Marlene Jennings

Photo of Marlene Jennings
Marlene Jennings

Marlene Jennings PC (born November 10, 1951) is a former Canadian parliamentarian. She was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada in the House of Commons of Canada, and represented the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine from 1997 to 2011.

Jennings was born in Longueuil, Quebec. She is a former lawyer and senior public servant. She served as the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Cooperation and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada. From 2004 to October 2005 she was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Canada-U.S. relations.

Jennings was the first Black woman from Quebec to be elected to Parliament. She was also one of the few parliamentarians with a physical disability, having become partially blind due to an illness in early 2010; she used visual aids and a white cane until late 2011. Over seven surgical procedures successfully restored her vision.

She is also a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada.