14 Facts About Alan Tonks

Alan Tonks was born on April 2,1943 and is a former Canadian politician.

Alan Tonks attended York University, where he earned a master's degree in political economy, and the University of Toronto, where he received a master's degree in education.

Alan Tonks spent time working for a Canadian aid agency in Jamaica before becoming a junior high teacher for the Scarborough Board of Education for several years.

Alan Tonks's son Chris is a former trustee on the Toronto District School Board.

Alan Tonks entered municipal politics in 1978 and served as a member of the Board of Control in York from 1978 to 1980.

Alan Tonks lost his first bid for they mayoralty in 1980 before serving as mayor from 1982 to 1988.

At the first Metro Council session following the municipal election, Alan Tonks was elected Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto by the other members of Metro Toronto Council defeating incumbent Metro Chairman Dennis Flynn, the only time a sitting Metro Chairman would be defeated by a challenger.

Alan Tonks served as Metro Chairman until 1997 when the position was replaced with that of Mayor of Toronto.

Alan Tonks led the Transition Team responsible for administering the new City of Toronto.

Alan Tonks did not run in the 1997 election for the position of mayor and retired from elected municipal politics.

Alan Tonks first ran for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1975 provincial election as a candidate of the Ontario Liberal Party, and finished third in York South against former New Democratic Party leader Donald C MacDonald.

Alan Tonks was unsuccessful in the 1987 Ontario election, losing to NDP leader Bob Rae by only 333 votes in York South.

Alan Tonks was re-elected by a much greater margin in the federal elections held in 2004.

Alan Tonks served as a member of the official opposition from 2006 to 2011, when he lost his seat by around 2500 votes to the NDP's Mike Sullivan.