The Honourable Rechie Valdez serves as Canada's Minister of Small Business and the Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville. Minister Valdez is a Canadian entrepreneur, television personality, and community advocate. She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed to Cabinet and is committed to ensuring the diverse voices of her community are heard.

Before entering politics, Minister Valdez owned and operated a small business, and dedicated herself to growing her online business avenues. She was also the host of a television show that shares the stories of entrepreneurs, creators, and artists. Before that, she worked in corporate banking for 15 years, where she developed her expertise in change management and strategic initiatives.