Estefan Cortes-Vargas
Cortes-Vargas in 2015
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Strathcona-Sherwood Park
In office
May 5, 2015 – March 19, 2019
Preceded byDave Quest
Succeeded byNate Glubish
Personal details
Born1990 or 1991 (age 32–33)
Colombia
Political partyAlberta New Democratic Party
OccupationNon-Profit Administrator

Estefan Cortes-Vargas (born Estefania Cortes-Vargas, 1991) is a Colombian-born Canadian politician and non-profit administrator who was elected in the 2015 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the electoral district of Strathcona-Sherwood Park as a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party.[1] Upon election, they became one of the first three out LGBT people elected to the Alberta legislature, alongside caucus colleagues Michael Connolly and Ricardo Miranda.[2] They were also the first openly trans, non-binary, queer MLA in Canada, as well as the first Colombian-Canadian MLA and the youngest government whip in Alberta at the age of 24, marking a series of historical firsts in Canadian politics.[3][4]

Election and media coverage

Although Cortes-Vargas was initially represented in media coverage during the election campaign as female and lesbian,[2] in December 2015, they formally came out as non-binary during their term in the legislature. This announcement coincided with their role as a co-sponsor of a bill and their participation in the debate on the inclusion of transgender rights in the provincial human rights code.[4][5] While the provincial Hansard, which traditionally reports members' speeches under the gender honorifics "Mr." or "Ms.", adapted to this change by referring to Cortes-Vargas as "Member Cortes-Vargas". This change marked the Alberta Legislature as the first in Canada to include non-gendered honorifics, reflecting a significant shift in legislative practices towards inclusivity.[6]

Legislative work

During their tenure as the MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park, Estefan Cortes-Vargas was actively involved in several key legislative initiatives. They worked closely on bills such as the Alberta Human Rights Amendment Act 2015, Energy Diversification Act, an act to end predatory lending, Investing in a Diversified Alberta Economy Act, and an act to support Gay-Straight Alliances in schools. Cortes-Vargas also played a significant role in attracting investment in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, contributing to major petrochemical projects. Additionally, they were a vocal participant in the NAFTA negotiations, representing Alberta's interests effectively.[7]

Trade and business advocacy

Estefan Cortes-Vargas has been an active advocate for international trade and business development. As the Chair of the Canada-US relations committee in 2017-18 within the Council of State Governments, they played a significant role in fostering cross-border trade relations.[8][9] Their efforts were particularly focused on enhancing economic ties and supporting local business initiatives. Estefan's work in this role also involved close collaboration with local chambers of commerce, contributing to the support and growth of business start-ups. This period marked a significant contribution to international trade dialogue and local economic development.They chose not to run in the 2019 Alberta general election.[10]

Organisational affiliations

In 2019, Cortes-Vargas was named executive director of the Pride Centre of Edmonton.[11] They remained in that role until July 2020.[12] They have been the vice-president of the Enchanté Network, which is a coalition of 2SLGBTQ+ community organizations across Canada, since 2020. In September 2022, they started their studies to become a lawyer at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in Saskatoon and graduated with a certificate in business in 2022.[13] In 2023, Estefan Cortes-Vargas was the recipient of the Signature Research Area Award for their work on "Trans Equity for E-Health" at the University of Saskatchewan's Undergraduate Symposium, showcasing their commitment to health equity within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.[14]

Electoral history

2015 general election

2015 Alberta general election: Strathcona-Sherwood Park
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticEstefania Cortes-Vargas9,37642.61%34.10%
Progressive ConservativeDave Quest6,62330.10%-20.62%
WildroseRob Johnson5,28624.02%-9.62%
Alberta PartyLynne Kaiser7213.28%–
Total 22,006––
Rejected, spoiled and declined 503822
Eligible electors / turnout 34,34664.28%4.55%
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +27.36%
Source: "82 - Strathcona-Sherwood Park, 2015 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Chief Electoral Officer (2016). 2015 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer (PDF) (Report). Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta.

References

  1. ↑ "Alberta Election 2015: NDP's Estefania Cortes-Vargas wins Strathcona-Sherwood Park riding". Global News. May 5, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  2. 1 2 "NDP candidate supports education". Sherwood Park News. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Canadian Queer Firsts". Queer Events. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Cortes-Vargas honoured to have served". Sherwood Park News. March 19, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  5. ↑ "An Alberta MLA on battling discrimination on basis of gender identity". Maclean's. December 1, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Miss, Mrs., Ms., or None of the Above: Gendered Address for Women in the Legislature". Canadian Parliamentary Review. 2017. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ Lindsay Morey (March 26, 2019). "Cortes-Vargas honoured to have served". Sherwood Park News. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Canada-US Relations Committee Leadership". Council of State Governments West. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Alberta Government Mission Report" (PDF). Government of Alberta. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ Bellefontaine, Michelle (January 21, 2019). "NDP MLAs Jansen, Cortes-Vargas announce they're not running again". CBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  11. ↑ Konguavi, Thandiwe (July 25, 2019). "Former NDP whip takes lead of embattled Pride Centre of Edmonton". CBC News. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Announcement of Departure of Executive Director – Estefan Cortes-Vargas" (PDF). Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "University of Saskatchewan Fall 2022 Convocation" (PDF). Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  14. ↑ "USSU Undergraduate Symposium Winners 2023". University of Saskatchewan Students' Union. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
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