David Shiner (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Shiner is a city councillor in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. He represents ward 24, one of the two wards in Willowdale
.
, who served on the borough and later city council of the City of North York as alderman, and later as a member of the Board of Control. Before entering politics, David Shiner ran a clothing company.
s in North York. The plan was approved by Ontario's Ministry of the Environment
against the wishes of the city.
, Shiner was elected to Toronto City Council in 1997. He was the only councillor to oppose a proposal to use both Metro Hall (the former headquarters of Metropolitan Toronto
) and Toronto City Hall
as the new municipal headquarters, instead advocating that the government be based at the North York Civic Centre
.
Shiner was considered one of the closest allies of the new city's first mayor, Mel Lastman
(who had previously served as Mayor of North York). In 2000, Lastman appointed him to the position of the city's budget chief, replacing the retiring Tom Jakobek
.
A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
, he is regarded as moderately to the right of centre. With the election of David Miller as mayor, Shiner was succeeded as budget chief by David Soknacki
.
In 2007, at North York community council, Shiner tabled a successful motion asking Toronto council to stop its plan to close community centres on Mondays and delay the opening of ice rinks. It passed 9-1, as Howard Moscoe
and John Filion
who were allies of the mayor voted for Shiner's motion, with Shelley Carroll
as the lone dissenter. Miller had directed City Manager Shirley Hoy to implement $34 million in service cuts to the 2007 budget in August 2007 without seeking council approval, arguing that it addressed a financial shortfall. An arbitrator later ruled that the library closures violated the collective bargaining agreement with the union.
On January 9, 2009, Shiner boycotted a meeting of the Licensing and Standards Committee. Shiner, who was recently appointed to this committee, described by some as a second-tier committee, refused to attend the meeting in protest for not receiving any of his preferred appointments on other committees. Two other committee members, Mike Feldman
and Denzil Minnan-Wong
, had already sent their regrets so the remaining committee members' presence was required for quorum, and Shiner's boycott meant that the meeting was adjourned to the following month. Shiner criticized Mayor David Miller
's leadership style, saying "I find it very disappointing that the mayor has pushed this council into different camps, and rewards those who blindly support him and tries to punish those who don't." The chair of the committee, Howard Moscoe
was not amused. "The business of the city has to go on, and childish refusals to attend are not very appropriate," Moscoe said. Shiner had previously never missed a committee meeting in his 17 years in municipal politics.
to represent Willowdale
in the 2007 provincial general election. The Toronto Star
criticized him for not resigning his council seat. Shiner lost to Liberal incumbent David Zimmer
by 5,647 votes.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He represents ward 24, one of the two wards in Willowdale
Willowdale (provincial electoral district)
Willowdale is a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It was created in 1987.-History:...
.
Background
He is the son of the late Esther ShinerEsther Shiner
Esther Shiner was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She served on the North York city council from 1973 until her death, and was also a member of the Metropolitan Toronto council. She served as North York's Deputy Mayor in the 1980s.-Early life and career:Shiner's parents were...
, who served on the borough and later city council of the City of North York as alderman, and later as a member of the Board of Control. Before entering politics, David Shiner ran a clothing company.
North York council
He was first elected to North York city council in 1991, defeating incumbent Bob Bradley, being the only candidate to oust an incumbent in the election. In 1994, he opposed a plan by Metro's Separate School Board to consolidate storage of 18,000 gallons of PCBPolychlorinated biphenyl
Polychlorinated biphenyls are a class of organic compounds with 2 to 10 chlorine atoms attached to biphenyl, which is a molecule composed of two benzene rings. The chemical formula for PCBs is C12H10-xClx...
s in North York. The plan was approved by Ontario's Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of the Environment (Ontario)
The Ministry of the Environment, established in 1972, is the portfolio in the Executive Council of Ontario responsible for addressing the environmental issues affecting the environmental protection of the Canadian province of Ontario and the World...
against the wishes of the city.
Toronto council
When North York was merged with six other municipalities and a regional government to form the new City of TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Shiner was elected to Toronto City Council in 1997. He was the only councillor to oppose a proposal to use both Metro Hall (the former headquarters of Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
) and Toronto City Hall
Toronto City Hall
The City Hall of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is the home of the city's municipal government and one of its most distinctive landmarks. Designed by Finnish architect Viljo Revell and landscape architect Richard Strong, and engineered by Hannskarl Bandel, the building opened in 1965...
as the new municipal headquarters, instead advocating that the government be based at the North York Civic Centre
North York Civic Centre
The North York Civic Centre is a building that once served as the city hall for the former City of North York, Ontario, Canada.Designed by Adamson Associates Architects, the building is located on Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue, and features Mel Lastman Square along the Yonge Street frontage...
.
Shiner was considered one of the closest allies of the new city's first mayor, Mel Lastman
Mel Lastman
Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
(who had previously served as Mayor of North York). In 2000, Lastman appointed him to the position of the city's budget chief, replacing the retiring Tom Jakobek
Tom Jakobek
Tom Jakobek is a former member of the Toronto City Council. He was first elected to council in 1982 after serving as a school trustee, and remained a member until 2000....
.
A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
, he is regarded as moderately to the right of centre. With the election of David Miller as mayor, Shiner was succeeded as budget chief by David Soknacki
David Soknacki
David Soknacki is a former city councillor in Toronto, Canada. He represented one of the two Scarborough East wards.He moved to eastern Scarborough in 1963, and founded the Densgrove Park Community Association. He first ran for Scarborough city council in 1991, but lost to Frank Faubert...
.
In 2007, at North York community council, Shiner tabled a successful motion asking Toronto council to stop its plan to close community centres on Mondays and delay the opening of ice rinks. It passed 9-1, as Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe was a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, representing Ward 15 in the western part of Eglinton-Lawrence. Among the most prominent and longest-serving councillors in the city, he is also known for an outspokenness which has landed him in controversy at times. Moscoe is a member of...
and John Filion
John Filion
John Filion is a Toronto city councillor representing one of the two Willowdale wards, Ward 23 Willowdale.Filion attended York University and he graduated with a degree in journalism. He became a journalist specializing in education issues...
who were allies of the mayor voted for Shiner's motion, with Shelley Carroll
Shelley Carroll
Shelley Carroll is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. She represents Ward 33 Don Valley East, one of the two Don Valley East municipal wards. She was formerly the Chair of the City's Budget Committee.-Background:...
as the lone dissenter. Miller had directed City Manager Shirley Hoy to implement $34 million in service cuts to the 2007 budget in August 2007 without seeking council approval, arguing that it addressed a financial shortfall. An arbitrator later ruled that the library closures violated the collective bargaining agreement with the union.
On January 9, 2009, Shiner boycotted a meeting of the Licensing and Standards Committee. Shiner, who was recently appointed to this committee, described by some as a second-tier committee, refused to attend the meeting in protest for not receiving any of his preferred appointments on other committees. Two other committee members, Mike Feldman
Mike Feldman
Michael "Mike" Feldman was city councillor for Ward 10 from 1992 to 2010, and former Deputy Mayor, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Feldman was first elected in 1992 to the City Council of what was then the City of North York...
and Denzil Minnan-Wong
Denzil Minnan-Wong
Denzil Minnan-Wong is a Toronto city councillor representing one of the two Don Valley East wards, Toronto City Council Ward 34. He is the son of Denzil Minnan-Wong, Sr., a Chinese immigrant who became a prominent member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. His father died in 1988 at...
, had already sent their regrets so the remaining committee members' presence was required for quorum, and Shiner's boycott meant that the meeting was adjourned to the following month. Shiner criticized Mayor David Miller
David Miller (Canadian politician)
David Raymond Miller is a Canadian politician. He was the 63rd Mayor of Toronto and the second since the 1998 amalgamation. He was elected to the position in 2003 for a three-year term and re-elected in 2006 for a four-year term...
's leadership style, saying "I find it very disappointing that the mayor has pushed this council into different camps, and rewards those who blindly support him and tries to punish those who don't." The chair of the committee, Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe was a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, representing Ward 15 in the western part of Eglinton-Lawrence. Among the most prominent and longest-serving councillors in the city, he is also known for an outspokenness which has landed him in controversy at times. Moscoe is a member of...
was not amused. "The business of the city has to go on, and childish refusals to attend are not very appropriate," Moscoe said. Shiner had previously never missed a committee meeting in his 17 years in municipal politics.
Provincial politics
Shiner ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the provincial legislatureOntario general election, 2007 (candidates)
The Ontario general election, 2007 took place on Wednesday, October 10, 2007. The list of candidates was finalized by Elections Ontario on September 19, 2007.-Candidates by party:*Liberal Party candidates, 2007 Ontario provincial election...
to represent Willowdale
Willowdale (provincial electoral district)
Willowdale is a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It was created in 1987.-History:...
in the 2007 provincial general election. The Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
criticized him for not resigning his council seat. Shiner lost to Liberal incumbent David Zimmer
David Zimmer
David Zimmer is a Canadian provincial legislator in Ontario's Legislative Assembly, representing the North York area riding of Willowdale for the Ontario Liberal Party.-Background:...
by 5,647 votes.
Election results
| 2010 Toronto election Toronto city council election, 2010 For information on the campaign for mayor see Toronto mayoral election, 2010The 2010 Toronto council election was held on October 25, 2010 to elect councillors to represent Toronto's 44 wards at Toronto City Council... , Ward 24 |
||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| David Shiner | 10,523 | 58.4 |
| Sonny Cho | 4,986 | 27.7 |
| Eugene Loo | 1,611 | 8.9 |
| Bob Nahiddi | 903 | 5.0 |
| Total | 18,023 | 100 |
| 2006 Toronto election Toronto municipal election, 2006 The 2006 Toronto municipal election took place on 13 November 2006 to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors in Toronto, Ontario. In addition, school trustees were elected to the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest... , Ward 24 |
||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| David Shiner | 6,930 | 54.1 |
| Ed Shiller | 3,768 | 29.4 |
| Sanaz Amirpour | 1,329 | 10.4 |
| Colleen Ladd | 789 | 6.2 |