24 Facts About Tony Rizzo

Tony Rizzo was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 who represented the central Toronto riding of Oakwood.

Tony Rizzo was an alderman for the city of York from 1982 to 1990.

Tony Rizzo studied engineering and obtained work as a civil engineer in the engineering dept of Metropolitan Toronto and then with Ontario Housing Corporation and then with Ontario Dept.

In 1980, Tony Rizzo ran for a seat on the municipal council in the borough of York.

Tony Rizzo beat Bradd again in 1985 and again in 1988.

In 1989, Tony Rizzo was accused of underhanded electioneering in the 1988 election when he admitted to donating $700 to the campaign of Roland Saggiorato, a rival candidate shortly after Saggiorato withdrew from the race.

Tony Rizzo claimed the donation was legal but some argued the payment was a bribe for Saggiorato withdrawing his candidacy.

Later Tony Rizzo tried unsuccessfully to appoint Saggiorato to the city's municipal Committee of Adjustment - a position that came with a $2,000 honorarium.

In late 1989 to mid 1990, Tony Rizzo became embroiled in the infamous Fairbank Park development scandal.

Tony Rizzo was head of the committee that was considering the sale of land north of Fairbank Park.

Tony Rizzo ran in the newly formed Ward 28 but lost to Joe Mihevc and Rob Davis.

Tony Rizzo accused Moscoe of interfering in a recent Toronto Transit Commission strike and of collusion with the taxicab industry.

Tony Rizzo 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.

On October 5,1990, it was revealed that Tony Rizzo had obtained home renovation drawings from architect Rocco Maragna in 1987.

Later on Tony Rizzo had voted at council to approve city contracts for Maragna's architectural firm.

Tony Rizzo admitted that he hadn't declared a conflict of interest because he didn't pay for the drawings.

In 1989 the Ontario Labour Relations Board found that Tony Rizzo had shifted a dozen workers from one company to a new one following the residential construction industry crisis in order to save their job and keep them working in spite of higher wages as result of joining a different union paying them higher benefits and higher dues.

In June 1992, Tony Rizzo was allowed to return to the NDP caucus and, during the caucus meeting before the summer recess, Tony Rizzo suggested to the Premier and to the Minister of Finance and the Minister Transportation to start the process for financing and construction of the Eglinton Subway that was eventually started in 1994 but later stopped by the Harris government.

In May 1994, Tony Rizzo introduced a private member's bill that would have ensured that the courts consider grandparents in the best interest of the children.

Tony Rizzo said that he felt sorry about the outcome but said he followed his personal convictions on the vote.

Tony Rizzo narrowly won a vote to be the NDP candidate for Oakwood in the 1995 provincial election.

Tony Rizzo's support resulted in her later expulsion from the NDP.

Tony Rizzo lost to Liberal Mike Colle by 975 votes.

Tony Rizzo formed a company called GTA Municipal Consultants which files property tax appeals for homeowners and takes a 50 per cent cut of any savings.