Khalil Ramal

Khalil Ramal is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal Party|Liberal] member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2011. Ramal ran unsuccessfully in the 2015 [Canadian federal election|2015 federal elections], but finished second to Irene Mathyssen of the rival New Democratic Party. He ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of London in 2022, finishing second to Josh Morgan.

Background

Ramal has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and a Master of Arts degree in social politics from Lebanese University, and has received further diplomas in accounting and teaching. At the time of the 2003 election, he was pursuing a Ph.D. in social politics.
He arrived in Canada in 1989, after leaving war-ravaged Lebanon, and has worked as a teacher, journalist, and as a counsellor with physical and mentally disabled patients at the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock, Ontario. He also runs a small business, and has served as Vice President of the Orchard Farm Distribution Company.

Ramal was elected for London—Fanshawe in the 2003 [Ontario general election|2003 provincial election], defeating New [Democratic Party of Ontario|New Democrat] Irene Mathyssen and incumbent Progressive [Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative] Frank Mazzilli in a close three-way race.
On September 27, 2004, Ramal was named parliamentary assistant to Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
He was defeated in the 2011 provincial election.
Ramal won the federal Liberal nomination for London—Fanshawe in 2015 but came in second to Irene Mathyssen of the rival New Democratic Party by a difference of around 3600 votes.
In 2022, Ramal announced that he would run for mayor of London, Ontario during the 2022 [London, Ontario municipal election]. Ramal was ultimately unsuccessful, losing to Josh Morgan who finished with 65.72% of the vote compared to 22.59% for Ramal.

2022 London, Ontario mayoral election