Senator Yonah Martin

The Honourable Yonah Martin (born April 11, 1965) is a Senator of Canada from British Columbia, appointed by The Right Honourable Stephen Harper in 2009. She is the first Canadian of Korean descent to serve in the Senate of Canada and the first Korean-Canadian parliamentarian in Canadian history.

Senator Martin is currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (since November 2015). She previously served as the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (2013-2015); and as the Deputy Whip of the Government (2011-2013). She has been Co-Chair of the Canada Korea Inter-Parliamentary Group since 2009; she is the co-founding Chair of the Canada Bulgaria Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group; and serves on the Executive of various Inter-Parliamentary groups and associations. 

Her notable achievements as a Senator to date include the enactment of her Senate Public Bill, Korean War Veterans Day Act (June 2013); the successful campaign to add Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncturists to the schedule of health professionals for GST/HST exemption (April 2014); contributing to and sponsoring the Implementation Bill of the historic Canada Korea Free Trade Agreement ‎(January 2015); and the unanimous adoption of Senate Motions to recognize June as Deafblind Awareness Month in Canada (May 2015) and October as Korean Heritage Month (June 2024).

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Yonah Martin immigrated to Canada in 1972, and has resided in Metro-Vancouver ever since. She earned a Bachelor of Education in 1987 from University of British Columbia and had a 21-year teaching career (1987-2008) until her appointment to the Senate. She earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 1996.

In recognition of her community service in the Tri-Cities region, Yonah Martin was awarded the 2004 Spirit of Community Award for Cultural Harmony. In 2009, she was awarded the Order of Civil Merit Moran Medal by the president of the Republic of Korea for outstanding leadership and work in advancing the rights of overseas Koreans; in February 2016, she was honoured with the King Clancy Award from the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons (CFPDP); and in 2023, she was awarded the Order of Madara Horseman from the President of Bulgaria for her contributions to international friendship and strengthening ties with Bulgaria. She is also the recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee and Platinum Jubilee Medals as well as the King Charles III Coronation Medal. 

She has been married to Doug Martin since 1990, and they are proud parents of a daughter, Kiana Mi-Sun.