Gladu was a professional engineer who worked for Dow Chemical for 21 years, in a variety of roles locally and globally. She then became engineering manager and subsequently the director of engineering at Suncor before taking a consultant role at WorleyParsons. During her career, Gladu was the chair for the Canadian Society of Chemical Engineers locally, and the national director of science and industrial policy for the same organization. She has been on the dean's advisory council for the Faculty of Engineering at Queen's University.
In 2016, she sponsored a private member's bill (C-277), "An Act providing for the development of a framework on palliative care in Canada" which became law in December 2017.[3]
Gladu was named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers and a Fellow of Engineers Canada in 2017.
She currently serves as the Official Opposition's critic for civil liberties. She previously served as critic for health and as chair of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Under the previous leadership of Rona Ambrose, Gladu was the Official Opposition critic for science.
In April 2020, Gladu sparked controversy in an interview with Melanie Irwin of Blackburn Radio by promoting a controversial and unproven treatment for COVID-19.[6] At that time, Gladu referred to the treatment of “hydroxychloroquine, with azithromycin and zinc sulphate” as having a “nearly 100 per cent recovery rate”.[7][8] Gladu responded to the reports claiming that her "comments were taken out of context and do not accurately represent the full plan needed." Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley called Gladu's comments "surprising, disappointing and not reflective of what medical experts in Canada and the United States have been saying.".[9]
In June 2021, Gladu publicly opposed and voted against Bill C-6, an act that would end the practice of conversion therapy in Canada.[10] The Bill passed in the House of Commons but did not pass through the Senate. Conservatives subsequently brought a unanimous consent motion to pass the amended conversion therapy bill at all stages in 2021.
In 2022, Gladu introduced Bill C-228, the Pension Protection Act to protect pensioners in cases of company bankruptcy. The bill passed unanimously in the House of Commons and is currently before the Senate.
In addition to English, Gladu speaks French.
In December 2023, Gladu introduced a bill that would declare December to be Christian Heritage Month.[11]
Awards and recognition
In 2016, Gladu was honored by Maclean's as the most collegial MP of 2016, "Increasingly known for her pragmatic approach, the rookie MP for Sarnia–Lambton is a loyal Conservative who consistently works across party lines."[12]
