Kyle Rae
Encyclopedia
Kyle Rae is a former Canadian politician. He was a city councillor for Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale
in Toronto
, Ontario
from 1991 to 2010. Rae is now a self-described consultant.
(who was running for mayor at the time). He campaigned as an openly gay candidate and beat his closest rival by 1,003 votes, becoming the city's first openly gay councillor. During his first term, as Chair of the City's Personnel Committee he attempted, with Mayor June Rowlands
support, to introduce affirmative action
in the city's fire department. The motion was defeated.
A longtime member of the Ontario New Democratic Party
, he left the party because of the failure of the NDP government to pass long-promised reforms on gay rights issues. Rae led a local boycott of the NDP in the 1993 by-election in the riding of St. George—St. David (now Toronto Centre—Rosedale) to highlight his position. In recent years, Rae supported John Sewell
's independent candidacy in the 1999 provincial election
and federal Liberal
Bill Graham
. Because of his long running and historic criticism of the NDP's legislative failure on gay rights issues, Rae surprised many when he endorsed former New Democratic Party Premier Bob Rae (who is no relation to Kyle Rae) when the latter successfully contested the Toronto Centre federal by-election on March 17, 2008 as the Liberal Party candidate. Kyle said of Bob, "He has a unique set of skills and experience, and I hope he wins .... His candidacy has my full support." He supported Barbara Hall
against David Miller
in the 2003 mayoralty election
.
In 2000
, Rae and fellow councillor David Soknacki
were both acclaimed in their ridings.
In 2002, he was sued for defamation by members of the Toronto Police Force after he sharply criticized a 2000 raid on "Pussy Palace", a lesbian bathhouse
event. His calling the police "rogue cops" and "goons" and the operation a "panty raid" was criticized, and the officers alleged what was only a standard liquor inspection hurt their careers and reputations. A jury eventually decided that the seven officers were defamed and ordered Rae to pay $170,000. The settlement money was paid by the city from a fund that protects councillors from having to pay lawsuits from personal funds.
With the legalization of same-sex marriage
in 2003, Rae married Mark Reid, his partner since 1994.
In May 2007, Rae renewed his call for a bylaw to further protect historic buildings. The proposed bylaw would give the City of Toronto the power to charge building owners who let historic buildings fall into disrepair. It would also give the city the power perform emergency repairs in certain cases, applying the bill to the owner's taxes. Rae's call came after the Walnut Hall
, a historic Georgian Rowhouse, collapsed after decades of neglect. The building's various owners sought to tear it down and were prevented because of its historical value.
There has been some debate as to whether Rae can authentically claim to represent the gay community after several redistributions have changed the make-up of the ward Rae represents to include wealthier neighbourhoods at the same time as the gay and lesbian community has made itself more at home across the city, leaving it less geographically anchored to the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood. Writer Brent Ledger, who has interviewed Rae on several occasions, has written that Rae has been a disappointment for those who believed that a gay councillor would make a difference.
On December 11, 2009, Rae announced that he would not run in the November 2010 municipal election
. He endorsed Ken Chan, a former police officer and aide to London Mayor Boris Johnson
in the Ward 27 council race and Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman
.
In June 2010, Rae held a retirement party at the Rosewater Club and billed the $12,000 cost to his office budget. Mayoral candidate Rob Ford
and fellow councillors criticized Rae for this expense and said that Rae should return the money. Council voted down a request to have Rae return the money. Rae claimed that unspent campaign funds he was forced to turn over the city more than covered the cost, but critics pointed out that the campaign money was not his to spend. This example was used by Ford as an example of the "Gravy Train" at City Hall. Rae also claimed an expense of $400 to cover the cost of a city park permit for a leather fetish party.
In January 2011, incoming councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam announced to the media that Rae had emptied of the office of every file, leaving the cupboards bare. She mentioned this interfered with her ability to respond effectively to a fire that had destroyed a 19th century heritage-designated building on Yonge Street earlier in the month.
Toronto Centre
Toronto Centre is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1872 to 1925, and since 1935, under the names Centre Toronto , Toronto Centre , Rosedale and Toronto Centre—Rosedale .Toronto Centre covers the heart of...
in Toronto
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....
from 1991 to 2010. Rae is now a self-described consultant.
Politics
Rae was first elected to Toronto city council in 1991 as a left-leaning councillor filling the seat vacated by Jack LaytonJack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
(who was running for mayor at the time). He campaigned as an openly gay candidate and beat his closest rival by 1,003 votes, becoming the city's first openly gay councillor. During his first term, as Chair of the City's Personnel Committee he attempted, with Mayor June Rowlands
June Rowlands
June Rowlands was the 60th mayor of Toronto, Ontario, and the first woman to hold that office. She had previously been a long time city councillor, unsuccessful federal candidate, and chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission....
support, to introduce affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
in the city's fire department. The motion was defeated.
A longtime member of the Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
, he left the party because of the failure of the NDP government to pass long-promised reforms on gay rights issues. Rae led a local boycott of the NDP in the 1993 by-election in the riding of St. George—St. David (now Toronto Centre—Rosedale) to highlight his position. In recent years, Rae supported John Sewell
John Sewell
John Sewell, CM is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1978 to 1980.-Background:...
's independent candidacy in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
and federal Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Bill Graham
Bill Graham
William Carvel "Bill" Graham, PC QC is a former Canadian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defence, and Leader of the Opposition and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.-Personal life:...
. Because of his long running and historic criticism of the NDP's legislative failure on gay rights issues, Rae surprised many when he endorsed former New Democratic Party Premier Bob Rae (who is no relation to Kyle Rae) when the latter successfully contested the Toronto Centre federal by-election on March 17, 2008 as the Liberal Party candidate. Kyle said of Bob, "He has a unique set of skills and experience, and I hope he wins .... His candidacy has my full support." He supported Barbara Hall
Barbara Hall
Barbara Hall is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. She was the 61st mayor of Toronto, the last to run before amalgamation. She was elected mayor of the pre-amalgamation City of Toronto in 1994, and held office until December 31, 1997...
against 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...
in the 2003 mayoralty election
Toronto municipal election, 2003
The Toronto municipal election of 2003 was held on November 10, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Toronto, 44 city councillors, and school board trustees.David Miller was elected mayor ....
.
In 2000
Toronto municipal election, 2000
The Toronto municipal election of 2000, dubbed "Toronto Vote 2000" was the municipal and school board election held in the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 13, 2000.Elections were held to elect:* the Mayor of Toronto,* councillors for each of Toronto's 44 wards,* trustees...
, Rae and fellow councillor 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...
were both acclaimed in their ridings.
In 2002, he was sued for defamation by members of the Toronto Police Force after he sharply criticized a 2000 raid on "Pussy Palace", a lesbian bathhouse
Gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouses, also known as gay saunas or steam baths, are commercial bathhouses for men to have sex with other men. In gay slang in some regions these venues are also known colloquially as "the baths" or "the tubs," and should not be confused with public bathing.Not all men who visit gay...
event. His calling the police "rogue cops" and "goons" and the operation a "panty raid" was criticized, and the officers alleged what was only a standard liquor inspection hurt their careers and reputations. A jury eventually decided that the seven officers were defamed and ordered Rae to pay $170,000. The settlement money was paid by the city from a fund that protects councillors from having to pay lawsuits from personal funds.
With the legalization of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in Canada
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition...
in 2003, Rae married Mark Reid, his partner since 1994.
In May 2007, Rae renewed his call for a bylaw to further protect historic buildings. The proposed bylaw would give the City of Toronto the power to charge building owners who let historic buildings fall into disrepair. It would also give the city the power perform emergency repairs in certain cases, applying the bill to the owner's taxes. Rae's call came after the Walnut Hall
Walnut Hall
Walnut Hall was a row of four Georgian-style terraced homes in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Constructed in 1856, it was recognized by both the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto as being of historic significance, but portions of it collapsed and it had to be demolished in 2007 due to neglect...
, a historic Georgian Rowhouse, collapsed after decades of neglect. The building's various owners sought to tear it down and were prevented because of its historical value.
There has been some debate as to whether Rae can authentically claim to represent the gay community after several redistributions have changed the make-up of the ward Rae represents to include wealthier neighbourhoods at the same time as the gay and lesbian community has made itself more at home across the city, leaving it less geographically anchored to the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood. Writer Brent Ledger, who has interviewed Rae on several occasions, has written that Rae has been a disappointment for those who believed that a gay councillor would make a difference.
On December 11, 2009, Rae announced that he would not run in the November 2010 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 2010
The 2010 Toronto municipal election was held on October 25, 2010 to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors in Toronto, Canada. 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 and...
. He endorsed Ken Chan, a former police officer and aide to London Mayor Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
in the Ward 27 council race and Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman
George Smitherman
George Smitherman is a Canadian politician and broadcaster. He represented the provincial riding of Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2010, when he resigned to contest the mayoralty of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election...
.
In June 2010, Rae held a retirement party at the Rosewater Club and billed the $12,000 cost to his office budget. Mayoral candidate Rob Ford
Rob Ford
Robert Bruce "Rob" Ford is the 64th and current Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto municipal election, and was re-elected to his council seat in 2003 and again in 2006...
and fellow councillors criticized Rae for this expense and said that Rae should return the money. Council voted down a request to have Rae return the money. Rae claimed that unspent campaign funds he was forced to turn over the city more than covered the cost, but critics pointed out that the campaign money was not his to spend. This example was used by Ford as an example of the "Gravy Train" at City Hall. Rae also claimed an expense of $400 to cover the cost of a city park permit for a leather fetish party.
In January 2011, incoming councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam announced to the media that Rae had emptied of the office of every file, leaving the cupboards bare. She mentioned this interfered with her ability to respond effectively to a fire that had destroyed a 19th century heritage-designated building on Yonge Street earlier in the month.