Tom Clifford
Encyclopedia
Tom Clifford is a former municipal politician in the City of Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
He served twenty-seven years as an elected official as School Trustee for the Toronto Board of Education and as a City of Toronto Councillor representing the East Toronto and Riverdale area.
In a 1978 federal by-election in the riding of Broadview
, Clifford ran as the candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
but lost by 420 votes to NDP candidate Bob Rae
.
He retired from municipal politics in 1991 but attempted to make a comeback in 2003. In March 2003, Toronto Councillor Jack Layton
resigned as councillor when he won the leadership of Canada's New Democratic Party. Toronto City Council decided to appoint a replacement until the end the council term that expired that November.
Councillor Michael Tziretas and his assistant Justin Van Dette organized Clifford's campaign by lobbying centre and right-wing councillors for their vote at the special council meeting. It ended up being a classic left vs. right battle as Layton had endorsed former area school trustee Laura Jones. It was also believed that Mayor Mel Lastman
was supporting Clifford.
The special council meeting went four ballots and the final ballot was an 18 to 18 tie between Clifford and Jones. Deputy Mayor Case Ootes who was in the chair requested the City Clerk Ulli Watkiss to pull a name out of the hat to break the tie. Jones' name was pulled out and was appointed as the interim councillor to replace Layton.
As councillor, Clifford was an active supporter of many community and civic causes. He was also involved with The Riverdale Hospital (now known as Bridgepoint Health) and the Toronto East General Hospital
.
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...
.
He served twenty-seven years as an elected official as School Trustee for the Toronto Board of Education and as a City of Toronto Councillor representing the East Toronto and Riverdale area.
In a 1978 federal by-election in the riding of Broadview
Broadview (electoral district)
Broadview was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1979. This riding was created in 1933 from parts of Toronto East and Toronto—Scarborough ridings....
, Clifford ran as the candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
but lost by 420 votes to NDP candidate 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....
.
He retired from municipal politics in 1991 but attempted to make a comeback in 2003. In March 2003, Toronto Councillor Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
resigned as councillor when he won the leadership of Canada's New Democratic Party. Toronto City Council decided to appoint a replacement until the end the council term that expired that November.
Councillor Michael Tziretas and his assistant Justin Van Dette organized Clifford's campaign by lobbying centre and right-wing councillors for their vote at the special council meeting. It ended up being a classic left vs. right battle as Layton had endorsed former area school trustee Laura Jones. It was also believed that 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...
was supporting Clifford.
The special council meeting went four ballots and the final ballot was an 18 to 18 tie between Clifford and Jones. Deputy Mayor Case Ootes who was in the chair requested the City Clerk Ulli Watkiss to pull a name out of the hat to break the tie. Jones' name was pulled out and was appointed as the interim councillor to replace Layton.
As councillor, Clifford was an active supporter of many community and civic causes. He was also involved with The Riverdale Hospital (now known as Bridgepoint Health) and the Toronto East General Hospital
Toronto East General Hospital
-External links:**...
.