Kinga Surma

Surma was born in Poland and moved with her family to Canada when she was four years old, and was raised in Ottawa.[2]

Surma attended the University of Guelph majoring in Public Policy & Administration, and spent a year in France studying Economics. After graduation, Surma relocated to Toronto.[2]

Surma worked for former Toronto City Councillor Peter Milczyn, and at the same time was the President for the Etobicoke-Lakeshore PC riding association. Surma worked on the Etobicoke—Lakeshore 2013 by-election for PC candidate. Following the election she was fired from her job with at Toronto City Hall.[4]

Surma ran for City Councillor in Ward 5 in the 2014 Toronto municipal election and placed second with 13.9% of the vote.[5]

Surma won the contested Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario nomination in the riding of Etobicoke Centre in November 2016. It was alleged that then former City Councillor Doug Ford initimidated her opponent in favour of Surma.[6][7] Further controversies regarding the election followed, as Ford was accused of breaking party rules by purchasing party memberships to secure voters for the election of Surma.[4] This came after the release of an audio recording of Ford recruiting members with Surma, claiming memberships are free.[8] Voting is only open to party members who pay a membership fee.[8] Although the accusations were allegedly not fully investigated by the party, Ford was cleared by the PCs of wrongdoing in 2018.[8]

Surma ran in the 2018 Ontario general election, and won her riding of Etobicoke Centre with 42.67% of the vote.

Following her election, MPP Surma did not introduce any primate members bills during her time as an MPP.[9]

On June 27, 2019, Surma was appointed as the Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA). She is the youngest female member of Executive Council of Ontario.[10]

Surma is committed to expanding subways in the GTA and implementing the province's "New Subway Transit Plan for the GTHA" which includes the Ontario Line, Line 2 Bloor–Danforth extension further into Scarborough, the western extension of Line 5 Eglinton to Toronto Pearson International Airport and the extension of Line 1 Yonge–University to Richmond Hill, Ontario.[11]

Surma is also committed to expanding the provincial GO Transit rail network to provide two-way, all-day service on key segments of the network.[12]

As part of an economic recovery package from COVID-19, Surma introduced legislation to fast track construction on the province's new subway projects.[13]

As an MPP, Surma is an advocate for many community programs such as the Daily Bread Food Bank,[14] Haven on the Q,[14] and the Basketeers program.[15]

Surma supports the underground tunnelling of the western extension of the Eglinton Crosstown. She is also very concerned with the state of local schools, traffic and congestion along with support for seniors and people with disabilities.[16]

Surma sought funding for a new Toronto Catholic District School Board school in her riding.[17]

She is also an advocate for a community centre in Etobicoke Centre.[18]

• Official website