Patty Hajdu

Born in Montreal, Hajdu spent her early years in Chisholm, Minnesota, U.S. with her brother Sean Patrick Hajdu (1969–2003), raised by her aunt and uncle.^[4] Her Hungarian last name comes from her stepfather.

At 12 years old, Hajdu moved to Thunder Bay to live with her mother. Due to a tumultuous relationship, she ended up living on her own at age 16, while she finished high school.^[4] After graduating, she got a job in Thunder Bay through an employment insurance initiative, at a non-profit adult-literacy group, where she trained in graphic design.^[4]

Hajdu then attended Lakehead University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.^[5] In 2015, she received a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.^[6][7]

Hajdu worked mainly in the field of harm prevention, homelessness, and substance misuse prevention, including nine years as the head of the drug awareness committee of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. She also worked as a creative director and graphic designer in marketing. Prior to her election in 2015 she was the executive director at Shelter House, the city's largest homeless shelter.^[8]

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Minister of Status of Women

On November 4, 2015, she sworn into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Cabinet, as minister of status of women.^[9] In July 2016, she formed an advisory council to help develop of Canada's strategy against gender-based violence.^[10]

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

She was sworn in as minister of employment, workforce development and labour on January 10, 2017.

On October 29, 2018, Minister Hajdu, alongside Status of Women Minister Maryam Monsef and President of the Treasury Board and Minister for Digital Government Scott Brison, introduced pay equity legislation for federally regulated workplaces.^[11]

Minister of Health

Hajdu was shuffled to minister of health following the 2019 federal election.

COVID-19

As health minister from 2020 to 2021, Hajdu oversaw Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, key agencies coordinating the Canadian government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 25, 2020, Hajdu informed the Senate that she would invoke the Quarantine Act effective at midnight, federally mandating that all travellers (excluding essential workers) returning to the country must self-isolate for 14 days, prohibiting those who are symptomatic from using public transit as transport to their place of self-isolation, and prohibiting self-isolation in settings where they may come in contact with those, who are vulnerable (people with pre-existing conditions and the elderly).^[12]

Minister of Indigenous Services

In October 2021, Hajdu was shuffled to the Indigenous Services portfolio following the 2021 federal election.^[13]

Minister of Jobs and Families

Following Mark Carney's victory in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, Hajdu was appointed as minister of jobs and families.

2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike

A few hours after the 2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike began, Hajdu announced that she had exercised her power under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code (CLC) to direct the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to force arbitration between the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and Air Canada to end the strike.^[14]

President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE Wesley Lesosky said in a statement: "The Liberals are violating our charter rights to take job action and giving Air Canada exactly what they want — hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants".^[15] CIRB ordered the flight attendants to return to work at 14:00 EDT on August 17, and Air Canada announced that they would start resuming flights in response.^[16] However, the union called the return-to-work order unconstitutional and vowed to continue the strike, which resulted in a further cancellation of the planned flights.^[17][18]

Hajdu is the mother of two adult sons.^[19]