WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region has a voice at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet table with the appointment of Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger as Minister of Small Business and Tourism.

Chagger, 35, was sworn in Wednesday at Rideau Hall, and will face a steep learning curve in a portfolio that will heap an untold amount of political pressure and expectations on the first-time MP.

But reached late Wednesday night, Chagger wasn't daunted by the work in front of her.

"I'm really looking forward to this new mission that I'm on," she said, after a long day on Parliament Hill.

"Today has been a phenomenal day for Canadians, and I know we're going to be able to work toward a better Canada. And I'm really excited to be working for Waterloo Region, as well, and I believe we'll have a strong voice moving forward."

Governor General David Johnston, who was president of the University of Waterloo when Chagger was a student there, joked to the new cabinet minister that small business was "about to become big business" under her watch, said Chagger.

"Coming from Waterloo Region, this is very exciting because the small business opportunities there are huge," she said. "We really need to invest in small business, and it's important that voices are heard."

Chagger said her appointment was still sinking in, but was honoured and excited to have been chosen. Her Indian-born father 'Gogi' Chagger, a longtime Liberal supporter who got her into politics as a teenager, was among the crowd cheering her on at Rideau Hall.

"This says there is opportunity in Canada for all, and that's a story I'm able to share. This says anything is possible in Canada. It takes a lot of hard work, and future generations can see that," she said.

Supporters say the first-time MP is up to the challenge of cabinet.

"She's a perfect fit," said Andrew Telegdi, the former MP who watched her grow from a 13-year-old campaign volunteer into his executive assistant when he was in office.

"I think she's going to be really good, and I think it's a real boost to our region."

Despite her youth, Chagger's political resume is extensive. She worked on election campaigns as a teenager, helped craft policy with the Young Liberals and was a riding association president. As a former political staffer, she understands the machinations of Ottawa and constituency offices, too.

Chagger, notably, also played a key role in gathering support for Trudeau in southern Ontario during his leadership bid for the Liberal party in 2013.

With a science degree from the University of Waterloo, the daughter of Sikh immigrants has a reputation for collaborative decision-making and has connections across the country as a result of her work with the party's youth wing.

"She's a very quick study, she knows how government works," Telegdi said. "I think we're getting someone who is bright and who has a good head on her shoulders ... I encouraged her over the years, and she took to it like a duck to water."

Karen Redman, the regional councillor and former Liberal MP who served as Chief Government Whip, saw Chagger in action as Telegdi's executive assistant. She thinks Waterloo Region's reputation as a tech hub and its entrepreneurial culture helped Chagger earn the small business portfolio.

And local tourism operators, from Oktoberfest to the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, ought to be pleased they have a local MP influencing policy in Ottawa, Redman said.

"I think small business and tourism are such a good match for our region. Both of those really resonate with us locally, and I think it's great we have Bardish at the cabinet table," she said. "She'll get her sea legs really fast, because parts of this job she already knows really well."

Tourism and small business are both multi-billion-dollar cogs in the Canadian economy, and Chagger won't have much time to get up to speed. Among the challenges facing her will be a low Canadian dollar that's hurting small exporters and a promise by Trudeau to keep wealthy Canadians from using small businesses as tax shelters.

Chagger is also one of 15 women in a cabinet that is loaded with first-time MPs cutting their teeth in Ottawa. That's the most women ever appointed to a federal cabinet, and they've been handed some important positions, from international trade and the environment to justice and health.

"I find it really exciting, getting a fresh team of horses in there. But I think there's a nice balance of experience, too," Redman said. "Justin has put women in some very pivotal roles, and I think that's very exciting."

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Chagger, who most recently worked at the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre as its special events co-ordinator, isn't afraid to push forward new ideas. She was part of the Young Liberal movement that supported same-sex marriage and legalization of marijuana, policies that "horrified" some of the Liberal party's old guard, Telegdi said.

She'll also have a leg up on the day-to-day challenges of keeping constituents happy, while balancing demands in Ottawa, Redman added.

"What she understands better than most is how important good staff is, because she's worked in an MP's office," Redman said. "All MPs have this divided time between being in their riding and being in Ottawa, and Bardish understands that really well."

Anna Esselment, an assistant professor in political science at the University of Waterloo, said Chagger's lack of experience in the tourism industry or running a small business isn't a shortfall. Instead, it means she comes in free of links to interest groups that can influence her decisions.

"Some scholars think you shouldn't be in a portfolio where you already have a lot of experience … If you're someone who's brand new, you can rely on the expertise of the bureaucracy," she said. "You don't have to have a lot of expertise in the field, because you will develop it quite quickly."

Chagger's appointment should be seen as an endorsement of her potential, Esselment said.

"I think it reflects the confidence that Justin Trudeau must have in her abilities," she said. "We don't know how Justin Trudeau is going to use his cabinet, but certainly just having a face and a voice at the table is important."

Local municipal politicians were celebrating her appointment, too.

"It was helpful to see Waterloo Region represented in the federal cabinet and I can speak on behalf of city hall and city council and say we look forward to working with Bardish and the new government to make sure Waterloo Region's priorities are reflected," Waterloo Coun. Jeff Henry said.

Life is undoubtedly about to get a lot busier for Chagger, who is single and says she has fewer demands on her personal life. Knowing she'll have less time to spend in the riding as she balances cabinet duties, Redman had some advice for Chagger.

"Never forget you're representing the people who sent you there," she said. "Your schedule can take on a life of its own, so you really have to keep some balance."

- Newly elected Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger loves the political life

- D'Amato: Chagger's new job is more important than it looks

- Liberal Chagger takes Waterloo