Ross Romano opens campaign office (4 photos)

The 2022 Ontario election campaign is officially underway and the Sault's Progressive Conservative incumbent is ready to defend his seat in the Legislative Assembly. 

Ross Romano welcomed supporters inside his new office space on Great Northern Road to kick off the four-week campaign under Doug Ford and the PC Party.

"I think we've been getting it done since the start," he says. "We've built a stronger Sault Ste. Marie, and it's pretty evident when you look at what it was like four years ago versus today."

Romano earned his seat in the Legislature during the Sault's 2017 by-election, and again in 2018 after he defeated NDP candidate Michele McCleave-Kennedy by 414 votes.

Serving as Ontario's Minister of Government and Consumer Services since 2021, Romano is proud of the work he's been able to accomplish over the last four years in government.

"We've built critical infrastructure in our community like long-term care and hospitals," he says. "We've expanded our road infrastructure. We've been able to do something very monumental in terms of investments in our advanced manufacturing sector. We've also created better and higher paying jobs here in the Sault, and we're going to continue doing that."

Over the course of the pandemic, Ontario faced multiple lockdowns as hospitals and long-term care homes became overwhelmed with COVID cases. Romano is confident there will be no further lockdowns under a re-elected Ford government.

"We absolutely ensure that we have a plan to stay open and we will not be back in a lockdown," he says. "We are no longer relying on outside jurisdictions to be able to provide us with the critical supplies we need."

Romano is hopeful for a strong voter turnout this year and urges young people in the Sault to head to the polls on June 2nd.

"I encourage those young people who are first-time voters to really consider the opportunities that exist here in the community," he says. "I want to ensure we keep our youth here in Sault Ste. Marie. We have an amazing city to live, work, and play in, and I encourage them all to enjoy the great opportunities we have here."

Romano is confident his party is the best choice to lead Ontario.

"We are the only party who can get it done, and Doug Ford is the only Premier who will get it done."