Jean Augustine PC CM OOnt CBE (born September 9, 1937) is a Grenada-born Canadian politician.

[2] Augustine was born on September 9th, 1937, in St. George's, Grenada, and immigrated to Canada in 1960 under the West Indian Domestic Scheme, which ran from 1955 to 1966.

In addition to her teaching career with the Catholic School board (Metropolitan Separate School Board) in Toronto, Augustine was also actively involved in Toronto's Caribbean community, sitting on the first committee to organize the Caribana Festival in 1967.

[1][3] They included service with the National Black Coalition of Canada, the Urban Alliance on Race Relations (UARR).

[1] In 1993, Jean Augustine became the first African-Canadian woman elected to Canada’s House of Commons, as the Member of Parliament from the Greater Toronto Area constituency of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

[3] Augustine held many portfolios and positions during her time as an elected member of Canada's federal government, including as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Jean Chrétien); Minister of Multiculturalism and the Status of Women; Chair of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade committee; Chair of the Human Rights Committee, three-time Chair of the National Women’s Caucus.

[1] Augustine's parliamentarian achievements include legislation to protect disadvantaged low-income individuals including single mothers raising children; securing unanimous legislative support to pass a motion designating February as Black History Month in Canada;[2] securing unanimous legislative support to pass a motion to erect the Famous Five Monument on Parliament Hill.

In 2007, the Government of Ontario appointed Augustine as the first Fairness Commissioner, a position created to advocate for Canadians with foreign professional credentials.

[6] In 2007, Augustine donated her personal papers and memorabilia to the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections at York University.

[14][15] Augustine serves as the patron, visitor or honorary chair of a number of organizations, including the NATO Association of Canada.

A message from Dr, Jean Augustine, Chair, Ontario Bicentenary Commemorative Committee on the abolition of the slave trade.