Sophia Aggelonitis

Sophia Aggelonitis (born c. 1968) is a Canadian businesswoman and former politician. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of Hamilton Mountain from 2007-2011. She served as the province's Minister of Revenue and Minister Responsible for Seniors in the Liberal government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Sophia Aggelonitis
Ontario MPP
In office
2007–2011
Preceded byMarie Bountrogianni
Succeeded byMonique Taylor
ConstituencyHamilton Mountain
Personal details
Born1968 (age 52–53)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
ResidenceToronto, Ontario
OccupationEntrepreneur

Background

Agglenotis was born in Toronto and raised in Welland, Ontario. She is the daughter of Greek immigrants who came from Sparta, Greece in the 1960s. She went to school at Eastdale High School and Brock University where she obtained a degree in politics and psychology.[1] She has worked as a consultant specializing in special events and environmental auditing. Her most recent venture was one called "Sauces by Sophia" selling a brand of tzatziki to supermarkets and specialty food stores in Southern Ontario.[1] In March 2007 she became president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.[2] However, she resigned three months later to pursue the Liberal nomination after Marie Bountrogianni announced that she would not seek another term in office.[3]

Politics

Aggelonitis ran as the Liberal candidate in the 2007 provincial election, defeating the NDP candidate by 2,334 votes.[4] Following the election she was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Harinder Takhar, the Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.[5]

She later served as Parliamentary Assistant to Ted McMeekin, Minister of Consumer Services, and Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. She was also named chair of the Small Business Agency of Ontario to encourage better communication between government and small business.[6]

In 2009, Aggelonitis introduced a private member's bill called An Act to proclaim Mental Health Awareness Day,[7] calling for the last day of Mental Health Week each year to be proclaimed Mental Health Awareness Day.

On January 18, 2010, Aggelonitis was named Minister of Consumer Services.[8] On August 18, 2010, she was named Minister of Revenue and Minister Responsible for Seniors.[9] In those capacities she presided over legislation to combat contraband tobacco and the implementation of stronger protections for retirement home residents.[10][11]

She ran for re-election in the 2011 provincial election, but was defeated by New Democrat Monique Taylor by 5,798 votes.[12]

Cabinet posts
Ontario provincial government of Dalton McGuinty
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
John Wilkinson Minister of Revenue
2010-2011
Also Responsible for Seniors		 Dwight Duncan
[note 1]
Ted McMeekin Minister of Consumer Services
2010 (January–August)		 Margarett Best

Electoral record
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalSophia Aggelonitis17,38737.2
New DemocraticBryan Adamczyk15,65333.5
Progressive ConservativeBob Charters10,98223.5
GreenIvan Miletic2,1224.6
FreedomMary Maan4931.1
Total valid votes 46,637 100.00
Source: Elections Ontario.[4]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticMonique Taylor20,49245.2+11.68
LiberalSophia Aggelonitis14,69432.4-4.83
Progressive ConservativeGeordie Elms8,64119.0-4.54
GreenTony Morris7481.6-3.05
Family CoalitionJim Enos4501.0-0.06
LibertarianHans Wienhold2220.5
FreedomBrian Goodwin1260.3
Total valid votes 45,373 100.00
Source: Elections Ontario.[13]

After politics

In September 2012, Aggelonitis was named as president of the Ontario Liberal Fund, a body that will co-ordinate fundraising activities for the party on the province.[14] She also serves as a judge on a local entrepreneurship contest called the "Lion's Lair" which awards cash and business resources to the winners of the contest.[15]

References

Notes
  1. Revenue merged into Ministry of Finance after 2011 election.

Citations
  1. Bourret, Suzanne (6 March 2008). "Our 'Sophia from Hamilton'; MPP, businesswoman and booster faces her 40th (happily) and focuses on future". The Spectator. p. G7.
  2. "Talking with... Sophia Aggelonitis, newly installed president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce". The Spectator. 9 March 2007. p. A17.
  3. Dreschel, Andrew (27 June 2007). "Chamber president resigns to seek Liberal nomination". The Spectator. p. A12.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 6 (xv). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009.
  5. "McGuinty Government Consults With Business Community In Chatham". Canada NewsWire. 13 December 2007.
  6. Nolan, Daniel (3 December 2009). "Premier raises profile of MPP Aggelonitis". The Spectator. p. A4.
  7. "An Act to proclaim Mental Health Awareness Day". Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
  8. "New Decade, New Challenges, New Cabinet". Government of Ontario. January 18, 2010.
  9. "Economy, Health Care And Education The Focus Of New Cabinet". Government of Ontario. August 18, 2010.
  10. "A Stronger Smoke-Free Ontario". Government of Ontario. 1 June 2011.
  11. "Stronger Protections for Ontario's Retirement Home Residents". Government of Ontario. 22 February 2011.
  12. Jones, Allison (7 Oct 2011). "Prominent candidates elected or defeated in the Ontario election: Prominent candidates elected or defeated". The Canadian Press.
  13. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for each Candidate (2011)" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2012-09-28.
  14. Dreschel, Andrew (7 September 2012). "Liberals tap Aggelonitis for top job: Former Hamilton MPP named president of Ontario Liberal Fund". The Spectator. p. A17.
  15. "Facing the Lions: New crop of entrepreneurs ready to enter the 'lair'". The Spectator. 12 September 2012. p. HB19.
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