The Empire Club of Canada
Thursday, July 10, 2014
The Empire Club of Canada Presents:
The Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario With Looking Ahead: A Strong Plan for Ontario
Charles Sousa is the Member of Provincial Parliament, MPP, for the riding of Mississauga South and Ontario’s Minister of Finance. Charles also serves as the Vice Chair of the Treasury Board and Management Board of Cabinet. Previously, he has been the province’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan and Para Pan American Games. Sousa also served as Minister of Labour from 2010 to 2011 after having been Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Charles grew up in Mississauga, and is currently living in Clarkson with his wife and their three children.
Accomplishments: Charles successfully introduced the 2013 Budget and Fall Economic Statement during his first year as Minister of Finance. He also negotiated a deal to establish a Cooperative Securities Regulator and has lead a national discussion on retirement income security. As Minister of Labour, Charles led the largest overhaul of Ontario’s occupational health and safety system in 30 years. On October 8th 2009, Charles debated his private member’s resolution calling on the Ministry of Education to include financial literacy education in Ontario’s elementary and secondary school curricula. Citing a need to better prepare students to make financial decisions, the resolution passed unanimously. Community Involvement: Charles continues to champion the protection and revitalization of Mississauga’s waterfront for Lakeview and Clarkson. He also works closely with the Mississauga Halton LHIN, Trillium Health Centre and Credit Valley Hospital to improve health services in our community. Charles fundraises for numerous charitable events in the community including the United Way, the Rainbow Ball Foundation of Mississauga and the Community Foundation of Mississauga. He also served as a member of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Toronto Board of Trade and a director of the American Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president of the Federation of Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals and member of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Toronto, EUCOCIT. Charles received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his service to the community. In 2009, he was inducted as a Commander to the Order of Merit, Portugal.
Speaker:
The Honourable Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario
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