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Mélanie Joly

Mélanie Joly is a Canadian lawyer and Liberal politician from Montreal.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Mélanie Joly is a Canadian lawyer and Liberal politician from Montreal. She has been the Member of Parliament for Ahuntsic-Cartierville since 2015 and has held several federal cabinet portfolios, including minister of foreign affairs and, since 2025, minister of industry.

Early life and education

Joly was born in Montreal and studied law at the Université de Montréal before earning a graduate degree in European and comparative law from the University of Oxford.

Early career and municipal politics

Before entering federal politics, she practised law and worked in public affairs. She also founded Vrai changement pour Montréal and was a candidate in the 2013 Montreal mayoral election.

Federal political career

Joly was elected as MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville in 2015 and has remained in that seat since. She has held several senior cabinet portfolios in successive federal governments.

Ministerial roles

Her cabinet roles have included Canadian Heritage, Tourism/Official Languages/La Francophonie, Economic Development, Foreign Affairs, and Industry. In 2025, she was also named responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions.

Key facts

  • First elected to the House of Commons in the 2015 federal election.
  • Has represented Ahuntsic-Cartierville since 2015.
  • Served as minister of Canadian heritage, minister of tourism, official languages and La Francophonie, minister of economic development, and minister of foreign affairs.
  • Was appointed minister of industry in 2025.
  • Before federal politics, she founded the municipal party Vrai changement pour Montréal and ran for mayor of Montreal in 2013.
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Canadian context

Joly is a prominent Canadian cabinet minister from Quebec whose roles have included foreign affairs, official languages, industry, and economic development, making her a significant figure in federal politics and Canada-Quebec relations.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Mélanie Joly?
Mélanie Joly is a Canadian lawyer and Liberal politician who has been an MP for Ahuntsic-Cartierville since 2015 and has held several federal cabinet portfolios.
What riding does she represent?
She represents Ahuntsic-Cartierville in Montreal.
What positions has she held in cabinet?
She has served as minister of Canadian heritage, minister of tourism, official languages and La Francophonie, minister of economic development, minister of foreign affairs, and minister of industry.
What is her educational background?
She studied law at the Université de Montréal and completed a graduate degree in European and comparative law at the University of Oxford.
Did Mélanie Joly run for mayor of Montreal?
Yes. She ran for mayor of Montreal in 2013 under the banner of Vrai changement pour Montréal.

References

  1. Government of Canada — https://www.canada.ca/en/government/ministers/melanie-joly.html
    Supports: Current ministerial title, MP riding, federal election in 2015, cabinet roles, education, and pre-federal municipal background.
  2. Government of Canada — https://www.canada.ca/fr/gouvernement/ministres/melanie-joly.html
    Supports: French-language confirmation of current ministerial title, MP riding, cabinet roles, education, and municipal political background.
  3. CORIM — https://www.corim.qc.ca/fr/biographie/1192/Melanie_Joly
    Supports: Education, early career in law, election history, and cabinet chronology.
  4. House of Commons of Canada — https://www.noscommunes.ca/members/fr/melanie-joly(88384)
    Supports: MP status, riding representation, and current ministerial designation.