Jacques Saada - Definition

Jacques Saada (born November 22, 1947) is a Canadian Cabinet minister and politician.

Saada is a teacher and linguist by profession and was CEO of a translation firm, a consultant and a lecturer in translation prior to entering politics.

He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal MP from the Quebec riding of Brossard—La Prairie in the 1997 Canadian election and served as Deputy Government Whip from 2001 to 2003. When Paul Martin became Prime Minister of Canada in December 2003 he appointed Saada to the Cabinet as Minister Responsible for Democratic Reform and Government House Leader.

Following the 2004 Canadian election with the election of a minority government, Saada was transferred to the positions of Minister for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Minister responsible for La Francophonie.

Saada was born in Tunisia to a Sephardic family. In the 2004 Canadian election his campaign was the target of anti-Semitic graffiti, letters and phone calls.