Mike Bossio lost out to now-MP Derek Sloan in last year’s Federal election to lose his seat as Hastings-Lennox and Addington MP, but now he’s throwing his hat back in the political ring.
He announced last week he will be working as a Senior Advisor for Rural Affairs with Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef who also serves as the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and the Minister for Rural Economic Development. “They didn’t call me Mr. Rural for nothing,” Bossio says.
He started work on February 18th.
“I will be supporting the minister in delivering on the government’s commitments on ensuring high-speed broadband coverage in rural Canada, investing in infrastructure in rural communities, and creating vibrant rural economies,” the former MP explains. Bossio was Chair of the Liberal Rural Caucus and among his other achievements as MP, he also had a role in creating the Minister of Rural Economic Development, which Monsef currently has.
“Our government is working hard to support rural Canadians so that they have access to essential services like high-speed internet,” Monsef tells the MyBancroftNow.com newsroom. “My job as Minister of Rural Economic Development is to lead our government’s measures to create jobs and enhance the quality of life in small communities.” She adds that she takes pride in surrounding herself with smart people who care about other Canadians, which is why she’s brought Bossio in as an advisor. “In his new capacity, he will lead the oversight of project implementation on infrastructure and high-speed internet projects,” the Minister explains.
Since the election, Bossio has spent time with his family but has also gotten out to the odd event in the riding. “I love this community and I love the riding,” he says. “Once you’ve got that desire to serve, you can’t just turn that off.”
In his new role, he’s working more behind-the-scenes to help get policies, programs, and services going, as opposed to when he was MP when he would be the one presenting those ideas. “It’s a very intriguing and interesting opportunity,” Bossio says.
When asked if this means he will be running to become MP again, Bossio said he would “cross that bridge when I get to it.” He says he’s always had an overwhelming desire to serve. “I loved being an mp and serving this riding,” he adds.