Teresa Piruzza (born c. 1968) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2011 to 2014 who represented the southwestern riding of Windsor West. She was a cabinet minister in the government of Kathleen Wynne.
Teresa Piruzza | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 2011–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Sandra Pupatello |
| Succeeded by | Lisa Gretzky |
| Constituency | Windsor West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | John |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Windsor, Ontario |
| Occupation | Manager |
Background
editPiruzza grew up in Windsor, Ontario. She attended the University of Windsor where she obtained a BA in international relations and an MBA. She worked for the municipality as an executive director. She lives in Windsor with her husband John and their two sons.[1][2][3]
Politics
editPiruzza has a long association with the Ontario Liberal Party. She worked on campaigns for Herb Gray, former Windsor-Sandwich MPP Bill Wrye, and was the campaign manager for Sandra Pupatello in both 1995 and 1999. She also worked as Pupatello's constituency assistant before starting a successful career in the public sector.[4]
In the 2011 provincial election, Piruzza ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Windsor West after Pupatello announced her retirement. She won the riding by 3,583 votes over NDP rival Helmi Charif.[1][5] Shortly after being elected she was appointed parliamentary assistant to both the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues.[6] Following the 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention, Piruzza was appointed Minister of Children and Youth Services by new Premier Kathleen Wynne.[7]
She was defeated in the 2014 election by New Democrat Lisa Gretzky.[8] Following her defeat, there was some speculation that she would announce her candidacy for Mayor of Windsor, Ontario in the city's 2014 municipal election, but she announced on August 8 that she was joining Chrysler Canada in an executive role.[9]
Cabinet positions
editElection results
edit| 2014 Ontario general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Lisa Gretzky | 15,043 | 41.4 | +10.57 | ||||
| Liberal | Teresa Piruzza | 14,001 | 38.5 | -2.77 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Henry Lau | 5,225 | 14.4 | -10.40 | ||||
| Green | Chad Durocher | 1,171 | 3.2 | +0.15 | ||||
| Ind | Helmi Charif | 891 | 2.5 | +2.45 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 36,331 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[8] | ||||||||
| 2011 Ontario general election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Teresa Piruzza | 14,127 | 41.3 | -8.88 | ||||
| New Democratic | Helmi Charif | 10,544 | 30.8 | +5.11 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Todd Branch | 8,476 | 24.8 | +7.85 | ||||
| Green | Chad Durocher | 1,051 | 3.1 | -2.84 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 34,198 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Source: Elections Ontario[5] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b "Liberals win two out of three ridings in Windsor-Essex". CBC News. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Schmidt, Doug; Lajoie, Don; Kristy, Dylan (7 October 2011). "Piruzza takes Windsor West; Liberal holds Pupatello's seat easily". The Windsor Star. p. A3.
- ^ "Election 2011: Teresa Piruzza". Windsorite.ca News. 26 September 2011.
- ^ Jarvis, Anne (23 September 2011). "Piruzza the Grits' big hope". The Windsor Star. p. A3.
- ^ a b "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Piruzza named parliamentary aide". The Windsor Star. 11 November 2011. p. A2.
- ^ "Windsor West MPP Piruzza named Minister of Children and Youth Services". Windsor Star. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ a b "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 6, 2015.
- ^ "Piruzza not entering Windsor mayoral race, joins Chrysler Canada". Windsor Star. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2023.