Peter Fonseca
- Born
- October 5, 1966 — Lisbon, Portugal
- Family
- Married to Christine "Chris" Fonseca in 2003
- Education
- BA, University of Oregon; BEd, University of Windsor
- Career
- Senior performance management consultant for the Coach Corporation; ran an importing and distributing company in Portugal
- Political Experience
- Provincial Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing Mississauga East (2003-2007) and Mississauga East—Cooksville (2007- 2011); Minister of Tourism and Recreation; Minister of Labour; Chair of the Finance Committee
- Notable
- Dual-citizenship with Portugal; represented Canada at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia in the Men's Marathon
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before entering federal politics, Peter Fonseca had a career in athletics and provincial politics. He was an accomplished marathon runner who represented Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He also worked in the financial services industry as an investment and insurance advisor. Fonseca served as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in Ontario from 2003 to 2011. During his time in the provincial government, he held cabinet positions, including Minister of Labour and Minister of Tourism and Recreation.
Public Controversies
In 2011, while serving as Ontario's Minister of Labour, Peter Fonseca resigned from his provincial cabinet post and his seat as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to run as a candidate in the federal election. His decision was criticized by opposition parties and some members of the public. The criticism focused on the timing of his departure, which triggered a provincial by-election, and the perception that he was abandoning his provincial responsibilities for a federal opportunity. Fonseca was unsuccessful in his 2011 federal campaign but was later elected to the House of Commons in 2015.
Where Peter falls on key policy spectrums
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How does Peter Fonseca's voting record line up with your values?
C-35 Would you also agree that Billshifts Canada's approach from proving forced labour after the fact to preventing suspect goods from entering Canada in the first place?
Canada would have one of the most comprehensive forced labour frameworks in the world.
Rather than proving forced labour after the fact, it's to prevent suspect goods from entering Canada in the first place. What are the steps that would change that, reverse that onus so that businesses would be able to provide the information? What information would you be looking for from businesses before that importation takes place?
C-35 I understand there will be consultations over the summer as we go through Bill. In terms of recommendations that have come from labour organizations, human rights groups and businesses that have called for these enforcement tools, have some of those been addressed within Bill C-35? Can you respond to that?
Thank you. MP Acan, go ahead.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be sharing my time with MP Acan. C-35 First up, the focus of my questions will be Bill. Would you agree that this bill builds on the 2020 import ban and the 2024 supply chains act to create one of the most comprehensive forced labour frameworks in the world?