Toronto MP Ahmed Hussen 1st Somali-Canadian appointed to federal cabinet

He was the first Somali-Canadian to become a federal Member of Parliament, andnow many in theGTA's Somali community are celebrating asYork South-Weston Liberal MP Ahmed Hussen has broken another barrier: he's been appointed as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

"It's a really great thing to happen to our community," said Mahad Yusef, the executive director of the Somali Immigrant Aid Association. "It's something that we really needed, not just for the Somali community, but for the whole black community."

Hussen's appointment was announced Tuesday in Ottawaby Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as part of an extensive cabinet shuffle. He replaces John McCallum, the veteran MP representing Markham-Thornhill, who will become Canada's ambassador to China.

Hussen, 41,knows the challenging path to citizenship first-hand;he came to Canada as a 16-year-oldrefugee from Somalia in 1993.

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"Each of us coming into public life are informed ... by the different experiences they bring to the table."Hussentold reporters in Ottawa Tuesday.

"I'm no different in that sense. I'll bring my experience as an immigrant to Canada but also as an immigration lawyer someone who workedmany, many years before running for office as a community activist, a community organizer and a community advocate."

When asked Tuesday if the idea of immigration and taking in refugees is somethingthat needs defending these days in light of the election of Donald Trump in the U.S. and theBrexitvote in Britain,Hussensaid Canada is showing the way when it comes to welcomingimmigrants.

"I'm extremely proud of the fact that Canadians have always been welcoming to others, people who've sought asylum and ... we've been the better for it. The story of Canada is the story of immigration."

Mahad Yusef agrees that Hussen'sroots in the city's Somali community will be useful in his ministerial duties.

"Ahmed will share his knowledge and expertise and his lived experience.He understands the challenges. He understands the opportunities and he's been, for many years, advocatingfor immigration issues," said Yusef, who has known Hussensince he settled in Canada. "My feeling is our community is honoured that we have representation in cabinet."

Before jumping into politics Hussenwas a lawyer, political activist and the national president of the Canadian Somali Congress.

He was also appointed by former prime minister Steven Harper to the Cross Cultural Roundtable on Security a post he held until2012. The roundtablewas established to create a dialogue between Canadians and the federal government on matters related to national security and the federal government. The roundtable reported to the minister responsible for crafting Bill C-51, the controversial anti-terrorism bill.

That concerns Hawa Mire, a Somali community organizer who lives in Hussen's riding. She's worriedthat Hussenwas involved in creating legislationor policies that negatively impact Somalis in Canada.

"We're also talking about how this particular person, who we're holding up as a representation of our community, has also been engaged in programs and practices that are deeply destructive to the most vulnerable in our community," she told CBC Toronto.

A former University of Ottawa law school colleague said Hussen has been a role model to Somali youth. BillehHamud said when he was setting up his own labour, employment and human rights law practice, Hussenwas there to give advice and guidance.

"He's a Canadian. He represents everyone, so he just happens to be Somali," said Hamud. "He just has to be himself, just maintain the hard workhe's been doing for a long time."