Debra Toporowski, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health

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Debra Toporowski (Qwulti’stunaat) was first elected as the MLA for Cowichan Valley in 2024. 

Debra was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health in November 2024.

Debra is a member of the Cowichan Tribes and before being elected to the legislature was a two-term elected councillor in the municipality of North Cowichan and a five-time councillor of Cowichan Tribes — the first elected woman to hold both positions on two councils at the same time. She was appointed Acting Mayor for North Cowichan in 2022.

Debra has also worked extensively for Indigenous watersheds and wild salmon and was appointed Indigenous Watershed Champion in 2021. She was appointed to the Pacific Salmon Commission in 2020. She was also a member of the Cowichan Watershed Board.

Debra is a proud daughter of a First Nations mother and Chinese father. She has lived in the Cowichan Valley all her life, where she enjoys spending time with her family.