Latest news with #SandraPupatello
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Windsor-Detroit trade needs enhanced security: Pupatello speaks out
Senator Sandra Pupatello is raising alarm bells when it comes to gaps in Canada's security, specifically concerning the protection of waterways in Essex County and the Windsor-Detroit trade corridor. At Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee meeting, Pupatello was able to make remarks directed at both the Ministry of Public Safety and the Ministry of Defense, both of which are seeking increased spending to enhance security and trade protections. Pupatello told AM800's The Shift with Patty Handysides that she believes the money should be invested in the Windsor-Essex region. 'I'm concerned that we have a much better focus on the epicentre, especially considering the tariffs we're facing because our American friends are insisting that they see an enhanced environment for guns, for drugs, protecting our citizenry, this is the time for an investment right here,' said Pupatello. Pupatello says she feels there's a lack of coordination between agencies through the Windsor-Detroit corridor. 'It is the epicentre of trade for North America. We have 25 per cent of Canada's trade with America going right through Windsor-Detroit, and if you were to understand how many agencies are involved, and yet, there is zero coordination amongst them to guarantee that we have 24/7 coverage, some of the details I think are pretty shocking,' she said. Pupatello is calling for at minimum, enhanced electronic surveillance. 'I see a capital spend coming down the road, where is that going to go? I think this should be the epicentre of those kinds of investments. If we get it right in Windsor-Detroit, the most prominent trade corridor in the continent, we're going to get it right everywhere else,' Pupatello said. She added she is committed to closely monitor the plans that the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Safety will develop, particularly their request of billions in additional funding. — Duston Coffman/AM800 News
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Senator Sandra: Long time Windsor politician now in the upper house of Canada's democracy
Sandra Pupatello gets sworn-in to the Canadian Senate on May 29, 2025. Long time Windsor politician, Sandra Pupatello, is now a Canadian Senator. Pupatello was sworn in May 29 as a Senator, and she is now a member of the Canadian Senators Group (CSG). 'I'm pretty excited,' Pupatello said Friday in studio on AM800's 'The Shift with Patty Handysides.' Pupatello said she was thrilled to see former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty at the ceremony in Ottawa. 'I'm really in gratitude because of a lot of the roles he gave me,' she said. Pupatello was an MPP for Windsor West from 1995 until 2011, during which time she served as Minister of Education and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. The latter, Pupatello told Handysides, is where she plans to focus her work in the Senate. 'I genuinely think you use the platform of the Senate, and you move the things that you know are important at the time,' Pupatello said. She plans to focus on the U.S. tariff threat. 'It's a whole new world now just because of this existential threat wondering is our supply chain gonna hold?' Pupatello said arguing Canada went 'the easy' route by relying on the Americans for trade. 'This is actually the perfect time for me to jump into those issues, for Windsor in particular,' she said. 'This is our time. We need to put our foot on the pedal.' Pupatello also noted since former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau started to shift the Senate away from partisanship, every single piece of government legislation has been amended or 'tweaked'. 'It's called the chamber of sober second thought,' Pupatello explained. Pupatello joins Senator Sharon Burey as the second Senator to hail from Windsor. Check out the full interview by scrolling to the one-hour 15-minute mark.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Windsorite Sandra Pupatello becomes Canadian Senator
Sandra Pupatello gets sworn-in to the Canadian Senate on May 29, 2025. Windsorite Sandra Pupatello has become a Canadian Senator. Pupatello was sworn in on Thursday, becoming a member of the Canadian Senators Group. She was an MPP in Windsor-West from 1995 until 2011. During her time as an MPP, she held roles such as Minister of Education and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. In a recent interview with AM800's Patty Handysides, Pupatello outlined how the Senate works. 'Ever since Trudeau made the Senate independent, post 2015, not a single bill has come into the Senate that hasn't received amendments or changes,' she explained. 'Which is really interesting. We need to look at the unintended consequences of legislation. Is this going to do what it's intended to do?'
CBC
08-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Former Windsor MPP Sandra Pupatello named Canadian senator
Pupatello is among five new appointees to the Senate of Canada Sandra Pupatello, former MPP for Windsor West, is now a Canadian senator. Pupatello is among five new appointees to the Senate announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Friday. The announcement mentioned Pupatello's time in politics, and described her as "an experienced businesswoman" as well as "an advocate for Ontario's economic growth and development." All Senate seats filled after PM announces 5 more appointments In a phone interview Friday, Pupatello said she was excited — and surprised — to find out about the appointment. "I was very honoured to get that call and I'm looking forward to it," she said. "It's sort of a new chapter in a new role, but still defending Ontario, defending Canada and I'm proud of that." "There's a lot going on in government right now," she said. "So the fact that they have to take the time, in light of everything that we're facing related to the U.S. — I was just very surprised." Pupatello joins Dawn Arnold of New Brunswick, Tony Ince of Nova Scotia, and fellow Ontarians Katherine Hay and Farah Mohamed as the Senate's newest members. According to the announcement, the appointments were recommended by an independent advisory board, and were chosen "using a merit-based process open to all Canadians." Pupatello, 62, was first elected Windsor West's MPP in 1995. She held the office for 16 years, announcing in 2011 that she would not seek re-election. During her time at Queen's Park, she held several cabinet posts in the Ontario Liberal government, including Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Following her departure from the Windsor West MPP seat, Pupatello worked on Bay Street for the financial services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers and founded her own management consulting firm. She also held positions including chair of Hydro One and CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation (now called Invest WindsorEssex). But Pupatello has had other forays into politics since her MPP days. In 2013, she made a bid for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, but was defeated by Kathleen Wynne. She also made two unsuccessful attempts to supplant Brian Masse as MP for Windsor West — first in the 2019 federal election, and again in 2021. Canadian senators, who have an annual base salary of $178,100, are tasked with examining, improving, and correcting legislation. A bill must pass through the Senate before becoming law. Pupatello acknowledged Friday that working in the upper chamber will be a change of gears for her. "It's a different role. It is nonpartisan. It really is about the facts and what are we doing that's good for the country," she said. "So it is a different role from what I've had in the past." She said she's always been passionate about how government policy affects the business community and everyday lives, and is looking forward to putting "fresh eyes" on legislation. "I hope that my history here in Windsor will stand me in good stead, because the people of Windsor have always been really good to me and helped me learn along the way," she said. "So I hope I can make use of that experience."
CBC
08-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Former Windsor MPP Sandra Pupatello named Canadian senator
Social Sharing Sandra Pupatello, former MPP for Windsor West, is now a Canadian senator. Pupatello is among five new appointees to the Senate announced by the Prime Minister's Office on Friday. The announcement mentioned Pupatello's time in politics, and described her as "an experienced businesswoman" as well as "an advocate for Ontario's economic growth and development." In a phone interview Friday, Pupatello said she was excited — and surprised — to find out about the appointment. "I was very honoured to get that call and I'm looking forward to it," she said. "It's sort of a new chapter in a new role, but still defending Ontario, defending Canada and I'm proud of that." "There's a lot going on in government right now," she said. "So the fact that they have to take the time, in light of everything that we're facing related to the U.S. — I was just very surprised." Pupatello joins Dawn Arnold of New Brunswick, Tony Ince of Nova Scotia, and fellow Ontarians Katherine Hay and Farah Mohamed as the Senate's newest members. According to the announcement, the appointments were recommended by an independent advisory board, and were chosen "using a merit-based process open to all Canadians." Pupatello, 62, was first elected Windsor West's MPP in 1995. She held the office for 16 years, announcing in 2011 that she would not seek re-election. During her time at Queen's Park, she held several cabinet posts in the Ontario Liberal government, including Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Following her departure from the Windsor West MPP seat, Pupatello worked on Bay Street for the financial services giant PricewaterhouseCoopers and founded her own management consulting firm. She also held positions including chair of Hydro One and CEO of the WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation (now called Invest WindsorEssex). But Pupatello has had other forays into politics since her MPP days. In 2013, she made a bid for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party, but was defeated by Kathleen Wynne. She also made two unsuccessful attempts to supplant Brian Masse as MP for Windsor West — first in the 2019 federal election, and again in 2021. Canadian senators, who have an annual base salary of $178,100, are tasked with examining, improving, and correcting legislation. A bill must pass through the Senate before becoming law. Pupatello acknowledged Friday that working in the upper chamber will be a change of gears for her. "It's a different role. It is nonpartisan. It really is about the facts and what are we doing that's good for the country," she said. "So it is a different role from what I've had in the past." She said she's always been passionate about how government policy affects the business community and everyday lives, and is looking forward to putting "fresh eyes" on legislation. "I hope that my history here in Windsor will stand me in good stead, because the people of Windsor have always been really good to me and helped me learn along the way," she said. "So I hope I can make use of that experience."
