Laura Albanese
Encyclopedia
Laura Albanese is a Canadian
politician, formerly a news anchor
for Italian language
news programming on Omni Television
. She is the Member of Provincial Parliament in the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the riding of York South—Weston
which is situated in the northwest part of Toronto. Albanese was elected as a Liberal in the Ontario general election of October 10, 2007.
Prior to her election as a Member of Provincial Parliament, Albanese enjoyed a career spanning over two decades in broadcast journalism. Throughout this time, Albanese played a central role in Italian language programming, holding key responsibilities with Omni News in a number of capacities including anchoring, hosting, reporting and producing.
In 2006, Albanese was named one of 32 Inspiring Canadian Women of Italian Origin by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Toronto.
She is the Chair of the Toronto Caucus, and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
, Italy
, in 1957 and after moving back and forth between Canada and Italy (and being influenced by both cultures), decided in 1981 to take up permanent residence in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, artist Germinio Pio Politi, her two adult children and her mother.
Other shows that she worked on included Omni News: Italian Edition, Italianissimo, Telecorriere News, and Girotondo.
candidate for the February 8, 2007 by-election for the Ontario Legislative Assembly in the York South—Weston. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament Joe Cordiano, who resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in the fall of 2006 for personal reasons. The appointment of Albanese as the Liberal candidate was contested by David-Paul Sip, another potential candidate. Sip said that his candidacy was ignored by the riding association who wanted someone who would appeal to the riding's large Italian-speaking community. Sip launched a lawsuit against the Liberal party but Albanese remained as the Liberal candidate.
Albanese narrowly lost to Paul Ferreira
of the New Democratic Party by 358 votes. Issues during the election included raising the minimum wage from $8 to $10 which was opposed by Albanese. Voters were also angered by legislators who had recently given themselves a 25% pay increase.
Eight months later she was in a rematch with Ferreira in the Ontario General Election
on October 10, 2007. This time with a much larger voter turnout, she edged Ferreira by 469 votes.
Albanese was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Culture
, Aileen Carroll
. She is also vice-chair of the committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
During her first term as MPP, Albanese advocated for funding to build the Jane Street Hub, a $6 Million investment toward building a new school for St. John the Evangelist, a major expansion at West Park Healthcare Centre , 11 full day kindergartens in the first year of the program, and introduced a Private Members Motion calling on the Province to embrace electrification.
In 2011, Albanese announced that she would run in the 2011 provincial election
. She was subsequently re-elected to the Ontario Legislature on October 6, 2011.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, formerly a news anchor
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
for Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
news programming on Omni Television
OMNI Television
Omni Television, corporately styled as OMNI Television, is a Canadian television system owned and operated by Rogers Communications. It consists of the company's conventional television stations in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta which are licensed as multicultural stations...
. She is the Member of Provincial Parliament in the Ontario Legislative Assembly for the riding of York South—Weston
York South—Weston (provincial electoral district)
York South—Weston is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1999.Its Member of Provincial Parliament is Liberal Laura Albanese.-Geography:...
which is situated in the northwest part of Toronto. Albanese was elected as a Liberal in the Ontario general election of October 10, 2007.
Prior to her election as a Member of Provincial Parliament, Albanese enjoyed a career spanning over two decades in broadcast journalism. Throughout this time, Albanese played a central role in Italian language programming, holding key responsibilities with Omni News in a number of capacities including anchoring, hosting, reporting and producing.
In 2006, Albanese was named one of 32 Inspiring Canadian Women of Italian Origin by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Toronto.
She is the Chair of the Toronto Caucus, and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
Background
Albanese was born in TarantoTaranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in 1957 and after moving back and forth between Canada and Italy (and being influenced by both cultures), decided in 1981 to take up permanent residence in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, artist Germinio Pio Politi, her two adult children and her mother.
Journalism career
Albanese worked for CFMT as a broadcast journalist from 1984 to 2007. She co-hosted Incontri with Vincenzo Somma. The show was an evening news show broadcast in the Italian language. The show was awarded "Most Innovative Programme" in 1988 by the Canadian Ethnic Journalist’s Association.Other shows that she worked on included Omni News: Italian Edition, Italianissimo, Telecorriere News, and Girotondo.
Political life
Albanese was appointed as the Ontario Liberal PartyOntario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
candidate for the February 8, 2007 by-election for the Ontario Legislative Assembly in the York South—Weston. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament Joe Cordiano, who resigned his seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
in the fall of 2006 for personal reasons. The appointment of Albanese as the Liberal candidate was contested by David-Paul Sip, another potential candidate. Sip said that his candidacy was ignored by the riding association who wanted someone who would appeal to the riding's large Italian-speaking community. Sip launched a lawsuit against the Liberal party but Albanese remained as the Liberal candidate.
Albanese narrowly lost to Paul Ferreira
Paul Ferreira
Paul Ferreira is a Canadian social democratic politician and one of the first openly gay politicians elected to provincial office in Canada. He also has the distinction of being the very first Azorean-Canadian MPP...
of the New Democratic Party by 358 votes. Issues during the election included raising the minimum wage from $8 to $10 which was opposed by Albanese. Voters were also angered by legislators who had recently given themselves a 25% pay increase.
Eight months later she was in a rematch with Ferreira in the Ontario General Election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
on October 10, 2007. This time with a much larger voter turnout, she edged Ferreira by 469 votes.
Albanese was appointed parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Culture
Ministry of Culture (Ontario)
The Ministry of Culture in the Canadian province of Ontario was responsible for the development of policies and programs and the operation of programs related to arts, cultural industries, heritage sectors and libraries, in Ontario...
, Aileen Carroll
Aileen Carroll
Margaret Aileen Carroll, PC, MPP is a Canadian politician. She was the federal Minister for International Cooperation in the Paul Martin government, and later Ontario's Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors.- Personal life :Carroll has a Bachelor of Arts from St...
. She is also vice-chair of the committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
During her first term as MPP, Albanese advocated for funding to build the Jane Street Hub, a $6 Million investment toward building a new school for St. John the Evangelist, a major expansion at West Park Healthcare Centre , 11 full day kindergartens in the first year of the program, and introduced a Private Members Motion calling on the Province to embrace electrification.
In 2011, Albanese announced that she would run in the 2011 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
. She was subsequently re-elected to the Ontario Legislature on October 6, 2011.