Joe Fontana
The Honourable Joseph Fontana (born January 13, 1950 in Celare, Cosenza, Italy) is a Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of London-North Centre, in London, Ontario.Before becoming involved in federal politics Fontana was a businessman and was involved in the insurance industry. He also sat on the London city council and the London Board of Control.
In 1988 he was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the opposition and served as Critic for Urban Affairs and Housing. He also became the Ontario chair of the Liberal Caucus, and was involved in the Task Force on VIA Rail and the Task Force on the Economy and Recession.
He was re-elected in 1993 and became Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport ÃÂÃÂ playing a key role in, among other things, the introduction of the National Airports Policy. From 1996 to 1999 he served as chair of the National Liberal Caucus, and in 1999 became chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and the the chair of the Southwestern Ontario Liberal Caucus.
He was re-elected again in 1997 and 2000, and is currently the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with special emphasis on Science and Small Business.