Michael Levitt

Michael Levitt is a former Canadian politician who was Member of Parliament for the riding of York Centre in Toronto between 2015 and 2020.

A first-generation Canadian, Michael immigrated to Canada from Scotland with his mother at age thirteen. He received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McGill University and earned a master’s degree in Science and Technology Studies from the University of Edinburgh.

In parliament, Michael served as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and as part of the Raoul Wallenberg Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights. He also served as Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on International Human Rights. Michael was also Chair of the Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group.

Before his election, Michael worked as a Partner and Vice President of Business Development for the Benjamin Group.

He is a founding member of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee, a multi-partisan organization dedicated to activating the grassroots Jewish community in the political process, and has been an active volunteer with numerous non-profits and charities. Michael has served as a board member for the Koffler Centre for the Arts, Mount Sinai Hospital and other organizations.

Michael resigned his parliamentary seat in 2020 to take over as the CEO of the Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre for Holocaust Studies. He is married and has two children.

Speeches

Human Rights

How to Build a Safer World with Michael Levitt

Michael Levitt, Canadian MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, addresses the 11th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy – see quotes below, followed by full prepared remarks. On the need for advocacy: “Unfortunately, we are seeing a resurgence of gross human rights violations around the word…And the