| Office | Minister of Veterans Affairs |
|---|---|
| Prime minister | Mark Carney |
| Term start | May 13, 2025 |
| Predecessor | Élisabeth Brière |
| Office 1 | Associate Minister of National Defence |
| Prime minister 1 | Mark Carney |
| Term start 1 | May 13, 2025 |
| Predecessor 1 | Darren Fisher |
| Office 2 | Member of Parliament for Delta |
| Term start 2 | April 28, 2025 |
| Predecessor 2 | Carla Qualtrough |
| Party | Liberal |
| Website | jillmcknight.liberal.ca |
| Education | University of Victoria |
| Profession | Executive director, Business owner, politician |
| Spouse | Stephen Smith |
| Birth place | Delta, British Columbia, Canada |
| Honorific prefix | The Honourable |
Jill McKnight is a Canadian politician who has been Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence since 2025. A member of the Liberal Party, McKnight was elected as the member of Parliament (MP) for Delta in the 2025 Canadian federal election.[1]
Early life
Jill McKnight was born and raised in Delta, British Columbia, by her parents, Tracey and Bill McKnight. She graduated from South Delta Secondary School and later earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Business from the University of Victoria.
McKnight is married to her husband Stephen Smith and they live in Ladner.
Career
McKnight has been involved in family businesses in Delta. For 28 years, she and her family operated South Coast Casuals in Ladner, a ladies clothing boutique. She was also involved with the Ladner Village Market for more than 20 years, bringing together the local producers and makers with customers from all over the Lower Mainland and B.C.[2]
Prior to entering federal politics, McKnight was the Executive Director of the Delta Chamber of Commerce.[3] She was appointed to this role following her years of volunteering with the Ladner Business Association, including five years as the President.
In addition to her business work, McKnight has been part of several community initiatives. Her fundraising activities have helped raise over $250K for various community causes, including the Ladner Business Association, the Delta Hospital Foundation, the BC Cancer Foundation, and Dress for Success.[4]
Political career
On May 13, 2025, McKnight was named Minister of Veteran Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence in the 30th Canadian Ministry, headed by Mark Carney. In January 2026, almost half of members of the Women Veterans Council, created to implement the results of the 2024 'Invisible No More' report, resigned, citing a lack of "institutional conditions needed to enable meaningful, impactful work."[5][6]
Awards
- Delta Volunteer of the Year: Delta Chamber 2019[7]
- Queen's Jubilee Award: Exemplary Community Service 2022[8]
- King Charles III Coronation Medal: Community Leadership 2024[9]
References
- ^ "Jill McKnight will be Delta's next Liberal MP". 29 April 2025. Archived 2025-04-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ "Jill McKnight". jillmcknight.liberal.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ "Delta Chamber Appoints Jill McKnight as Incoming Executive Director". Delta Chamber of Commerce - BC. 2021-08-18. Archived 2025-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
- ^ "Get to know Jill McKnight, Liberal candidate for Delta MP". North Delta Reporter. 2025-04-14. Archived 2025-05-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
- ^ Patil, Anjuli (28 January 2026). "5 CAF members quit Women Veterans Council, citing lack of 'real outcomes'". CBC News. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-nearly-half-of-members-of-women-veterans-council-quit/
- ^ "Business Excellence Awards". Delta Chamber of Commerce - BC. Archived 2025-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
- ^ "Exemplary service to community recognized by Delta MP". Delta Optimist. 2022-12-08. Archived 2022-12-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-05-12.
- ^ "Community leaders honoured with King Charles III Coronation Medals". Delta Optimist. 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2025-05-12.