Tony Lupusella
Encyclopedia
Antonio Lupusella (born June 12, 1944) is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1990. Originally a New Democrat, he later crossed the floor to the Liberal Party
.
Before entering politics, Lupusella worked with Centro an Italian organization that grew out of the Union of Injured Workers.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
incumbent George Nixon by 1,465 votes in the west-Toronto
riding of Dovercourt
. The NDP won several Italian ridings in Toronto during this election. He was re-elected over Nixon by a greater margin in the 1977 election
. In the 1981 provincial election
, he was re-elected over Liberal Gil Gillespie by only 294 votes, as the Liberal Party increased its presence in the city. Lupusella had a nervous breakdown
during the campaign and was counselled by fellow NDP MPP and psychiatrist Jan Dukszta
. The diversion from his own election campaign was a contributing factor in the loss of Dukszta's Parkdale
seat.
Lupusella defeated Gillespie a second time, by only 77 votes in the 1985 provincial election
. Following this election, the Liberals and NDP formed a two-year parliamentary alliance, and defeated the Progressive Conservative government in the legislature (the PCs had previously governed Ontario since 1943).
Redistribution
of electoral boundaries forced Lupusella to run against fellow NDP Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ross McClellan
for the party's nomination in Dovercourt after McClellan's Bellwoods riding was eliminated. McClellan defeated Lupusella and, on December 17, 1986, Lupusella crossed the floor to join the Liberal caucus of Premier
David Peterson
as a backbencher.
In the 1987 provincial election
, Lupusella defeated McClellan by 907 votes.
The Liberals were unexpectedly defeated by the NDP in the 1990 provincial election
, and Lupusella lost his seat to NDP candidate Tony Silipo
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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 was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1975 to 1990. Originally a New Democrat, he later crossed the floor to the Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
.
Before entering politics, Lupusella worked with Centro an Italian organization that grew out of the Union of Injured Workers.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Progressive Conservative
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...
incumbent George Nixon by 1,465 votes in the west-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...
riding of Dovercourt
Dovercourt (electoral district)
Dovercourt was the name of a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It existed from the 1926 election to the 1999 election. When it was established, it bordered Parkdale on its west-side, York South on its north-side, and Bracondale on its east-side.Lake Ontario was its southern border...
. The NDP won several Italian ridings in Toronto during this election. He was re-elected over Nixon by a greater margin in the 1977 election
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. In the 1981 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, he was re-elected over Liberal Gil Gillespie by only 294 votes, as the Liberal Party increased its presence in the city. Lupusella had a nervous breakdown
Nervous breakdown
Mental breakdown is a non-medical term used to describe an acute, time-limited phase of a specific disorder that presents primarily with features of depression or anxiety.-Definition:...
during the campaign and was counselled by fellow NDP MPP and psychiatrist Jan Dukszta
Jan Dukszta
Janusz Romwald Dukszta is a Polish-born Toronto psychiatrist and former Ontario New Democratic Party MPP in the Ontario legislature. He and his brother, Andrzej, escaped with their mother from Poland near the end of World War II and settled in London where they were educated at Christ College,...
. The diversion from his own election campaign was a contributing factor in the loss of Dukszta's Parkdale
Parkdale (electoral district)
Parkdale was a Canadian federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979. It included the community of Parkdale in the western part of Toronto...
seat.
Lupusella defeated Gillespie a second time, by only 77 votes in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
. Following this election, the Liberals and NDP formed a two-year parliamentary alliance, and defeated the Progressive Conservative government in the legislature (the PCs had previously governed Ontario since 1943).
Redistribution
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
of electoral boundaries forced Lupusella to run against fellow NDP Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ross McClellan
Ross McClellan
Ross A. McClellan is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1987 as a member of the New Democratic Party ....
for the party's nomination in Dovercourt after McClellan's Bellwoods riding was eliminated. McClellan defeated Lupusella and, on December 17, 1986, Lupusella crossed the floor to join the Liberal caucus of Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
as a backbencher.
In the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
, Lupusella defeated McClellan by 907 votes.
The Liberals were unexpectedly defeated by the NDP in the 1990 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
, and Lupusella lost his seat to NDP candidate Tony Silipo
Tony Silipo
Tony Silipo is a former Canadian politician.Silipo was educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall at York University, and began practising law in 1984...
.