Laura Albanese

The Honourable Laura Albanese MPP
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for York South—Weston
Incumbent
Assumed office October 10, 2007
Preceded by	Paul Ferreira
Personal details
Born	September 11, 1957 Taranto, Italy
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Germinio Pio Politi
Children	2
Residence	Toronto, Ontario
Occupation	Journalist

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.

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

Electoral record

Albanese at an Italian Day celebration - May 30, 2013

Ontario general election, 2014: 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)  "Official Return from the Records: 106 York South—Weston" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2015.</ref>

Ontario general election, 2011: 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 6 June 2014.

Ontario general election, 2007: 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 24 August 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			18,897	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 24 August 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. 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 (2016-07-23). "Mount Dennis residents call for renewable energy to provide backup electricity for Eglinton Crosstown LRT". Inside Toronto. Retrieved 2016-07-23. 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).

External links

• Official website
• Ontario Legislative Assembly Parliamentarian History