Ross Romano
MPP
Romano speaking during the Members' Statements in 2018
Ontario Chief Government Whip
Assumed office
June 30, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byLorne Coe
Ontario Minister of Government and Consumer Services
In office
June 18, 2021 – June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byLisa Thompson
Succeeded byKaleed Rasheed
Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities
In office
June 20, 2019 – June 18, 2021
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byMerrilee Fullerton
Succeeded byJill Dunlop
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Sault Ste. Marie
Assumed office
June 1, 2017
Preceded byDavid Orazietti
Sault Ste. Marie City Councillor
In office
December 1, 2014 – June 12, 2017
Preceded byFrank Manzo
Succeeded byOzzie Grandinetti
ConstituencyWard 6
Personal details
BornOctober 13, 1979
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer

Rosario "Ross" Romano MPP (born 1979) is a Canadian politician who serves as Chief Government Whip in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.[1] A member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, Romano has held a number of portfolios since the PCs formed government in 2018, including as minister of government and consumer services, and minister of colleges and universities. He represents the riding of Sault Ste. Marie. During his tenure as minister of colleges and universities, the 2021 Laurentian University financial crisis unfolded, which raised questions and criticism about Romano's knowledge of the financial state of the University and his involvement[2]

Political career

He was first elected in a by-election on June 1, 2017 and became the first Conservative to represent the district in 32 years.[3] A lawyer by profession, Romano began his political career upon being elected to the Sault Ste. Marie City Council in 2014.[4] Romano was re-elected on June 7, 2018 with a 1.29% advantage over Michele McCleave-Kennedy.[5]

Electoral record

2022 Ontario general election: Sault Ste. Marie
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Ross Romano 12,606 46.89 +4.86 $49,426
New Democratic Michele McCleave-Kennedy 10,029 37.30 −3.43 $78,662
Liberal Liam Hancock 1,610 5.99 −3.97 $0
Independent Naomi Sayers 1,070 3.98   $2,001
New Blue S. Pankhurst 894 3.33   $1,690
Green Keagan Gilfillan 675 2.51 −0.74 $381
Total valid votes/Expense limit 26,884 99.47 +0.48 $85,145
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 143 0.53 -0.48
Turnout 27,027 44.49 -10.00
Eligible voters 60,818
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +4.15
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.
2018 Ontario general election: Sault Ste. Marie
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Ross Romano 13,498 42.03 +1.66
New Democratic Michele McCleave-Kennedy 13,084 40.74 +7.92
Liberal Jaclynne Hamel 3,199 9.96 –13.05
Green Kara Flannigan 1,044 3.25 +1.26
Northern Ontario Sandy Holmberg 993 3.09
Libertarian Lance Brizard 299 0.93 +0.65
Total valid votes 32,117 100.0  
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots
Turnout 54.79
Eligible voters 58,616
Progressive Conservative hold Swing –3.13
Source: Elections Ontario[6]
Ontario provincial by-election, June 1, 2017
Resignation of David Orazietti
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Ross Romano 10,411 40.37 +27.98
New Democratic Joe Krmpotich 8,465 32.82 +7.63
Liberal Debbie Amaroso 5,935 23.01 –35.57
Green Kara Flannigan 512 1.98 –1.25
None of the Above Above Znoneofthe 313 1.21
Libertarian Gene Balfour 71 0.28 –0.10
Pauper John Turmel 47 0.18
Total valid votes 25,785 100.0  
Turnout 43.93
Registered electors 58,690
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +10.14
Source: Elections Ontario[7]

References

  1. ^ Armstrong, Kenneth (June 30, 2022). "Ross Romano to be named chief government whip". SooToday.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "The fix: Inside Laurentian University's demise".
  3. ^ "Tories’ Ross Romano wins provincial byelection in Sault Ste. Marie". The Globe and Mail, June 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "Candidate profile: Ross Romano, 'we've knocked on every single door'". CTV Northern Ontario, May 24, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ontario Elections. Incumbent Ross Romano Elected In Sault Ste. Marie." Sault Online, June 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Online Election Night Results (174 of 174 polls reporting)". Elections Ontario. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.


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