B.C. MLA Bowinn Ma becomes first sitting cabinet minister to give birth twice

North Vancouver-Lonsdale NDP MLA Bowinn Ma speaks in North Vancouver on Sept. 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

A B.C. politician is making history with the latest addition to her family.

Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma announced Tuesday that her son, Jack, was born July 6 at Lions Gate Hospital.

“In 2023, Bowinn Ma became the third woman in B.C. history to give birth as a sitting cabinet minister; she’s now the first to do so twice,” Ma posted on X.

The province confirmed Ma has a place in the history books after searching the legislative library.

“I will note that Linda Reid gave birth in both 2000 and 2004, and was minister for one of her two births, as she was serving as Minister of State for Early Childhood Development from June 5, 2001 to June 16, 2005,” a spokesperson for the B.C. NDP government told CTV News.

Earlier this year, Ma took to social media to claim another historic first for B.C.

“Not one, but two cabinet ministers simultaneously expecting,” Ma posted on April 14, alongside a photo of herself and Surrey-Newton MLA Jessie Sunner. “Barefoot, pregnant and in the BC Legislature where we belong!”

Azalea, Ma’s first child-turned-big sister, will turn three years old in November.