About Kerry-Lynne Findlay

The Hon. Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay currently serves in the Parliament of Canada as the Member of Parliament for the riding of South Surrey—White Rock in British Columbia. In September 2022, she was appointed to be the first woman in the Conservative Party to hold the office of Chief Opposition Whip. The Whip’s role is to enforce Party discipline among members, oversee the membership and work of committees and assist in other proceedings in the House of Commons, and ensure enough Members are present in case of a vote.

Previously, Kerry-Lynne was elected in 2011 as the Member of Parliament for Delta–Richmond East, a neighbouring riding. She was appointed by the Prime Minister as Minister of National Revenue (2013-2015), as Associate Minister of National Defence (2013), and as Parliamentary Secretary to Justice (2011-2013). She also served as a member of several high-profile Cabinet committees including Treasury Board, Economic Prosperity, the National Shipbuilding Procurement Ministerial Committee, and the Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Selection Committee.

During her time in public office, Kerry-Lynne was named the Golden Scissors Award recipient in 2015 by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) for leadership in cutting red tape for small business.

Previously, Kerry-Lynne had a distinguished career in law with a successful civil litigation practice in downtown Vancouver including the areas of family law, employment law, and aboriginal land issues, appearing in all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition, from 2006-2011, Kerry-Lynne sat as an Administrative Law Judge on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal adjudicating on a diverse range of cases including the precedent-setting Johnstone case on the definition of ‘family status’ in the Canadian Human Rights Act, later upheld by the Ontario Superior Court and Ontario Court of Appeal. 

In 1997-98 Kerry-Lynne served as the elected President of the then 10,000 member BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and was the Founding Chair of both the BC Women Lawyers Forum and later the National Women Lawyers Forum. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1999 for superior knowledge of the law and demonstrating the highest ethical standards.  In 2011, she was presented with the CBA National Cecilia I. Johnstone Award to recognize her pursuit of professional excellence and tireless work for the advancement of women.

In 2019, Kerry-Lynne established her own law firm in South Surrey and is a Certified Mediator and Certified Arbitrator.  As a life-long learner, she has also completed advanced courses at Harvard Law School and Rotman’s School of Management, University of Toronto.

Kerry-Lynne has also been recognized with Paul Harris Fellowships from Rotary International, the Alpha Gamma Delta International Distinguished Citizen Award, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Management, Professions and Trades, having been previously nominated for Community Service, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Service to Canada.

Kerry-Lynne has always given back to the community in a variety of capacities such as: BC – India Business Network Advisory Board member; Treasurer of the BC & Alberta Guide Dogs Society providing service dogs to the blind, and support dogs to children with autism and veterans with PTSD; the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaler supporting the sick and poor and championing hospice care; President of the Little House Society, a house of support and healing for those touched by substance use disorder; Rotary International (2018-19 Club President; BC appointee on the Delta Police Board, providing civilian governance, accountability, and oversight to the Delta Police Department; and current membership in the South Surrey-White Rock Chamber of Commerce, Surrey Board of Trade, and the Canadian Bar Association (life member).

Kerry-Lynne grew up primarily on Vancouver Island and in Vancouver, graduating as a boarder at Vancouver’s Crofton House School then entering UBC at age 16. She graduated with a B.A, (with Honours) majoring in History and Political Science (Soviet Studies), and a J.D. in Law, learning leadership skills as President of her AGD Sorority Chapter and on Law School committees.

Kerry-Lynne lives in South Surrey with her husband, Brent Chapman, actor and producer, who has appeared in thousands of radio commercials, and hundreds of TV commercials, as well as animated and feature films. They are the parents of four children, and grandparents of a growing family. All four of Kerry-Lynne and Brent’s children are UBC graduates and achieved post-graduate degrees: three are lawyers, and one is a Registered Clinical Counsellor.