Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) will be sworn into office today, with a new face from northern Ontario joining their ranks. Bill Rosenberg, former mayor of Thessalon, has become the MPP for Algoma-Manitoulin, marking the first time in over 50 years that the riding has elected a Progressive-Conservative representative.
Rosenberg, who spoke with CTV News ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, said he has several key issues that he plans to address once the dust settles. Since his election, he has been touring the region to better understand local concerns across each area of his riding.
However, he emphasized that his immediate focus is supporting the province’s efforts to combat U.S. tariffs, which he described as a critical threat to northern Ontario’s economy.
“I think what we have to do is we have to join Premier Ford and fight these tariffs and try to protect our jobs. It’s the number one priority right now,” Rosenberg said.
“It’s just devastating. We have steel in Sault Ste. Marie, sawmills in Blind River, and all the minerals in the mines. The jobs are going to be gone if the tariffs come in.”
Premier Doug Ford, set to be sworn in later this week for his third term, has made opposing U.S. tariffs a central issue for his government. Ontario’s legislature, known as Queen’s Park, is scheduled to reconvene on April 14, where further discussions on the tariff issue and other provincial priorities are expected to take center stage.
Rosenberg’s election represents a significant shift in Algoma-Manitoulin, a riding long held by other parties.
As MPPs settle into their roles, all eyes will be on how the new Ontario government addresses the economic challenges posed by international trade disputes and supports communities across the province.
