# David Piccini

David Winsor Piccini MPP (born September 29, 1988) is a Canadian politician who is Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development since September 22, 2023. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election. He represents the riding of Northumberland—Peterborough South as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

## Early and personal life

Piccini grew up in Port Hope, an hour east of Toronto. His father is an architect, and his mother worked as an educator at Trinity College School, which he attended. His grandfather was born on a farm in Udine, Northern Italy, and emigrated to Canada.
He attended and played soccer for the University of Ottawa. He later coached the team. He first worked slicing deli meats at an Italian grocer, at Agriculture Canada and Service Canada, and in 2011 as an executive assistant to Conservative MP Ed Fast, who was the international trade minister. He and his wife live in Port Hope with their two dogs. His wife, Faith Chipman, is employed by New West Public Affairs, and has done consultations for Provincial Governments in Canada.

## Career
### Early years

Piccini worked for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada starting in 2015, supporting their international work. In 2018, he helped found the Canadian International Health Education Association, leading one of Canada’s largest health care missions to the Gulf region.
In 2015, Piccini ran in Ottawa-Vanier for the Conservative Party of Canada, but finished third.

### Legislative Assembly of Ontario; Minister of the Environment

Piccini was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election. He represents the riding of Northumberland—Peterborough South as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.
After he was elected, Piccini served from 2018-21 as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, served from 2018-19 as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges and Universities, and served from 2021-23 as the youngest-ever (at 33 years of age) Ontario Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.

### Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

Piccini has been Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development since September 22, 2023.

#### Working for Workers Four

On November 14, 2023, Piccini introduced Ontario's Working for Workers Four Act, his first as Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. The bill received Royal Assent on March 21, 2024, introducing changes to cancer coverage for firefighters and fire investigators by lowering the employment period needed to receive compensation when diagnosed with esophageal cancer from 25 to 15 years.
The legislation also made changes to the Employment Standards Act (ESA), these included prohibiting employers from deducting wages for stolen property or unpaid bills, and mandating payment for trial shifts. The changes also required transparency in tip-sharing practices and salary disclosures in job postings, banned the use of Canadian work experience as a job application requirement, improved oversight of third-party assessments for international qualifications, clarified vacation pay provisions, and allowed inflation-adjusted increases to Workplace Safety and Insurance Board benefits.
In August 2024, he confronted Fred Hahn, the President of CUPE Ontario, and told Hahn "you have to stop hating Jews." Piccini was praised for that by, among others, former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole, psychologist and author Jordan Peterson, and Conservative MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Melissa Lantsman.
Other commentators have reported that Piccini was incorrect in ascribing support glorifying the persecution and murder of innocent people, which Hahn never did. According to media reports, Piccini was apparently unwilling to meet with Hahn, which ostensibly means he won’t meet with CUPE Ontario’s president on any political issue, including those related to labour and social policy in the province. Piccini has not indicated much interest in political forums such as the Provincial Legislature to indicate any level of support for public sector unions.

## Electoral record

vte2022 Ontario general election: Northumberland—Peterborough South :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | David Piccini | 26,419 | 50.93 | +5.61 |
| | Liberal | Jeff Kawzenuk | 12,936 | 24.94 | +0.77 |
| | New Democratic | Kim McArthur-Jackson | 6,806 | 13.12 | −11.38 |
| | Green | Lisa Francis | 2,942 | 5.67 | +1.14 |
| | Ontario Party | Vanessa Head | 1,598 | 3.08 | |
| | New Blue | Joshua Chalhoub | 1,170 | 2.26 | |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 51,871 | 100.0 |
| Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | 258 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 52,129 | 51.72 |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 99,034 |
| | Progressive Conservative hold | Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | Swing | +2.42 |
| Source(s) "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023."Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. |||||||
vte2018 Ontario general election: Northumberland—Peterborough South :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Progressive Conservative | David Piccini | 27,386 | 45.32 | +9.78 |
| | New Democratic | Jana Papuckoski | 14,804 | 24.50 | +6.03 |
| | Liberal | Lou Rinaldi | 14,603 | 24.17 | -17.35 |
| | Green | Jeff Wheeldon | 2,740 | 4.53 | +0.27 |
| | Libertarian | John O'Keefe | 425 | 0.70 |
| | Trillium | Derek Sharp | 278 | 0.46 |
| | Stop Climate Change | Paul Cragg | 187 | 0.31 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 60,423 | 100.0 |
| | Progressive Conservative notional gain from Liberal | Progressive Conservative notional gain from Liberal | Swing | Swing | +1.88 |
| Source: Elections Ontario |||||||
2015 Canadian federal election :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures |
| | Liberal | Mauril Bélanger | 36,474 | 57.57 | +19.47 | $163,698.89 |
| | New Democratic | Emilie Taman | 12,194 | 19.25 | -9.43 | $123,293.39 |
| | Conservative | David Piccini | 12,109 | 19.11 | -8.84 | $74,698.91 |
| | Green | Nira Dookeran | 1,947 | 3.07 | -1.99 | $8,775.54 |
| | Libertarian | Coreen Corcoran | 503 | 0.79 | – | $747.12 |
| | Marxist–Leninist | Christian Legeais | 128 | 0.2 | -0.03 | – |
| Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | Total valid votes/Expense limit | 63,355 | 100.0 | | $219,479.72 |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | 418 | – | – |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,773 | – | – |
| Eligible voters | Eligible voters | Eligible voters | 83,570 |
| Source: Elections Canada |||||||