Marcus Powlowski is a Member of Parliament that knows and lives his roots.

Born in Fort William, Marcus has strong family connections to Northwestern Ontario. His grandmother (Baba) ran Annie’s Confectionary on East Brock Street in Fort William for over 60 years. His grandfather Michael at one time repaired shoes on Simpson St and later became a lineman on the CPR. His parents Peter and Elizabeth owned and operated Strawberry Hill Workshop in Kaministiquia.

Before being elected the Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Rainy River in 2019, Marcus served in a number of roles as a medical doctor, including most recently working as a physician in the Emergency Room at Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre. Marcus also practiced medicine for two years in northern First Nations communities and for seven years Swaziland, The Gambia, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu. He also worked as a consultant in health legislation for the World Health Organization.

In addition to practicing medicine, Marcus also earned a law degree (LL.B, University of Toronto), Masters of Public Health in Health Law and Policy (Harvard University), and a Masters of Law (Georgetown University, Washington D.C.), and has taught at several universities, including Lakehead University and the University of San Francisco.

Marcus believes strongly in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s statement that, “[t]he test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.” He also believes that, as Lester B. Pearson once said, “the only failures are those who fail to try” and, in the words of Wayne Gretzky, “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

As the father of five children, when not practicing medicine – or quoting famous politicians and Hall of Famers – Marcus is spending time with his kids and being a regular hockey dad who enjoys the occasional beer and a good hockey game (especially when his kids are playing). For Marcus, his kids are the reason why he ran for office – to make sure they are left with a country that is strong, healthy and focused on the betterment of all people.

Marcus currently sits on the Standing Committee for Health and the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, in which he advocates for government accountability, transparency and the interests of Northwestern Ontario. He is also a member of the Northern Ontario Liberal Caucus, the Rural Liberal Caucus, International Human Rights Caucus, and the Ukrainian-Canadian Friendship Group.