Hello and Welcome!

I’m Ryan Turnbull, your Member of Parliament for the beautiful and diverse riding of Whitby, Ontario—one of Canada’s fastest-growing communities, nestled just east of Toronto.

As a proud social entrepreneur, I’ve dedicated my life to driving positive change and finding innovative solutions to pressing social issues. Beyond politics, I’m a family man—husband to my incredible wife, Suze, and father to two amazing daughters, Lexi and Brooke, who inspire me daily.

I’m deeply passionate about creating a more inclusive, sustainable future and building an eco-friendly economy that works for everyone. I look forward to connecting with you, working together, and building a stronger Whitby.

I’ve worn many hats throughout my life—paperboy, dishwasher, steelworker, waiter, host, security guard, stock boy, cashier, stone mason, landscaper, farm laborer, youth worker, retirement home caregiver, project coordinator, teacher, researcher, curriculum developer, sessional lecturer, independent contractor, entrepreneur, and CEO—all before I was elected as your Member of Parliament for Whitby in 2019.

From mixing mortar and shoveling soil to grinding steel doors and waiting tables, I’ve always rolled up my sleeves, worked hard, and embraced every challenge. Whether I was teaching kids, managing large projects to build youth housing, or running a business, my goal has always been the same: to create value, make a positive impact, and make a real difference in the lives of others.

From a young age, I discovered my passion for serving others and a deep drive to work collaboratively on innovative solutions to improve both people’s lives and the planet. That spark was ignited even further at 15, when I was introduced to a transformative leadership program. Over four years of leadership training, I gained clarity about my purpose and the impact I wanted to make in the world.

With this passion as my compass, I pursued philosophy at Carleton University, where I immersed myself in the art of critical thinking and problem-solving. Earning an Honours BA with High Honours and a Master’s in Philosophy was more than an academic achievement—it was a journey that taught me to appreciate the complexity of human challenges and the power of fresh perspectives to find solutions.

When I returned to Canada, I took a bold leap of faith and started my own management consulting company, focusing on social innovation and sustainability. With little more than determination and a dream, I registered the business and began competing for contracts with everything I had. My first big break came working with a local charitable organization that operated a halfway house for federal offenders.

It wasn’t long before I began developing two social enterprises: a moving business and a catering business, both designed to employ federal offenders and help them rebuild their lives. These ventures quickly gained traction, securing contracts with the Region of Peel and providing meaningful opportunities for individuals re-entering society. Witnessing the transformative impact of these businesses lit a fire in me—I knew I had found my calling.

From there, my company flourished. Specializing in designing sustainable business models for social enterprises and driving systems change, I earned contracts with nonprofits and charities across diverse sectors. Over the years, I built a thriving niche in social innovation, design thinking, collective impact, developmental evaluation, and sustainability.

As CEO, I led the company to exponential growth, completing over 350 contracts, managing up to 35 projects at a time, and employing 11 staff and over 30 contractors. Every step of the journey reinforced my belief in the power of socially innovative business to create lasting, meaningful change in our communities.

Each project was an outlet for my passion in life and was a chance to serve and help communities find solutions.  My work included multi-year engagements like evaluating pilot projects across Canada to engage boys and men in gender-based violence prevention; working with the Miksew Cree First Nation to develop an environmental monitoring social enterprise in Northern Alberta; developing a youth mental health and resiliency building smartphone application; conducting a holistic food system assessment of Middlesex-London and then forming a food policy council; designing a hospice for the homeless with a group of doctors in downtown Toronto; working with Simcoe County on developing a highly innovative seniors housing hub on a 10 acre property in Orillia; and many more.  Each one of these projects was an attempt to solve a complex problem by using an inclusive consultation and co-design process to generate innovative solutions and then implement them.

One of the constant realizations I had throughout those 350 projects was that policy and financing were the difference makers, and often determined the success or failure of the most impactful projects.  And this is what drove me to politics. I decided to get involved in politics to create better policy; policy that enables and supports the realization of community-based solutions; policy that helps us scale-up the enterprises and innovations that address some of the toughest and most persistent challenges we face; policy that helps us incorporate social and environmental responsibility into how we do business.

Since being elected to represent Whitby in 2019 and 2021, I’ve channeled my passion for problem-solving and making a difference into advocating for key projects and policy changes in our community.

In September 2023, I was honored to be appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry. I also serve on the Industry and Parliamentary Affairs standing committees. As part of my work, I hosted the Sustainable Finance Forum for the third consecutive year, bringing together over 700 key stakeholders.

Through our efforts, we successfully secured the Green Taxonomy, Employee Ownership Trusts, and Mandatory Climate-Transition Disclosures for climate-related companies in the 2023 Fall Economic Statement. These initiatives will enhance the credibility of green investments, empower employees with ownership opportunities, and ensure companies contribute fairly to carbon emissions reduction.

In Spring 2024, the Prime Minister appointed me as a joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.

In 2024, I worked to secure the following investments in Whitby:

• The National School Food Program, which Ontario has now signed onto.
• The Canadian Dental Care Program, benefiting over 6,500 Whitby residents.
• The Whitby Hospital, a long-promised project that has now been committed to.
• $25 million from the Federal Green & Inclusive Buildings Fund to make the Whitby Sports Complex more sustainable and inclusive.
• $24.9 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund to build over 650 new homes.
• $22 million to expand high-speed internet infrastructure to over 1,400 homes.
• $12.1 million to purchase the first six Durham Region Transit electric buses.
• $12 million in federal investment for 47 affordable housing units in Beaverton.
• $2.5 million for Waterfront Trail enhancements.
• $2.3 million for Community Care Durham to expand senior services and build a wellness hub.
• $2 million in small business investments for the Spark Centre through Fed Dev Ontario.
• $1.8 million for additional EV chargers across Durham Region.
• $1.5 million in funding for Canada Summer Jobs, creating 330 jobs for Whitby youth.
• $1 million for the Community Services Recovery Fund in 2024.
• $600,000 for waterfront development through the Tourism Growth Fund.
• $161,000 in My Mainstreet grants for eight local organizations.
• $155,000 through the New Horizons for Seniors Grant.

In 2023, I worked to secure the following investments in Whitby:

• Investments in the Whitby Waterfront Trail.
• Affordable housing at the Otter Creek Co-op through the Rapid Housing Initiative.
• Electric charging infrastructure for Durham Transit.
• A Rapid Bus Transit Route to improve public transit across Durham.
• Broadband internet projects to ensure reliable, high-speed internet access throughout Whitby.
• The Durham Greener Homes Program to help residents improve energy efficiency in their homes.
• Renovations to the Civic Recreation Centre to make it more accessible and family-friendly.
• Support for electric vehicle manufacturing at General Motors Canada, creating jobs in the growing EV industry.
• Bike lanes, trails, and park renovations to promote active, healthy lifestyles and improve community spaces.
• Affordable housing projects to provide homes for young families, seniors, women, and individuals with limited income.
• Additional EV charging stations to make recharging easier across Durham Region.

We currently have dozens more projects in the application phase, with many expected to come to fruition in 2024.

Every day I strive to serve the people of Whitby better and to make contributions to national policy that will help empower communities and scale innovative solutions! For as long as the people of Whitby will have me, I will continue to fight for them.

If you need anything or want to share your feedback or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at ryan.turnbull@parl.gc.ca or call 905-665-8182.