Fontana, Joe

Ontario, London North Centre, Liberal Party of Canada

Joe Fontana

590 Oxford St. East London, ON

Joe Fontana has proudly represented London since first being elected in 1988, and has been a dynamic presence in the Liberal Caucus who has won re-elections in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2004.

He was appointed to Cabinet on July 2004 as Minister of Labour and Housing. As Minister, he has launched a national review of Part III of the Canada Labour Code (Labour Standards), has drafted legislation to create an innovative Wage Earners Protection Program and is developing the first ever national housing policy for the federal government, the Canadian Housing Framework.

Previously he was the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Science and Small Business. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Fontana served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport. He also served on three House of Commons Standing Committees: Transport, Industry, and Finance.

In recognition of the esteem with which he is held by his caucus colleagues, he was elected to three consecutive terms as Chair of the National Liberal Caucus.

Mr. Fontana also served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and Chair of the Southwestern Ontario Liberal Caucus.

In Opposition, he served as Critic for Urban Affairs and Housing, as well as Ontario Caucus Chair. He also headed Task Forces on VIA Rail, the Economy and Recession, and along with Prime Minister Paul Martin wrote a task force report on Housing.

Prior to entering federal politics, Mr. Fontana was a Councilor for the City of London, in 1978, and a member of the City of London Board of Control, in 1985.

Born in Italy in 1950, Mr. Fontana and his wife, Vicky, have three children.

majority seats = 155