Bennett received her certification in family medicine in 1976. Bennett worked as a family physician at Wellesley Hospital and Women's College Hospital in Toronto from 1977 to 1997 and was a founding partner in Bedford Medical Associates. She was also president of the medical staff association of Women's College Hospital and has a clinical adjunct appointment as an assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto. Bennett served on the boards of Havergal College, Women's College Hospital, the Ontario Medical Association, and the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto. Bennett is the author of Kill or Cure? How Canadians Can Remake their Health Care System, published in October 2000.
Political career
Bennett ran for public office in the 1995 Ontario provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party. Running in the riding of St. Andrew—St. Patrick, she lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Isabel Bassett by about 3,500 votes. Bennett was more successful in the 1997 federal election, defeating her closest opponent in St. Paul's by almost 15,000 votes. She was re-elected by increased margins in the elections of 2000 and 2004. On December 12, 2003, after Paul Martin became Prime Minister, he appointed Bennett as his Minister of State for Public Health. In her two years as Minister, she set up the Public Health Agency of Canada, appointed the first Chief Public Health Officer for Canada, and established the Public Health Network. She was chair of the Canada-Israel Friendship Group from 1999 to 2003 and is a member of Liberal Parliamentarians for Israel. In the 2006 election, Bennett defeated two main challengers who were both touted as star candidates, Peter Kent of the Conservatives and Paul Summerville of the New Democratic Party. Bennett was re-elected, but lost her cabinet position as the Liberals were defeated. She became only the third opposition MP in the history of St. Paul's. The riding had once been a noted bellwether, but swung heavily to the Liberals along with most other central Toronto ridings. She announced on April 24, 2006 that she would pursue the leadership of the party. On September 15, 2006, she withdrew from the leadership race and threw her support behind former Ontario Premier Bob Rae. In the 39th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for social development, social economy, seniors, persons with disabilities, and public health. She was re-elected in 2008. In the 40th Parliament, Bennett was the Official Opposition critic for health. She was re-elected in 2011. In the 41st Parliament, Bennett was the Liberal critic for Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development, and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. On November 4, 2015, Bennett was appointed the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the present Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau. She is the fifth most senior member of Justin Trudeau's cabinet.
Personal life
She is married to Canadian film producer Peter O'Brian. They have two sons.
*Comparison to total of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote in 2000. Note: Canadian Alliance vote is compared to the Reform vote in 1997 election.
