Maria Rizzo
Encyclopedia
Maria Rizzo is a politician in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. She was a member of the Toronto Public School Board from 1982 to 1985, and was a North York
city councillor from 1991 to 1997. She is currently a member of the Toronto Catholic School Board. Rizzo was a member of the New Democratic Party.
as a Catholic trustee on the Toronto Public School Board, winning in North York
's third division.
Rizzo was a frequent ally of North York councillor Howard Moscoe
during this period, and campaigned for North York's fourth council ward in the 1985 municipal election
with support from Moscoe. She lost to Frank Di Giorgio
. She later considered running for the Downsview
NDP nomination for the 1987 provincial election
, but ultimately declined. In 1987, she was listed as Ontario regional director for the Canadian Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis.
She campaigned for North York's fourth ward a second time in the 1988 municipal election
, backed by Howard Moscoe's local organization as well as the Toronto Star
newspaper. A newspaper report from the election lists her as thirty-four years old. She was again defeated by Di Giorgio. She later worked for Anthony Perruzza
's campaign in the 1990 provincial election
.
despite a concerted effort by Mayor Mel Lastman
in support of her opponent. She was the only New Democrat elected to the new council, and was often critical of Lastman's relationship with local real-estate developers. In 1992, she was the only councillor to vote against a decision to write off $4.2 million debt from the firm Penta Stolp. Rizzo served on the North York Board of Health, and North York's public art committee.
Rizzo supported market-value assessment for North York properties, arguing that this would result in significant tax reductions for many in her ward. She criticized the provincial government of Bob Rae
for rejecting a compromise tax plan in 1992. The following year, she strongly opposed Lastman's decision to freeze capital projects and consultant studies in the middle of a serious recession.
Somewhat surprisingly, Mayor Lastman endorsed Rizzo's bid for re-election to council in the 1994 municipal election
. She was returned without difficulty, and spoke favourably of Lastman in a 1995 interview. She nevertheless criticized the mayor's proposal to privatize the city's garbage collection service, describing it as "union-busting".
Rizzo supported various efforts to reduce the number of strip clubs in North York, describing them as "garbage" and "a blight on society". In 1996, she brought forward a successful motion to make North York's bars and restaurants over smoke-free by 1999. In 1997, she was responsible for having a North York park named after the explorer Giovanni Caboto, whose name is often anglicized as John Cabot
.
Rizzo opposed the Mike Harris
provincial government's decision to amalgamate North York and other municipalities into the City of Toronto
in 1997. She expressed concern that suburban councillors were often less progressive that inner-city councillors, and suggested that social spending could be at risk under the new arrangement.
The Harris administration carried out its plans to amalgamate Toronto, and Rizzo campaigned for the new city's seventh council ward in the 1997 municipal election
. Again supported by Mel Lastman, she finished third in the two-member seat. She worked for councillors Howard Moscoe and John Filion
after the election.
When Judy Sgro
resigned from council in 2000, Rizzo sought an appointment as her interim replacement. The appointment went instead to Paul Valenti, after a crucial endorsement from councillor George Mammoliti. Rizzo charged that Mammoliti had promised to support her, and changed his mind following pressure from Mel Lastman. Mammoliti acknowledged that he had initially promised to support Rizzo, but said that he changed his mind of his own accord and without pressure from outside sources.
, winning a seat on the Toronto Catholic School Board. She criticized a child enrollment campaign organized by the board in 2005, describing it as a waste of money at a time when many schools were in need of physical repairs. She later opposed the board's proposal to hire Warren Kinsella
's Navigator Ltd. firm to do consultancy work with the provincial government, describing the $100,000 expenditure as a waste of money.
In 2006, Rizzo endorsed a motion which requires the Catholic school board to guarantee that its uniforms are not made in sweatshop
s. She has criticized the provincial government's requests for reduced board expenditures, and during the summer of 2006 described former provincial education minister Sandra Pupatello
as having "more money than brains".
Rizzo also works as executive assistant to councillors Howard Moscoe and John Filion. She was easily re-elected to the Catholic School Board in the 2006 municipal election
.
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...
, 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...
. She was a member of the Toronto Public School Board from 1982 to 1985, and was a North York
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
city councillor from 1991 to 1997. She is currently a member of the Toronto Catholic School Board. Rizzo was a member of the New Democratic Party.
Early life and career
Rizzo was an activist in Toronto's Italian community during the 1980s. She was elected in 1982Toronto municipal election, 1982
The 1982 Toronto municipal election was held on November 8, 1982 in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mayors, controllers, city councillors and school board trustees were elected in the municipalities of Toronto, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough.Art Eggleton was...
as a Catholic trustee on the Toronto Public School Board, winning in North York
North York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
's third division.
Rizzo was a frequent ally of North York 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...
during this period, and campaigned for North York's fourth council ward in the 1985 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1985
The 1985 Toronto municipal election was held to elect members of municipal councils, school boards, and hydro commissions in the six municipalities that made up Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The election was held on November 12, 1985.-Mayor:...
with support from Moscoe. She lost to Frank Di Giorgio
Frank Di Giorgio
Frank Di Giorgio is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, representing one of the two York South—Weston wards, Ward 12 York South-Weston. With a mathematics degree from McMaster University, he was a high school math teacher before entering politics. He ran for a position on North York city...
. She later considered running for the Downsview
Downsview (electoral district)
Downsview was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 1963 provincial election, and was retained until redistribution in 1999...
NDP nomination for 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...
, but ultimately declined. In 1987, she was listed as Ontario regional director for the Canadian Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis.
She campaigned for North York's fourth ward a second time in the 1988 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Toronto municipal election was held to elect members of municipal councils, school boards, and hydro commissions in the six municipalities that made up Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The election was held November 14, 1988.-Metro:...
, backed by Howard Moscoe's local organization as well as the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
newspaper. A newspaper report from the election lists her as thirty-four years old. She was again defeated by Di Giorgio. She later worked for Anthony Perruzza
Anthony Perruzza
Anthony Perruzza is a politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a city councillor in North York from 1988 to 1990, and served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 as a member of the New Democratic Party...
's campaign 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....
.
City councillor
Rizzo was elected to the North York council on her third attempt, taking the city's fifth ward in the 1991 municipal electionToronto municipal election, 1991
The 1991 Toronto municipal election was held on November 12, 1991 to elect councillors in Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, and mayors, councillors and school trustees in Toronto, York, East York, North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke....
despite a concerted effort by Mayor Mel Lastman
Mel Lastman
Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
in support of her opponent. She was the only New Democrat elected to the new council, and was often critical of Lastman's relationship with local real-estate developers. In 1992, she was the only councillor to vote against a decision to write off $4.2 million debt from the firm Penta Stolp. Rizzo served on the North York Board of Health, and North York's public art committee.
Rizzo supported market-value assessment for North York properties, arguing that this would result in significant tax reductions for many in her ward. She criticized the provincial government 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....
for rejecting a compromise tax plan in 1992. The following year, she strongly opposed Lastman's decision to freeze capital projects and consultant studies in the middle of a serious recession.
Somewhat surprisingly, Mayor Lastman endorsed Rizzo's bid for re-election to council in the 1994 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1994
The 1994 Toronto municipal election was held in November 1994 to elect councillors in Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, and mayors, councillors and school trustees in Toronto, York, East York, North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke....
. She was returned without difficulty, and spoke favourably of Lastman in a 1995 interview. She nevertheless criticized the mayor's proposal to privatize the city's garbage collection service, describing it as "union-busting".
Rizzo supported various efforts to reduce the number of strip clubs in North York, describing them as "garbage" and "a blight on society". In 1996, she brought forward a successful motion to make North York's bars and restaurants over smoke-free by 1999. In 1997, she was responsible for having a North York park named after the explorer Giovanni Caboto, whose name is often anglicized as John Cabot
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with the continent of North America since the Norse Vikings in the eleventh century...
.
Rizzo opposed the Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
provincial government's decision to amalgamate North York and other municipalities into the City of 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...
in 1997. She expressed concern that suburban councillors were often less progressive that inner-city councillors, and suggested that social spending could be at risk under the new arrangement.
The Harris administration carried out its plans to amalgamate Toronto, and Rizzo campaigned for the new city's seventh council ward in the 1997 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1997
The 1997 Toronto municipal election was the first election held for offices in the amalgamated "megacity" of Toronto, Canada. The elections were administered by the old City of Toronto and its five suburbs within Metropolitan Toronto...
. Again supported by Mel Lastman, she finished third in the two-member seat. She worked for councillors Howard Moscoe and John Filion
John Filion
John Filion is a Toronto city councillor representing one of the two Willowdale wards, Ward 23 Willowdale.Filion attended York University and he graduated with a degree in journalism. He became a journalist specializing in education issues...
after the election.
When Judy Sgro
Judy Sgro
Judy Sgro, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, she currently represents the electoral district of York West in the Canadian House of Commons.-Councillor:...
resigned from council in 2000, Rizzo sought an appointment as her interim replacement. The appointment went instead to Paul Valenti, after a crucial endorsement from councillor George Mammoliti. Rizzo charged that Mammoliti had promised to support her, and changed his mind following pressure from Mel Lastman. Mammoliti acknowledged that he had initially promised to support Rizzo, but said that he changed his mind of his own accord and without pressure from outside sources.
Catholic trustee
Rizzo returned to political life in the 2003 municipal electionToronto 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 ....
, winning a seat on the Toronto Catholic School Board. She criticized a child enrollment campaign organized by the board in 2005, describing it as a waste of money at a time when many schools were in need of physical repairs. She later opposed the board's proposal to hire Warren Kinsella
Warren Kinsella
Warren James Douglas Kinsella , is a Toronto-based Canadian, lawyer, author, musician, political consultant, commentator, and blogger...
's Navigator Ltd. firm to do consultancy work with the provincial government, describing the $100,000 expenditure as a waste of money.
In 2006, Rizzo endorsed a motion which requires the Catholic school board to guarantee that its uniforms are not made in sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
s. She has criticized the provincial government's requests for reduced board expenditures, and during the summer of 2006 described former provincial education minister Sandra Pupatello
Sandra Pupatello
Sandra Pupatello was a politician in Ontario, Canada. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2011 as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party, serving as a Minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty....
as having "more money than brains".
Rizzo also works as executive assistant to councillors Howard Moscoe and John Filion. She was easily re-elected to the Catholic School Board in the 2006 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Toronto municipal election took place on 13 November 2006 to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors in Toronto, Ontario. In addition, school trustees were elected to the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest...
.