Minister's Biography

Peter Fonseca
Minister of Labour

Peter Fonseca was elected to the Ontario legislature in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. Fonseca was appointed Minister of Labour in 2008. He previously served as Minister of Tourism and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Health Promotion.

Before becoming an MPP, Fonseca was a senior performance management consultant, where he delivered highly successful strategic planning, ISO quality assurance and human resources programs for businesses and professionals. During the 1990s, he was Canada's leading marathon runner and represented Canada in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Always the entrepreneur he helped launch a successful import and distribution company.

Amongst his community volunteer work, Fonseca developed a Youth for Youth leadership program in the Peel region that helps disenfranchised youth find a positive career path. He has been a spokesperson for environmental causes as part of Pollution Probes-Clean Air Champions and works with laudable organizations like the Special Olympics. He was a member of Team 2008, a group of athletes committed to Toronto's Olympic bid.

Fonseca was born in Lisbon, Portugal, in 1966. He immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1968 and settled in Toronto's "Little Italy" and "Little Portugal" neighbourhoods. After graduating from St. Michael's College, he attended the University of Oregon on an athletic scholarship, where he received his B.A. in English. He also holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Windsor. Today he lives in Mississauga with his wife Christina and two year old twin boys Sebastien and Alexander.