Anna-Marie Castrilli

Anna-Marie Castrilli is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1995 as a Liberal, but crossed over to the Progressive Conservatives in 1999.

Castrilli was educated at the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969, a Master of Arts degree in 1970, and a Ph.D. in 1977. She subsequently attended Osgoode Hall Law School, receiving an LL.B. in 1984. She worked as an Associate Lawyer with the firm of Harries, Hauser, Loudon & Syron from 1985 to 1989 and was a Tax Partner with Bratty and Partners in 1990. From 1991 to 1995, she ran a private practice as a corporate lawyer.

Castrilli also served on the Governing Council of the University of Toronto from 1989 to 1995 (including two years as Chair), was a trustee with the Sunnybrook Health Science Centre from 1993 to 1995, and was a director of the Royal Ontario Museum, also from 1993 to 1995. She was a founding member of the Italian Canadian Women's Alliance in 1976, and of the Women's Intercultural Council in 1988. Before entering politics, she had written several articles on multiculturalism, women's issues and human rights.

In the provincial election of 1995, Castrilli was elected as a Liberal in the northwest Toronto riding of Downsview, defeating incumbent New Democrat Anthony Perruzza by 360 votes. (It may be noted that Perruzza had contributed to the defeat of his own government's same-sex benefits bill the previous year, and that his campaign was not supported by some NDP organizers.) The general election was won by the Progressive Conservatives, and Castrilli became the Opposition Critic for Colleges and Universities, also serving as Associate Critic to the Attorney-General. Fellow Liberals MPPs soon dubbed her "La Contessa" because of her patrician demeanour. (source: Greg Crone, "Liberals gather to pick leader", "Hamilton Spectator", 29 November 1996, A10)

When Lyn McLeod resigned as Liberal leader in 1996, Castrilli entered the race to succeed her. Her candidacy did not receive widespread support, and she placed sixth of out seven candidates on the first ballot. Castrilli initially withdrew from the contest but changed her mind a few minutes later, causing a delay in the voting process as the ballots needed to be reprinted. She again placed sixth and was forced out of the contest, giving her support to eventual winner Dalton McGuinty. (See Ontario Liberal Leadership Conventions.)

Castrilli initially planned to run as a Liberal in the 1999 provincial election, but was defeated for the party's nomination in York Centre by fellow caucus member Monte Kwinter. The Progressive Conservative government had previously reduced the number of constituencies from 130 to 103, forcing several incumbent Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to compete against one another for renomination.

On the last sitting day of the legislature, Castrilli crossed the floor to sit as a Progressive Conservative. She won the PC nomination in the riding of Parkdale—High Park, and faced high-profile Liberal MPP Gerard Kennedy in the general election (Kennedy had finished second to McGuinty in the leadership contest). One of Castrilli's most prominent supporters was John Nunziata, an Independent member of the Canadian House of Commons who had left the Liberal Party of Canada in 1996.

The contest between Kennedy and Castrilli was expected to be close, but it was not: Kennedy received 23,030 votes, Castrilli 12,699. This appears to have ended Castrilli's career as an active politician. She subsequently created "Partnership with Ontarians" to promote the province for international business, and is now a member of SEADAC Strategic Consultants.

In the federal election of 2004, Castrilli supported Conservative Party candidate Michael Mostyn. Later in the year, she was co-chair of Jim Flaherty's unsuccessful bid to lead the provincial Tories.