11 Facts About Tony Valeri

Tony Valeri was born on August 11,1957 and is a former Canadian politician.

Tony Valeri was narrowly defeated by New Democratic candidate Wayne Marston in the 2006 general election held on January 23,2006.

Tony Valeri grew up in Hamilton's north-end in the working class Barton and Sherman neighbourhood, the son of Italian immigrants Enzo and Maria Tony Valeri, who arrived in Hamilton in the early 1950s.

Tony Valeri graduated from Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School and then attended McMaster University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics.

Tony Valeri first ran for office in the 1993 election, winning the Liberal Party nomination over former cabinet minister John Munro, and easily won in the Liberal sweep of Ontario.

Tony Valeri served as a backbencher and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance in 1997.

Tony Valeri was appointed to the Cabinet on December 12,2003, by incoming Prime Minister Paul Martin.

In 2004, the decennial redistribution process took place and Tony Valeri's old riding of Stoney Creek, which straddled the border between Hamilton and Grimsby, was split in two.

Tony Valeri therefore decided to run in the western half of his former riding, resulting in a passionate nomination battle with former cabinet heavyweight and party leadership candidate Sheila Copps.

On March 6,2004, Tony Valeri won the nomination by 311 votes.

On January 23,2006, Tony Valeri was narrowly defeated by a margin of less than 500 votes by the New Democratic Party candidate Wayne Marston.