Garnett Genuis

Garnett Genuis MP (born January 23, 1987) is a Canadian politician who was elected to represent the riding of Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan (in Alberta) in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election.

Genuis was born in 1987 and grew up in Strathcona County, before moving to attend Carleton University in Ottawa. While there, he wrote a regular column for the Sherwood Park News as a political correspondent. Genuis’ experience helped him to obtain a position as assistant to former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and advisor on the staff of former minister Rona Ambrose. Genuis then obtained a master's degree in public policy from the London School of Economics. Afterwards, he moved to the private sector as the vice president of a national research firm.

Genuis cites his grandparents as his primary political influences. His grandmother was a Holocaust survivor. His grandfather, who became politically active in the 1980s, was an engineer for an oil company in Alberta.

Genuis lives in Sherwood Park with his wife Rebecca, and their three children, Gianna, Judah, Lilly, and Phineas (Finn). He has volunteered as a board member of the Saffron Sexual Assault Centre, a member of the Sherwood Park Rotary Club executive, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Prior to running in the 2015 federal election, Genuis ran in the 2012 Alberta general election as the Wildrose MLA candidate for Sherwood Park. He lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Cathy Olesen.

In March 2014, Genuis announced his intention to seek the Conservative nomination in the newly formed riding of Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan. He won the nomination in November 2014.

Genuis won the federal election on October 19, 2015, capturing 64% of the votes in the ridingand becoming its Member of Parliament. In November 2015, Genuis was appointed deputy critic for Human Rights & Religious Freedom. He served under head critic David Anderson. On August 30, 2017, he was made Deputy Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, after leaving his previous position.

In March 2016, Genuis was named one of the most outspoken MPs in the House of Commons by Maclean’s Magazine. In November 2017, Genuis was named Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year, based on a vote by members of the House of Commons. Genuis was the youngest recipient of the award.

In a 2017 episode of the television series Political Blind Date, Genuis and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith discussed their differing perspectives on the legalization of marijuana in Canada.