Joe Peschisolido

Who is Joe Peschisolido?

Joe Peschisolido is a Canadian politician and businessman.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Peschisolido has a BA degree in Political Science from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.

In 1993, Peschisolido joined the Reform Party of Canada. He was twice a candidate in Etobicoke North, placing second in both elections. Peschisoliso ran a third time for the Reform Party of Canada in the riding of Mississauga South and was defeated by Liberal Paul Szabo. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Richmond in the 2000 general election, defeating Liberal incumbent, Raymond Chan. In 2002, Peschisolido left the Canadian Alliance and crossed the floor to the Liberal Party without consulting his constituents. In 2003 he served as parliamentary secretary to the president of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. In the run-up to the 2004 general election, Peschisolido battled Raymond Chan for the Liberal Party's nomination, which Chan won after a fiercely contested race. His defeat was due to the belief of a number of Richmond Liberals that he was not a real Liberal. Peschisolido won back the nomination for Richmond for the 2011 federal election, defeating Mason Loh and Raymond Chan for the nomination on September 26, 2009. In the May 2, 2011 election he was defeated by the incumbent Conservative MP, Alice Wong, by more than 17,000 votes.