Teresa Piruzza

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 bySandra Pupatello
Succeeded byLisa Gretzky
ConstituencyWindsor West
Personal details
Born1968 (age 52–53)
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)John
Children2
ResidenceWindsor, Ontario
OccupationManager

Background

Piruzza 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

Piruzza 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
Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Laurel Broten Minister of Children and Youth Services
2013–2014
Also responsible for women's issues		 Tracy MacCharles

Election results
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticLisa Gretzky15,04341.4+10.57
LiberalTeresa Piruzza14,00138.5-2.77
Progressive ConservativeHenry Lau5,22514.4-10.40
GreenChad Durocher1,1713.2+0.15
IndHelmi Charif8912.5+2.45
Total valid votes 36,331100.00
Source: Elections Ontario[8]
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalTeresa Piruzza14,12741.3-8.88
New DemocraticHelmi Charif10,54430.8+5.11
Progressive ConservativeTodd Branch8,47624.8+7.85
GreenChad Durocher1,0513.1-2.84
Total valid votes 34,198100.00
Source: Elections Ontario[5]

References
  1. "Liberals win two out of three ridings in Windsor-Essex". CBC News. October 6, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  2. Schmidt, Doug; Lajoie, Don; Kristy, Dylan (October 7, 2011). "Piruzza takes Windsor West; Liberal holds Pupatello's seat easily". The Windsor Star. p. A3.
  3. "Election 2011: Teresa Piruzza". Windsorite.ca News. September 26, 2011.
  4. Jarvis, Anne (September 23, 2011). "Piruzza the Grits' big hope". The Windsor Star. p. A3.
  5. "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.
  6. "Piruzza named parliamentary aide". The Windsor Star. November 11, 2011. p. A2.
  7. "Windsor West MPP Piruzza named Minister of Children and Youth Services". Windsor Star. February 11, 2013.
  8. "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.
  9. "Piruzza not entering Windsor mayoral race, joins Chrysler Canada". Windsor Star, August 8, 2014.
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