Frances Nunziata (/ˌnʊntsiˈɑːtə/ NUUNT-see-AH-tə, Italian: [nunˈtsjaːta]; born c. 1950) is a Canadian politician who has served as the speaker of Toronto City Council since December 1, 2010. Nunziata presently represents Ward 5 York South—Weston.
Frances Nunziata | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Nunziata in 2010 | |
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 5 York South—Weston (Ward 11; 2000-2018) | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Ward created |
| Speaker of Toronto City Council | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2010[1] | |
| Preceded by | Sandra Bussin |
| Chair of the Etobicoke York Community Council | |
| In office June 27, 2005 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Suzan Hall |
| Succeeded by | Mark Grimes |
| Mayor of York | |
| In office December 1, 1994 – December 31, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Fergy Brown |
| Succeeded by | Office dissolved |
| York City Councillor for Ward 7 | |
| In office December 1, 1988 – November 30, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Gary Bloor |
| Succeeded by | Randy Leach |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1950 (age 73–74) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | Accounting clerk |
She is the sister of former member of Parliament (MP) John Nunziata and aunt of Toronto District School Board Trustee Patrick Nunziata.
Background
editAn accounting clerk, she became head of the Harwood Ratepayers Association. She was first elected to office in 1985 as school board trustee for the City of York School Board.
Political career
editCity of York
editIn 1985 she was elected as school board trustee for the City of York School Board. In 1988, she was elected to the York City Council, ousting incumbent Gary Bloor.[2]
On city council, she was involved in the Fairbank Park affair as a whistleblower. Nunziata leaked material to the press illustrating irregularities in the process, leading to a police investigation of several local politicians.[2][3] After he reportedly threatened her, Nunziata took councillor Nicolo Fortunato to court. Fortunato also filed charges against Nunziata.[4]
In the 1994 election, Nunziata challenged incumbent York mayor Fergy Brown and was elected. As mayor, her main cause was an unsuccessful campaign to construct a subway line under Eglinton avenue.[citation needed]
Toronto City Council
editThe amalgamation of Toronto, in 1998, led to Nunziata being elected to Toronto city council. On city council, she mostly concerned herself with law and order issues, like advocating for the city to have the power to impound the vehicles of men caught soliciting street prostitutes.[5]
On December 7, 2010, she was elected as Speaker of Toronto City Council.[6]
In 2021, she stopped an effort by councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam to get details on city expenditures and decision-making associated with the controversial clearing of park encampments for the homeless.[7]
Committees & Boards
edit- Audit Committee
- Budget Committee
- Civic Appointments Committee
- Collective Bargaining Subcommittee
- Etobicoke York Community Council
- General Government and Licensing Committee
- George Bell Arena Board
- Planning and Housing Committee
- Striking Committee
- Toronto Community Housing Corporation
- Toronto Police Services Board
Nunziata also serves on the Weston Village BIA, the Mount Dennis BIA, Rockcliffe-Smythe NAP, York South-Weston NAP, Weston Village Residents Association, the Syme 55+ Centre Board of Directors and the George Bell Arena Board of Management.[2]
Controversies
editDiscrimination Claims
editIn 2010, George Berger, an executive assistant who worked for her in 2005 brought her before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, claiming harassment and discrimination during his employment. Berger claims that he was targeted due to a disability. Nunziata’s lawyer argued that there was no discrimination on the basis of disability. Berger was asking for monetary compensation and an apology.[8]
While Nunziata’s alleged conduct toward him was found to be “clearly rude and demeaning”, the judge ruled that his disability and her conduct were not related. However, the Ontario’s human rights tribunal found the City of Toronto had violated his rights.[9]
Code of Conduct Violation
editIn July 2024, the City of Toronto's Integrity Commissioner released a report that Nunziata "violated Articles 5 and 7 of the Code of Conduct"[10] for city councillors by using constituent contact information for election purposes without permission, during the 2022 Toronto municipal elections. Though the Integrity Commissioner determined that Nunziata "had no intention to mislead my office" and "did not know the truth until my investigation revealed it.", the Integrity Commissioner determined that Nunziata was ultimately responsible for the conduct of her staff in the matter.[11][12] The election was hotly contest with the runner up, Chiara Padovani, losing by 94 votes.[13]
Electoral record
edit| Candidate | Vote | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata (X) | 10,077 | 47.61 |
| Chiara Padovani | 9,983 | 47.16 |
| Gabriel Takang | 1,107 | 5.23 |
| 2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 5 York South—Weston | ||
| Candidate | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata | 8,425 | 32.18% |
| Frank Di Giorgio | 5,674 | 21.67% |
| Chiara Padovani | 5,358 | 20.47% |
| Lekan Olawoye | 3,889 | 14.85% |
| Deeqa Barre | 1,172 | 4.48% |
| Keaton Austin | 467 | 1.78% |
| Luis Portillo | 352 | 1.34% |
| Fred Fosu | 245 | 0.94% |
| Joey Carapinha | 241 | 0.92% |
| Cedric Ogilvie | 189 | 0.72% |
| Harpreet Gulri | 168 | 0.64% |
| Total | 26,180 | 100%
|
| Source: City of Toronto[14] | ||
| 2014 Toronto election, Ward 11 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata | 13,201 | 71.334 |
| Jose Garcia | 3,212 | 17.357 |
| Dory Chalhoub | 2,093 | 11.310 |
| Total | 18,506 | 100% |
Unofficial results as of October 27, 2014 11:51 PM [15]
| 2010 Toronto election, Ward 11 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata | 10,544 | 66.789 |
| Fulvio Sansone | 2,290 | 14.506 |
| Leo Marshall | 1,718 | 10.882 |
| Abdi Hashised | 1,235 | 7.823 |
| Total | 15,787 | 100% |
2010 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [16]
| 2006 Toronto election, Ward 11 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata | 6,469 | 49.601 |
| Paul Ferreira | 4,812 | 36.896 |
| Rocky Gualtieri | 1,235 | 9.469 |
| Pansy Mullings | 526 | 4.033 |
| Total | 13,042 | 100% |
2006 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [17]
| 2003 Toronto election, Ward 11 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frances Nunziata | 9,819 | 77.984 |
| Rosemarie Mulhall | 2,772 | 22.016 |
| Total | 12,591 | 100% |
2003 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [18]
References
edit- ^ "Mayor John Tory calls on smaller city council to 'work together'". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
- ^ a b c "Councillor Frances Nunziata". 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
- ^ Palango, Paul (March 11, 1993). "How Bob Rae helped nail two corrupt pols". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved July 5, 2004.
- ^ "Feuding York Aldermen. Aldermen Nicolo Fortunato and Frances Nunziata today leave East Mall court, where Fortunato appeared on charges of threatening". Retrieved 2022-10-21.
- ^ "Councillor wants city to seize johns' cars". Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ "City Council consideration on December 7, 2010". Retrieved 2022-10-21.
- ^ "John Tory's failure of leadership on homelessness is a shame". Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ^ Anna Mehler Paperny. Nunziata awaits rights tribunal verdict in he-said, she-said case The Globe and Mail. February 1, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ City violated rights of disabled ex-aide The Toronto Star. March 31, 2011.
- ^ [1] Report on Councillor Frances Nunziata’s Use of Constituent Contact Information
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3] Two Toronto councillors used constituent contact info for election purposes without permission: integrity commissioner
- ^ Cohen, Ben (2024-07-23). "Frances Nunziata campaign 'cheated,' says election rival in the wake of ethics report". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2024-08-01. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Councillor Toronto Election 2014Poll By Poll Results" (PDF). October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, October 25, 2010" (PDF). October 28, 2010. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 13, 2006" (PDF). November 16, 2006. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
- ^ "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 10, 2003" (PDF). November 13, 2003. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
External links
edit