Frances Nunziata

Frances Nunziata (/ˌnʊntsiˈɑːtə/ NUUNT-see-AH-tə, Italian: [nunˈtsjaːta]; born c. 1950) is a Canadian politician who has served as the speaker of Toronto City Council since December 1, 2010. Nunziata presently represents Ward 5 York South—Weston.

Frances Nunziata
Nunziata in 2010
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 5 York South—Weston
(Ward 11; 2000-2018)
Assumed office
December 1, 2000
Preceded byWard created
Speaker of Toronto City Council
Assumed office
December 1, 2010[1]
Preceded bySandra Bussin
Chair of the Etobicoke York Community Council
In office
June 27, 2005 – November 30, 2010
Preceded bySuzan Hall
Succeeded byMark Grimes
Mayor of York
In office
December 1, 1994 – December 31, 1997
Preceded byFergy Brown
Succeeded byOffice dissolved
York City Councillor for Ward 7
In office
December 1, 1988 – November 30, 1994
Preceded byGary Bloor
Succeeded byRandy Leach
Personal details
Bornc. 1950 (age 73–74)
NationalityCanadian
OccupationAccounting clerk
Nunziata in 2011 (on the right)

She is the sister of former member of Parliament (MP) John Nunziata and aunt of Toronto District School Board Trustee Patrick Nunziata.

Background

An accounting clerk, she became head of the Harwood Ratepayers Association. She was first elected to office in 1985 as school board trustee for the City of York School Board.

Political career

In 1985 she was elected as school board trustee for the City of York School Board. In 1988, she was elected to the York City Council, ousting incumbent Gary Bloor.[2]

On city council, she was involved in the Fairbank Park affair as a whistleblower. Nunziata leaked material to the press illustrating irregularities in the process, leading to a police investigation of several local politicians.[2][3] After he reportedly threatened her, Nunziata took councillor Nicolo Fortunato to court. Fortunato also filed charges against Nunziata.[4]

In the 1994 election, Nunziata challenged incumbent York mayor Fergy Brown and was elected. As mayor, her main cause was an unsuccessful campaign to construct a subway line under Eglinton avenue.[citation needed]

Toronto City Council

With the creation of the megacity in 1997, she was elected to Toronto city council. On city council, she mostly concerned herself with law and order issues, like advocating for the city to have the power to impound the vehicles of men caught soliciting street prostitutes.[5]

On December 7, 2010, she was elected as Speaker of Toronto City Council.[6]

In 2021, she stopped an effort by councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam to get details on city expenditures and decision-making associated with the controversial clearing of park encampments for the homeless.[7]

Discrimination Claims

In 2010, George Berger, an executive assistant who worked for her in 2005 brought her before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, claiming harassment and discrimination during his employment. Berger claims that he was targeted due to a disability. Nunziata’s lawyer argued that there was no discrimination on the basis of disability. Berger was asking for monetary compensation and an apology.[8]

While Nunziata’s alleged conduct toward him was found to be “clearly rude and demeaning”, the judge ruled that his disability and her conduct were not related. However, the Ontario’s human rights tribunal found the City of Toronto had violated his rights.[9]

Committees & Boards

  • Audit Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • Civic Appointments Committee
  • Collective Bargaining Subcommittee
  • Etobicoke York Community Council
  • General Government and Licensing Committee
  • George Bell Arena Board
  • Planning and Housing Committee
  • Striking Committee
  • Toronto Community Housing Corporation
  • Toronto Police Services Board

Nunziata also serves on the Weston Village BIA, the Mount Dennis BIA, Rockcliffe-Smythe NAP, York South-Weston NAP, Weston Village Residents Association, the Syme 55+ Centre Board of Directors and the George Bell Arena Board of Management.[2]

Electoral record

CandidateVote%
Frances Nunziata (X)10,07747.61
Chiara Padovani9,98347.16
Gabriel Takang1,1075.23
2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 5 York South—Weston
CandidateVotesVote share
Frances Nunziata8,42532.18%
Frank Di Giorgio5,67421.67%
Chiara Padovani5,35820.47%
Lekan Olawoye3,88914.85%
Deeqa Barre1,1724.48%
Keaton Austin4671.78%
Luis Portillo3521.34%
Fred Fosu2450.94%
Joey Carapinha2410.92%
Cedric Ogilvie1890.72%
Harpreet Gulri1680.64%
Total26,180
100%
Source: City of Toronto[10]
2014 Toronto election, Ward 11
CandidateVotes%
Frances Nunziata13,20171.334
Jose Garcia3,21217.357
Dory Chalhoub2,09311.310
Total18,506100%

Unofficial results as of October 27, 2014 11:51 PM [11]

2010 Toronto election, Ward 11
CandidateVotes%
Frances Nunziata10,54466.789
Fulvio Sansone2,29014.506
Leo Marshall1,71810.882
Abdi Hashised1,2357.823
Total15,787100%

2010 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [12]

2006 Toronto election, Ward 11
CandidateVotes%
Frances Nunziata6,46949.601
Paul Ferreira4,81236.896
Rocky Gualtieri1,2359.469
Pansy Mullings5264.033
Total13,042100%

2006 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [13]

2003 Toronto election, Ward 11
CandidateVotes%
Frances Nunziata9,81977.984
Rosemarie Mulhall2,77222.016
Total12,591100%

2003 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results [14]

References