Murray Markin
Encyclopedia
Murray Markin is a former politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served on the North York
city council from 1976 to 1978, and campaigned for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
in 1977
. His brother, Joseph Markin
, served on North York's Board of Control from 1974 to 1976.
. After his election, he served on the North York planning board and legislation committee.
While serving as an alderman, he also campaigned for the riding of Wilson Heights
in the 1977 provincial election as a Liberal
candidate. He was hospitalized near the end of the campaign, after a large dog chased him down a street where he was canvassing and caused him to trip over a sewer grate.
Markin was often critical of what he considered inappropriate council spending. He wrote a letter to Toronto Transit Commission
chairman Gordon Hurlburt in early 1978, arguing that the cost of a subway art and architecture preview was unwarranted. He also suggested that a pay increase for aldermen be deferred to hire a new secretary for the aldermen's offices.
In August 1978, Markin and North York Mayor
Mel Lastman
presented a $1,000 audio-visual presentation to the mayor and council of Wrocław, Poland
on the "culture, history and topography of North York". The meeting was intended as a visit of friendship between the cities.
He lost his council seat to Howard Moscoe
in 1978, and was appointed to the North York planning board later in the same year. He served in this capacity until 1984.
Markin was arrested on December 9, 1982 after agreeing to sell $3,000 worth of cocaine
to an undercover police officer. In July 1984, he was found guilty of trafficking cocaine and sentenced to fifteen months in prison. The presiding judge determined that Markin had advertised himself to the officer as a major player in the cocaine business, but found that there was no solid evidence to back up this claim. Markin was working for a Jewish community organization for disadvantaged children at the time of his conviction, and his fall was a surprise to many in the community. Newspaper reports do not indicate if the verdict was appealed. He does not appear to have returned to public life after this time.
, 14 November 1978
The final results confirmed Moscoe's victory.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 7 December 1976
The final results were not significantly different.
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 served on the 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 council from 1976 to 1978, and campaigned for 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...
in 1977
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. His brother, Joseph Markin
Joseph Markin
Joseph Markin is a lawyer and former politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on North York's Board of Control from 1974 to 1976.-Political career:...
, served on North York's Board of Control from 1974 to 1976.
Political career
Markin was twenty-seven years old when he was elected to the North York council in 1976. He listed himself as a political researcher, and campaigned in support of neighbourhood preservation and completion of the Spadina ExpresswaySpadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
. After his election, he served on the North York planning board and legislation committee.
While serving as an alderman, he also campaigned for the riding of Wilson Heights
Wilson Heights (electoral district)
Wilson Heights was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created prior to the 1975 provincial election and eliminated in 1999, when most of its territory was incorporated into the ridings of York Centre, Willowdale and Eglinton—Lawrence...
in the 1977 provincial election as a 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...
candidate. He was hospitalized near the end of the campaign, after a large dog chased him down a street where he was canvassing and caused him to trip over a sewer grate.
Markin was often critical of what he considered inappropriate council spending. He wrote a letter to Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
chairman Gordon Hurlburt in early 1978, arguing that the cost of a subway art and architecture preview was unwarranted. He also suggested that a pay increase for aldermen be deferred to hire a new secretary for the aldermen's offices.
In August 1978, Markin and North York Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
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...
presented a $1,000 audio-visual presentation to the mayor and council of Wrocław, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on the "culture, history and topography of North York". The meeting was intended as a visit of friendship between the cities.
He lost his council seat to 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 1978, and was appointed to the North York planning board later in the same year. He served in this capacity until 1984.
Markin was arrested on December 9, 1982 after agreeing to sell $3,000 worth of cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
to an undercover police officer. In July 1984, he was found guilty of trafficking cocaine and sentenced to fifteen months in prison. The presiding judge determined that Markin had advertised himself to the officer as a major player in the cocaine business, but found that there was no solid evidence to back up this claim. Markin was working for a Jewish community organization for disadvantaged children at the time of his conviction, and his fall was a surprise to many in the community. Newspaper reports do not indicate if the verdict was appealed. He does not appear to have returned to public life after this time.
Table of offices held
Municipal politics
Results taken from the Toronto StarToronto 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...
, 14 November 1978
The final results confirmed Moscoe's victory.
Results taken from 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...
, 7 December 1976
The final results were not significantly different.