Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP for Hamilton Mountain, has been appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade (Small Business).

“I am very honoured and excited to be focused on small business,” said Aggelonitis. “Helping small businesses grow and thrive is one of the most important ways of building Ontario’s economy.”

Parliamentary Assistants work alongside ministers in carrying out the government's agenda. They are often assigned special projects and develop policy proposals for the government. In the Legislature, they represent their ministers during debate on government bills.

“As a former small business owner, I know the opportunities and challenges that come from operating your own business,” said Aggelonitis. “I look forward to helping small business throughout Ontario grasp these opportunities and meet these challenges.”

Aggelonitis was elected to represent Hamilton Mountain in 2007 and was subsequently appointed to be Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Small Business and Consumer Services.

Prior to her election, Aggelonitis ran a successful small business and served on the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce for four years before being elected its president in 2007. In addition to being an active member of the Hamilton AM Rotary Club, Sophia has been involved in a variety of community organizations, serving on the boards of the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice, Theatre Aquarius, Canadian Club of Hamilton and Phoenix Place.

For more information about the parliamentary assistant shuffle, visit the Government of Ontario’s Newsroom.

Find out more about the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.