Jim Karygiannis is the Liberal Candidate

 for Scarborough-Agincourt.

For Official Pictures - Jim Karygiannis

The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Privy Councillor, Member of Parliament, Scarborough-Agincourt

Jim Karygiannis is the Liberal Member of Parliament and the Liberal candidate for Scarborough-Agincourt.

On October 14, 2008, he was re-elected for a seventh consecutive term with 57% of the popular vote in his riding.

Jim Karygiannis was first elected to the House of Commons in 1988 and on November 21, 2008, celebrated the 20th Anniversary of his election to the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Paul Martin appointed Mr. Karygiannis Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in October 2005. Prior to this, Jim served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, with special emphasis on Transport and the Environment. He was appointed to this post in December 2003.

Jim is an Associate Member of the Standing Committees of the House of Commons on Canadian Heritage, Foreign Affairs and International Development and Justice and Human Rights. He has served on the Standing Committee of Citizenship and Immigration. Jim has been the Liberal Party’s Associate Critic for Small Business and Associate Critic for the Departments of National Revenue and Multiculturalism.

Scarborough-Agincourt is one of the most ethnically diverse federal ridings in Canada. Jim Karygiannis is an effective voice for the people he serves, taking their concerns, on a wide variety of issues, including: immigration; taxation; justice; and, Canada’s global responsibilities, to Caucus and the House of Commons for debate.

Jim Karygiannis has long been a strong advocate for social justice and human rights. He has presented Motions in the House of Commons condemning acts of barbarism perpetrated against religious and cultural minorities throughout the world. These Motions passed with unanimous consent of the Members of Parliament. He has travelled extensively speaking out against human rights violations.

In 1999, the President of the Hellenic Republic awarded Mr. Karygiannis the decoration of the “Officer of the Order of Phoenix” in recognition of his many public service contributions.

Jim Karygiannis has long advocated a permanent “made-in-Canada solution” to help strengthen Canada’s response to international man-made and/or natural disasters. In his view, Canada’s response must be immediate, substantive and must include a mechanism for re-uniting Canadian citizens with their loved ones abroad who have been adversely affected by a catastrophic event. Whether it has been tsunamis; mudslides; earthquakes; floods; typhoons; cyclones; or hurricanes in Asia, South East Asia, The Middle East, North and South America Jim has supported members of the affected communities who were concerned about the plight of their loved ones. Jim Karygiannis believes in the importance of Canada’s bilateral trade relations with emerging economies. He has participated, with Canadian members of various Diasporas, in trade missions to The Middle East, Africa, South Asia and The Pacific Rim. During these trips, he has met with government officials; community and business leaders; and, members of civil society and discussed a wide range of economic, environmental and social issues. Jim has witnessed democracy in action abroad. In February 2008, he travelled to Pakistan as an Official Election Observer authorized by the Election Commission of Pakistan, to observe the federal and provincial elections. Jim has also witnessed elections in Somaliland and Russia. Jim was born in Athens, Greece in 1955. He immigrated to Canada as a teenager with his family, settling in Toronto, Ontario in 1966. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering. He also holds a Fellowship of Business Administration from the Canadian School of Management. Jim worked in the family business until 1988 when he was elected.

Jim Karygiannis is married and is the father of five daughters.

Jim believes in the power and potential of the human race. He is often quoted as saying that R.A.C.E. stands for Respecting our neighbours, Accepting our differences, Celebrating our rich diversity and Embracing our heritage.