Tony Rizzo
Encyclopedia
Tony Rizzo is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He was a New Democratic Party
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1995.
Rizzo owns a number of bricklaying companies. Prior to his provincial election, Rizzo was an alderman
in the City of York
from 1982 to 1990. He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990
, defeating Liberal
incumbent Chaviva Hosek
by 2,280 votes in the Toronto
riding of Oakwood
. The NDP won a majority government in this election under the leadership of Bob Rae
.
On October 10, 1990, Rizzo left the NDP caucus following allegations that he had violated the tenets of the Ontario Labour Relations Board in his private career. He served as an independent member until June 9, 1992, when he rejoined the NDP caucus.
In 1994, Rizzo was one of twelve NDP MPPs to vote against Bill 167, proposed legislation that would have extended spousal benefits to same-sex couples. This decision lost him support within the NDP, as many socially liberal members of the NDP's Toronto organization refused to work on his 1995 campaign.
Rizzo ran for re-election in the 1995 provincial election
, but lost to Liberal
Mike Colle
by 975 votes.
He sought a return to municipal politics in the 1997 and 2000 Toronto municipal elections, running on a platform of lower property tax
es and safer neighbourhoods. He was defeated both times. By 2000, he was describing himself as a member of the Liberal Party
.
Rizzo's son Luigi unsuccessfully challenged veteran municipal councillor Howard Moscoe
in the 2003 municipal election
.
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 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...
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 1990 to 1995.
Rizzo owns a number of bricklaying companies. Prior to his provincial election, Rizzo was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in the City of York
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
from 1982 to 1990. He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990
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....
, defeating Liberal
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...
incumbent Chaviva Hosek
Chaviva Hosek
Chaviva Milada Hošek, OC is a Canadian academic, feminist and former politician.-Background:The child of Holocaust survivors, Hošek was born to a Hungarian Jewish family living in Bohemia and raised in Montreal...
by 2,280 votes in the 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 Oakwood
Oakwood (electoral district)
Oakwood was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 1975 provincial election, and was retained until redistribution in 1999. It was abolished into Davenport, Eglinton—Lawrence, York South—Weston and St. Paul's...
. The NDP won a majority government in this election under the leadership of Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
.
On October 10, 1990, Rizzo left the NDP caucus following allegations that he had violated the tenets of the Ontario Labour Relations Board in his private career. He served as an independent member until June 9, 1992, when he rejoined the NDP caucus.
In 1994, Rizzo was one of twelve NDP MPPs to vote against Bill 167, proposed legislation that would have extended spousal benefits to same-sex couples. This decision lost him support within the NDP, as many socially liberal members of the NDP's Toronto organization refused to work on his 1995 campaign.
Rizzo ran for re-election in the 1995 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, but lost to Liberal
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...
Mike Colle
Mike Colle
Michael Colle is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Eglinton—Lawrence for the Ontario Liberal Party.-Background:...
by 975 votes.
He sought a return to municipal politics in the 1997 and 2000 Toronto municipal elections, running on a platform of lower property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
es and safer neighbourhoods. He was defeated both times. By 2000, he was describing himself as a member of the Liberal Party
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...
.
Rizzo's son Luigi unsuccessfully challenged veteran municipal councillor 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...
in the 2003 municipal 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 ....
.