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Laura Albanese

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The Honourable
Laura Albanese
MPP
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for York South—Weston
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 10, 2007
Preceded byPaul Ferreira
Personal details
Born (1957-09-11) September 11, 1957 (age 67)
Taranto, Italy
Political partyLiberal
SpouseGerminio Pio Politi
Children2
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario
OccupationJournalist

Laura Albanese (born September 11, 1957) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who was elected in 2007. She represents the Toronto riding of York South—Weston. She serves as a cabinet minister in the government of Kathleen Wynne. She worked as a news anchor for Italian language news programming on Omni Television working in Italian language programming.

Background

Albanese (left) as anchor of Omni News: Italian Edition on CFMT

Albanese was born in Taranto, Italy, in 1957. In her youth, she moved back and forth between Canada and Italy. She settled in Canada in 1981 and has lived in York South-Weston ever since with her husband, artist Germinio Pio Politi, her two adult children, her grandson, and her mother. [citation needed]

Albanese worked in broadcast journalism spanning over two decades, from 1984 to 2007.[1] She worked in Italian language programming at OMNI TV in a number of capacities. She was featured as Co-Anchor of OMNI News: Italian Edition, a one-hour daily Italian language newscast. She co-hosted Incontri with Vincenzo Somma. The show was an evening news show broadcast in the Italian language.[2] Other shows that she worked on included Omni News: Italian Edition, Italianissimo, Telecorriere News, and Girotondo.

Politics

Albanese was nominated as the Liberal candidate for the February 8, 2007 provincial by-election in the riding of York South—Weston. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Joe Cordiano, who resigned his seat for personal reasons.[3] The appointment of Albanese as the Liberal candidate was contested by David-Paul Sip, another potential candidate. Sip said that his candidacy was ignored by the riding association who wanted someone who would appeal to the riding's large Italian-speaking community. Sip launched a lawsuit against the Liberal party but Albanese remained as the Liberal candidate.[4]

Albanese narrowly lost to Paul Ferreira of the New Democratic Party by 358 votes. Ferreira advocated raising the minimum wage from $8 to $10 which was opposed by the Liberal party. Voters were also angered by legislators who had recently given themselves a 25% pay increase.[3] Eight months later she was in a rematch with Ferreira in the 2007 provincial election. This time with a much larger voter turnout, she edged Ferreira by 469 votes.[5][6]

Albanese was appointed parliamentary assistant (PA) to the Minister of Culture, Aileen Carroll. During her first term as MPP, Albanese advocated for funding to build the Jane Street Hub, a $6 Million investment toward building a new school for St. John the Evangelist,[7] a major expansion at West Park Healthcare Centre,[8] 11 full day kindergartens in the first year of the program, and introduced a Private Members Motion calling on the Province to embrace electrification and another calling on increased safety of residential neighbourhoods close to volatile fuels operations. She also introduced a Private Members Bill to eliminate the deduction of Old Age Security from workers compensation benefits.

She was re-elected in the 2011 election.[9][10] In her second term she was appointed PA to the Minister of Labour and subsequently PA to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

In 2013, when Kathleen Wynne took over as Premier, Albanese was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier and also made Deputy Government Whip. In the June 2014 election she met Ferreira for a fourth time, and defeated him by 3,572 votes.[11]

After the 2014 election she was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance and also serves as Government Caucus Chair. On June 13, 2016 she was appointed to cabinet as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.[12]

The community of Mount Dennis lies in Albanese constituency. Provincial agency MetroLinx planned to construct an 18 megawatt natural gas powered backup power plant at the Eglinton LRT Carhouse, in Mount Dennis. In response the Mount Dennis Community Association prepared a petition voicing concern that a plant using a fossil fuel would cause unacceptable local pollution, when used.[13] On July 23, 2016, Albenese met with representatives of the Association, and assured them that MetroLinx would investigate less polluting alternatives to fossil fuels.

Cabinet posts

Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Michael Chan Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
2016–present 		Incumbent

Electoral record

Albanese at an Italian Day celebration - May 30, 2013
2014 Ontario general election: York South—Weston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laura Albanese 15,669 47.85 +3.30
New Democratic Paul Ferreira 12,200 37.25 -4.93
Progressive Conservative Andrew Ffrench 3,687 11.26 +0.16
Green Jessica Higgins 797 2.43 +0.90
Freedom Eric Compton 249 0.76 +0.27
Independent Abi Issa 146 0.45
Total valid votes 32,748 100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 404 1.22
Turnout 33,152 46.13
Eligible voters 71,860
Liberal hold Swing +4.11
Source(s)
[14]
2011 Ontario general election: York South—Weston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laura Albanese 13,805 44.55 +1.61
New Democratic Paul Ferreira 13,071 42.18 +0.64
Progressive Conservative Lan Daniel 3,441 11.10 +1.26
Green Keith Jarrett 474 1.53 -2.27
Freedom Eric Compton 151 0.49  
Independent Michael Radejewski 45 0.15  
Total valid votes 30,987 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 227 0.73
Turnout 31,214 44.86
Eligible voters 69,580
Liberal hold Swing +0.49
Source(s)
"Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiel - York South—Weston" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
2007 Ontario general election: York South—Weston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laura Albanese 13,846 42.94 +1.50
New Democratic Paul Ferreira 13,394 41.54 -1.79
Progressive Conservative Karen McMillan-Aver 3,173 9.84 -0.43
Green Anthony Gratl 1,226 3.80 +2.41
Libertarian Marco Dias 385 1.19 +0.67
Family Coalition Mariangela Sanabria 218 0.68 -0.06
Total valid votes 32,242 100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 433 1.33
Turnout 32,675 46.34
Eligible voters 70,518
Liberal gain from New Democratic Swing +1.64
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2007). "General Election Poll By Poll Results: 106 York South-Weston" (PDF). Retrieved August 24, 2015.
Ontario provincial by-election, February 8, 2007: York South—Weston
Resignation of Joseph Cordiano
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Paul Ferreira 8,146 43.33 +24.04
Liberal Laura Albanese 7,831 41.44 −20.12
Progressive Conservative Pina Martino 1,917 10.27 −4.96
Green Mir Kamal 263 1.39 −1.06
Independent Kevin Clarke 220 1.16  
Independent Mohammed Choudhary 142 0.75  
Family Coalition Mariangela Sanabria 134 0.74 −0.73
Libertarian Nunzio Venuto 101 0.52  
Freedom Wayne Simmons 77 0.41
Total valid votes 18,831 100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 146 0.77
Turnout 18,977 28.62
Eligible voters 66,308
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +22.08
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2007). "By-Election 2007: Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate". Retrieved August 24, 2015.

References

  1. ^ Collins, Michelle (December 26, 2006). "News anchor seeking Liberal nomination in High Park". The Globe and Mail. p. 22.
  2. ^ Smith, Diane (July 15, 1989). "Whatever language, the news gets through". The Globe and Mail. p. 9.
  3. ^ a b Campbell, Murray; Karen Howlett (February 9, 2007). "NDP grabs Liberal seat in Ontario by-elections". The Globe and Mail.
  4. ^ Skinner, Justin (February 1, 2007). "Liberal supporter sues Liberal party". York Guardian. p. 1.
  5. ^ Rankin, Jim (October 12, 2007). "Rematch tilts Albanese's way; Ex-TV journalist 'tired but happy' to edge NDP's Ferreira eight months after close loss in by-election". Toronto Star. p. A19.
  6. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 18 (xxvii).
  7. ^ Kim, Clark (September 14, 2011). ".School lobbies for new building instead of addition". York Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  8. ^ Kim, Clark (August 24, 2011). "West Park to renovate and expand". York Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  9. ^ Kim, Clark (October 7, 2011). ".YORK SOUTH-WESTON: Albanese edges Ferreira". York Guardian. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  10. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 20>.
  11. ^ "General Election by District: York South-Weston". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.
  12. ^ "Kathleen Wynne's shuffled cabinet features 40% women". CBC News. June 13, 2016.
  13. ^ Lisa Rainford (July 23, 2016). "Mount Dennis residents call for renewable energy to provide backup electricity for Eglinton Crosstown LRT". Inside Toronto. Retrieved July 23, 2016. Metrolinx's initial proposal for a gas-powered backup facility, an 18-megawatt generator as part of its maintenance and storage facility on the former Kodak lands, concerned local residents prompting them to sign a petition circulated by the Mount Dennis Community Association (MDCA). {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Official Return from the Records: 106 York South—Weston" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2015.
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