Arif Virani MP for Parkdale-High Park

After a rewarding fourteen-year legal career advocating for human rights and access to justice as a constitutional litigator, former Ugandan Asian refugee Arif Virani, is now ready to serve the community and the country he calls home as a Member of Parliament. Arif has an Honours B.A. in History and Political Science from McGill University, and completed his LL.B at the University of Toronto. He has worked as an Analyst with the Canadian Human Rights Commission in Ottawa; an Investigator at la Commission des droits de la personne et droits de la jeunesse in Montreal; and as an Assistant Trial Attorney prosecuting genocide at the United Nation’s International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

Arif is a founder of Toronto’s legal aid clinic SALCO, the recipient of the prestigious 2001 Harold G. Fox Scholarship and the 2008 Wilson-Prichard Award in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and his community. Arif lives and volunteers in Parkdale – High Park; he is a member of the Redwood Shelter for abused women, regularly helps at the Parkdale Food Bank, is an active volunteer with Roncyworks and has led community efforts to address mental health stigma.

Arif Virani was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Parkdale—High Park in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and 2021. Arif was appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, and has served in this role since December 2021.

He was appointed as the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada in July 2023.