Caroline Di Cocco

Infobox_Politician


name = Caroline Di Cocco
small| caption =
birth_date =
birth_place = Fontechiari, Italy
residence =
office = MPP for Sarnia—Lambton
term_start = 1999
term_end = October 29, 2007
predecessor = new district
successor = Bob Bailey
party = Liberal
religion =
occupation = music teacher, city councillor

Caroline Di Cocco is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Sarnia—Lambton for the Ontario Liberal Party from 1999 to 2007 and was a cabinet minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty until her defeat in the 2007 provincial election.

Di Cocco was born in Fontechiari, in Frosinone, Italy, and moved to Canada at a young age. She was educated at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, and worked as a music teacher before entering political life. She is also the author of a work entitled "One By One ... Passo Dopo Passo", chronicling the history of the Italian community in Sarnia from 1870 to 1990. In 1989, she founded the International Wine Gala.

Di Cocco served as a city councillor in Sarnia from 1997 to 1999. She was elected to the Ontario legislature in the Ontario general election of 1999, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Dave Boushy by almost 3000 votes in Sarnia—Lambton. The Progressive Conservatives won the election, and Di Cocco served as her party's critic for Culture, Recreation and Heritage for the next four years. She also became known for her promotion of local environmental issues. In 2002, she was awarded a knighthood (Cavalieri) by the Republic of Italy.

She was easily re-elected in the provincial election of 2003 (defeating Tory candidate and private-school promoter Henk Vanden Ende by over 6000 votes), and was appointed Parliamentary Assistant to Michael Bryant in his capacity as Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal on October 23, 2003. On September 27, 2004, she was named Parliamentary Assistant in Marie Bountrogianni in her capacity as Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services.

Di Cocco was promoted to cabinet on April 5, 2006, replacing Madeleine Meilleur as Minister of Culture.

In the 2007 provincial election, Di Cocco was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Bob Bailey.