- Born
- April 11, 1965 — Seoul, South Korea
- Family
- Married to Doug Martin since 1990, and they have a daughter.
- Education
- University of British Columbia (1987); Master of Education (1996)
- Career
- 21 years as an educator in Abbotsford, Burnaby and Coquitlam school districts
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on November 4, 2009. Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Served as Deputy Whip of the Government in the Senate, from May 2011 to August 2013; and has been Co-Chair of the Canada Korea Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group since 2009.
- Notable
- First person of Korean descent to serve in the Senate of Canada. First Korean Parliamentarian in Canadian history. Co-founded C3 Society in 2003. Received the Spirit of Community award for Cultural Harmony (2004), the Order of Korea Moran Medal from the Government of the Republic of Korea (2009) and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before being appointed to the Senate, Yonah Martin was an educator for 21 years in Coquitlam, British Columbia, where she taught English and social studies. She also co-founded the C3 Korean Canadian Society, a non-profit organization focused on community engagement and leadership development. Her public disclosures list various assets, including publicly traded securities and investment properties, which is common for many senators.
Key Relationships & Connections
Yonah Martin was appointed to the Senate in 2009 by then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Within the Conservative caucus, she has held leadership positions, including serving as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. She is also known for her strong connections within the Korean-Canadian community, partly through her work with the C3 Korean Canadian Society, which she co-founded.
Public Controversies
Around 2012 and 2013, during a period of intense media scrutiny of Senate expenses, Senator Martin's travel claims were among those highlighted in news reports. The reports focused on the high cost of her flights between Ottawa and her home province of British Columbia. While part of a broader controversy about Senate spending rules, no specific findings of wrongdoing were made against her in relation to these expenses.