Ross Romano

Ross Romano
MPP
Romano speaking during the Members' Statements in 2018
Ontario Chief Government Whip
Incumbent
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
Incumbent
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.

Political career

A lawyer by profession, Romano began his political career upon being elected to the Sault Ste. Marie City Council in 2014. He was first elected to the Ontario Legislature on June 1, 2017, in a by-election called due to the retirement of the riding's previous MPP, David Orazietti, thus becoming the first Conservative to represent the district in 32 years.[2]

Romano was re-elected on June 7, 2018, with a 1.29% advantage over Michele McCleave-Kennedy.[3]

He was appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities in June 2019,[4] championing initiatives such as provincial support for microcredentials.[5] During his tenure, Laurentian University declared insolvency and filed for creditor protection.[6]

Romano was shuffled to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services in June 2021.[7] He presided over the launch of Ontario's new online Business Registry, which aimed to shift many paper-based processes to digital ones.[8] Its launch was difficult, punctuated with "system shutdowns, technical glitches and substantive problems".[9] One media outlet described it as a disaster,[10] with some law firms telling their clients to avoid the creation or use of Ontario corporate entities so as not to put business transactions at risk.[11]

In June 2022, Romano won re-election with an increased margin over NDP challenger Michele McCleave-Kennedy amid a decline of some 10% in voter turnout. Shortly thereafter, he was removed from his position as Minister of Government and Consumer Services as part of a post-election cabinet shuffle.[12] He was named Government Whip later that month.

In December 2024, he announced that he would not be seeking reelection, and would retire from provincial politics at the end of his current term to spend more time with his family.[13][14]

Awards and Honours

In June 2024, Romano was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award from his undergraduate alma mater Algoma University,[15] which at the time of his attendance was an affiliated college of Laurentian.

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[16]
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[17]

References

  1. ^ Armstrong, Kenneth (June 30, 2022). "Ross Romano to be named chief government whip". SooToday.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  2. ^ "Tories’ Ross Romano wins provincial byelection in Sault Ste. Marie". The Globe and Mail, June 1, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ontario Elections. Incumbent Ross Romano Elected In Sault Ste. Marie." Sault Online, June 7, 2018.
  4. ^ "Ross Romano appointed Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities". SooToday. Village Media. 20 Jun 2019. Retrieved 15 Dec 2024.
  5. ^ Kelly, Brian (18 Mar 2021). "Province helps with micro-credential training". The Sault Star. Postmedia. Retrieved 16 Dec 2024.
  6. ^ "Laurentian University, key school for northern Ontario, files for creditor protection". CBC News Sudbury. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. ^ "Romano out as minister of colleges, universities after Doug Ford shuffles cabinet". Sudbury.com. 18 Jun 2021. Retrieved 15 Dec 2024.
  8. ^ "Ontario Making Life Easier With New Business Registry". Government of Ontario. 19 Oct 2021. Retrieved 16 Dec 2024.
  9. ^ Brown, Desmond (25 Nov 2021). "Ontario's new online business registry rife with 'system shutdowns, technical glitches,' lawyers say". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 Dec 2024.
  10. ^ Goldgrub, Marc (17 Apr 2022). "Ontario's new online business registry is a disaster". Retrieved 16 Dec 2024.
  11. ^ Benzie, Robert (24 Nov 2021). "Doug Ford's glitchy online business registry has major law firms telling clients to avoid Ontario". The Toronto Star. Torstar Corporation. Retrieved 16 Dec 2024.
  12. ^ "Romano out as Premier Ford names new cabinet". SooToday. Village Media. 24 Jun 2022. Retrieved 15 Dec 2024.
  13. ^ Della-Mattia, Elaine (13 Dec 2024). "Sault MPP Ross Romano to bid adieu to provincial politics". The Sault Star. Postmedia. Retrieved 15 Dec 2024.
  14. ^ Moussongo, Orphée (12 Dec 2024). "Le député Ross Romano se retire de la politique provinciale" (in French). Radio-Canada. Retrieved 15 Dec 2024.
  15. ^ "MPP Ross Romano: 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient". Algoma University. 14 Jun 2024. Retrieved 18 Dec 2024.
  16. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 9. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  17. ^ "Online Election Night Results (174 of 174 polls reporting)". Elections Ontario. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.


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