Dipika Damerla

The Honourable
Dipika Damerla
MPP
Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs
Assumed office
June 13, 2016
Preceded by Mario Sergio
Associate Minister of Health
and Long-Term Care
In office
June 24, 2014 – June 13, 2016
Preceded by Portfolio Established
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Mississauga East—Cooksville
Assumed office
October 6, 2011
Preceded by Peter Fonseca
Personal details
Born Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Political party Liberal
Children 1
Alma mater University of Toronto
Portfolio Minister without portfolio Responsible/Associate Minister for Long-term Care (2014-present)
Website dipikadamerla.onmpp.ca

Dipika Damerla, MPP is a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville. She serves as a Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet of Premier Kathleen Wynne, focusing on long-term care in the health care system.

Background

Damerla was born in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India (Present day Telangana). Her early years were spent travelling around India with her family because her father was in the military. After emigrating to Canada she earned her MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. She worked in corporate banking at the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia. Prior to the election she was Senior Policy Advisor to Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Trade. She lives in Mississauga with her daughter, Sharmeila.[1]

Politics

Damerla is a member of the Ontario Liberal Party. She won a tough 2011 nomination race to be the Liberal candidate for Mississauga East—Cooksville, beating Nancy Fonseca (the sister of previous Mississauga East—Cooksville MPP Peter Fonseca).[2] She beat her nearest rival, Progressive Conservative Zoran Churchin by 4,238 votes in the 2011 provincial election.[3][4]

In November 2011, she was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Infrastructure.[5] In April 2012, Damerla introduced a resolution to reform the 1998 Condominium Act. Her resolution would help facilitate disputes between condiminium boards and owners. She said that the current system is long and costly. She said, "the act provided a dispute resolution process which was right for that time and the place. However, 14 years later, times have changed. Our province is a very different place now." The resolution passed first reading in June.[6]

She was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election.[7]

In June 2014, Damerla was appointed as an Associate Minister (Minister without portfolio) for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care focusing on long-term care.[8]

Electoral Record

Ontario general election, 2014: Mississauga East—Cooksville
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalDipika Damerla 20,934 52.33 +6.59
Progressive ConservativeZoran Churchin 10,479 26.20 −7.06
New DemocraticFayaz Karim 6,158 15.39 −1.40
GreenLinh Nguyen 1,408 3.52 +0.97
LibertarianLevko Iwanusiw 788 1.97
Equal ParentingDolly Catena 234 0.58
Total valid votes 40,001100.0
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 5571.37
Turnout 40,55843.89
Eligible voters 92,402
Liberal hold Swing +6.83
Ontario general election, 2011: Mississauga East—Cooksville
Party Candidate Votes%∆%
LiberalDipika Damerla 15,535 45.74 −13.19
Progressive ConservativeZoran Churchin 11,297 33.26 +10.18
New DemocraticWaseem Ahmed 5,704 16.79 +8.33
GreenLloyd Jones 934 2.75 −3.50
IndependentWinston Harding 199 0.59
FreedomJonathon Dury 177 0.52 −0.12
Paramount CanadiansShriya Shah-Klorfine 117 0.34
Total valid votes 33,963 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 1910.56
Turnout 34,15440.50
Eligible voters 84,330
Liberal hold Swing −11.69

References

  1. ↑ Chin, Joseph (January 10, 2012). "MPP finds her calling". Mississauga News. p. 1.
  2. ↑ Dean, Jan (July 15, 2011). "Nomination fiercely contested". Mississauga News. p. 1.
  3. ↑ Chin, Joe (October 7, 2011). "Rookie wins for Grits". Mississauga News. p. 1.
  4. ↑ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 10. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  5. ↑ Rosella, Louie (November 11, 2011). "MPPs take on new roles". Mississauga News. p. 1.
  6. ↑ Clay, Chris (June 18, 2012). "MPP Damerla's condo dispute motion passes first reading". Mississauga News. p. 1.
  7. ↑ "General Election by District: Mississauga East-Cooksville". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014.
  8. ↑ Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
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