Tony Grande

Anthony William Grande (January 11, 1943 – August 9, 2006) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1987, as a member of the New Democratic Party who represented the Toronto riding of Oakwood.

"Anthony Grande" redirects here. For American businessman, see Anthony L. Grande.
Tony Grande
Ontario MPP
In office
1975–1987
Preceded byNew riding
Succeeded byChaviva Hošek
ConstituencyOakwood
Personal details
Born(1943-01-11)January 11, 1943
Calabria, Italy
DiedAugust 9, 2006(2006-08-09) (aged 63)
Toronto, Ontario
Political partyNew Democrat
Spouse(s)Helen Schlanger
OccupationTeacher

Background

Grande was born in Calabria, Italy, and moved to Canada with his family at age eleven.[1] He was educated at the University of Toronto, Lakeshore Teacher's College and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and worked as a teacher with the Toronto District School Board. Prior to his election, he was teacher liaison chair for the New Democratic Party.[2]

In 1974 he married Helen Schlanger. They had three children: Aaron David (1977), Daniel Robert (1979) and Laura Simone (1983). He died of cancer on August 9, 2006, following a four-year illness.

Politics

Grande was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election, and re-elected in 1977, 1981 and 1985. He served as NDP education critic in the early 1980s, and was reassigned as critic for citizenship, culture and special issues of education in 1983.[3][4]

Grande supported Bob Rae's successful campaign for the NDP leadership in 1982, and was subsequently asked to relinquish his seat to allow Rae to run for a position in the legislature. He declined, arguing that the local Italian community in his riding would be upset if he were forced to resign in favour of a non-Italian.[5][6][7]

Grande was a strong advocate for multiculturalism and multicultural services during his time. He supported minority language rights in education, and in 1986 he introduced a Private Member's Bill that would have made it easier for students to be taught in languages other than English or French.[8][9] The bill died on the order paper when a new election was called in 1987. Grande was also an advocate for labour, and successfully represented three workers from a North York, Ontario factory before the Ontario Labour Relations Board in 1979-80.[10][11] He also supported the rights of tenants, and promoted legislation to permit persons over sixteen years of age to gain access to their medical records.[12][13]

The Progressive Conservative Party, which had governed Ontario since 1943, was reduced to a minority government in the 1985 election. After the election, the NDP provided outside support to allow the Liberal Party to form a new administration. The Liberal government was still popular in office after two years, and won a landslide majority government in the 1987 election. Grande lost his seat to Liberal star candidate Chaviva Hošek, and worked as a health and safety officer after leaving office.[14][15]

He campaigned for Mayor of York in 1988, describing the city's government as a "family compact" and promising to fight for an increased share of Metropolitan Toronto's tax base.[16][17] He lost to moderate Tory candidate Fergy Brown.

Electoral Record
1988 Toronto municipal election, Mayor of York
Candidate Total votes % of total votes
Fergy Brown 21,493 58.74
Tony Grande 13,616 37.21
Mario Faraone 1,482 4.05
Total valid votes 36,591 100.00
1987 Ontario general election: Oakwood
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalChaviva Hošek11,19248.28
New DemocraticTony Grande9,86142.54
Progressive ConservativeIrene Paparo-Stein1,5736.79
CommunistGeoffrey Da Silva5562.40
Total valid votes 23,182 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 275
Turnout 23,457 67.29
Electors on the lists 34,860
1985 Ontario general election: Oakwood
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticTony Grande10,40741.63
LiberalJoe Ricciuti9,63138.52
Progressive ConservativeHarriet Wolman4,63618.54
CommunistMike Sterling3271.31
Total valid votes 25,001 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 308
Turnout 25,309 68.62
Electors on the lists 36,884
1981 Ontario general election: Oakwood
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticTony Grande8,86245.17$12,929
Progressive ConservativeHarriet Wolman5,96130.39$24,885
LiberalJean M. Gammage4,17121.26$14,485
CommunistNan McDonald6243.18$1,122
Total valid votes 19,618 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 315
Turnout 19,933 56.22
Electors on the lists 35,453
1977 Ontario general election: Oakwood
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticTony Grande9,21443.48$14,076
Progressive ConservativeFergy Brown6,37930.10$23,388
LiberalRichard Meagher5,04623.81$21,168
CommunistVal Bjarnason2291.08$1,920
IndependentWillis Cummins1700.80$224
LibertarianAlex Eaglesham1530.72$0
Total valid votes 21,191 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 270
Turnout 21,461 64.98
Electors on the lists 33,027
1975 Ontario general election: Oakwood
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticTony Grande7,38839.25
LiberalRichard Meagher5,97031.71
Progressive ConservativeJoseph Marrese4,63724.63
IndependentMarvin Gordon5582.96
CommunistVal Bjarnason2711.44
Total valid votes 18,824 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 253
Turnout 19,077 59.66
Electors on the lists 31,975

All provincial election information is taken from Elections Ontario.

References
  1. Trueman, Mary (November 22, 1975). "New Democrat focuses on immigration". The Globe and Mail. p. 5.
  2. "123 candidates seeking Metro's 29 seats". Toronto Star. September 12, 1975. p. A8.
  3. Matas, Robert (January 12, 1982). "Ontario private schools given tax break". The Globe and Mail. p. P5.
  4. "NDP member to study poverty". The Globe and Mail. September 20, 1983. p. P5.
  5. Steed, Judy (February 2, 1982). "The NDP's optimistic scramble for a high-profile winner". The Globe and Mail. p. P7.
  6. Stead, Sylvia (June 23, 1982). "MPPs sitting tight as Rae searches for place to run". The Globe and Mail. p. P5.
  7. Dowd, Eric (January 25, 2005). "Perhaps Ticketmaster could find Tory a seat". Guelph Mercury. p. A8.
  8. Trueman, Mary (November 22, 1975). "New Democrat focuses on immigration". The Globe and Mail. p. 5.
  9. Brown, Louise (February 2, 1987). "Battle looms over language in our schools". Toronto Star. p. A14.
  10. Strauss, Stephen (February 5, 1980). "Don't want jobs back for spite, 2 dismissed workers tell board". The Globe and Mail. p. P5.
  11. "Three women win 2-year fight to be rehired by toy company". The Globe and Mail. March 28, 1980. p. P3.
  12. Lesjak, Susan (April 17, 1986). "Vaughan Road tenants fight eviction notices". The Globe and Mail. p. A15.
  13. Lipovenko, Dorothy (November 8, 1984). "Bill would open files for patients". The Globe and Mail. p. M5.
  14. "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
  15. Henton, Darcy (November 7, 1988). "Close race shapes up in smallest city". Toronto Star. p. A6.
  16. Taylor, Paul (September 9, 1988). "York dying of neglect, says Grande in launching bid to be next mayor". The Globe and Mail. p. A15.
  17. Watson, Paul; Byers, Jim (November 10, 1988). "Dumping cover-up alleged". Toronto Star. p. A7.
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