Park Strathcona County News. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  42. 42.Garnett Genuis. "Meet Garnett". Garnett Genuis MP. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  43. 43."forty-fifth general election 2025".
  44. 44."Forty-Fifth General Election 2025 — Poll-by-poll Results: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2025.
  45. 45.Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2025). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2025 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  46. 46."Forty-Fourth General Election 2021 — Poll-by-poll Results: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2021.
  47. 47.Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2021). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2021 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  48. 48."Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll Results: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2019.
  49. 49.Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2019). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2019 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  50. 50."Forty-Second General Election 2015 — Poll-by-poll Results: Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2015.
  51. 51.Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2015). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2015 General Election: Part 4 – Campaign Financial Summary – Total election expenses subject to the limit". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".