| Peter Tabuns | |
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| In office March 30, 2006 – present |
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| Preceded by | Marilyn Churley |
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| Born | October 3, 1951 London, Ontario |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Shawn Kerwin |
| Residence | Toronto |
| Occupation | Politician |
Peter Charles Tabuns (born October 3, 1951) is a Canadian politician. He is currently serving as a member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly where he represents the riding of Toronto-Danforth as a member of the New Democratic Party. He launched a bid to lead the party after the previous leader, Howard Hampton, resigned. A leadership convention was held in March, 2009. Tabuns was defeated at that convention by Andrea Horwath.
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Early and personal life
Tabuns was born in London, Ontario in 1951 to Tony Tabuns, an auto mechanic, and his wife Sally, who was born and raised in England. Tony was born and raised in Latvia, though managed to leave his homeland (at the time, part of the USSR) and immigrate to England. While working on a farm, fixing equipment, he met Sally, and soon after marrying, the couple immigrated to Canada. Soon after, the family found residence with other recent immigrant. In addition to Peter, Tony and Sally have two other children, Frank and Anna.[1]
Tabuns attended York University where he studied political science and was actively involved in York's student council. Tabuns was also president of Citizens for a Safe Environment, a Riverdale environmental group that lobbied the city to end garbage incineration at the Commissioners Street plant in the portlands. He became managing director of a housing co-op on Oak Street and was also vice-chair of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto.[2]
He currently lives with Shawn Kerwin who is currently a a theatre designer and professor at York University. They have a son, Anton, from Tabun's previous relationship.
City councillor
Tabuns was city councillor for Ward 8 - Riverdale - of the former City of Toronto from 1990 to 1997, representing a segment of the Toronto Danforth riding he now represents provincially.
Tabuns was a member of the Board of Health for seven years and was chair from 1993 to 1997. In 1995 he moved to ban smoking in shopping mall food courts. A year later the city extended the ban to include bars and restaurants.[3][4]
In 1996, he supported a boycott of Harvey's restaurants because its parent company Cara Operations had donated money to the Conservatives for the past three years. The Board of Health initially passed the motion 7-6 but later rescinded it following a storm of protest. Tabuns was unrepentant and said that corporations must be held accountable for supporting Harris. Tabuns said, "What Mike Harris has done is put greased skids under the economy of this city and pushed it downhill."[5]
In 1997 the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto reduced the number of councillor positions. Tabuns was forced to compete with fellow NDP councillors Pam McConnell (who had previously represented Ward 7, adjacent to Tabuns' Ward 8) and Jack Layton (who had held a seat on Metro Council representing the same area as Wards 7 and 8) for one of two council positions returned by the east-end ward. A phantom candidate by the name of Larry Tabin also entered the race. It has been alleged that Tabin was enlisted as a candidate by bar and restaurant owners seeking to defeat Tabuns over his anti-smoking initiative; despite his presence on the ballot, Tabin did not actually conduct any visible campaign. In the confusion, Tabin was able to draw enough votes away from Peter Tabuns to cost Tabuns the election.[6] Tabuns came in third, with about 200 fewer votes than McConnell. As a result, Tabuns did not gain a seat on the amalgamated council.[7]
Greenpeace
From 1999 to 2004, Tabuns was executive director of Greenpeace Canada. Under Tabuns' leadership, the organization advocated for environmental protection, including the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. Tabuns also served as special advisor on climate change to Jack Layton from 2004 to 2005.
Tabuns was criticized by some members of OPEIU local 343 (now COPE 343) in 2002 when Greenpeace terminated its door-to-door fundraising efforts and transferred foot canvassers to telephone fundraising. No layoffs occurred, however, several workers disputed Greenpeace's assertions that the new positions were of "comparable salary and benefits" and held an information picket outside Greenpeace offices.[8] According to the union, however, the "circumstances surrounding the closure of the door canvass were amicably resolved."[9]
Federal politics
Tabuns ran as the NDP candidate in the riding of Beaches—East York during the 2004 federal election. He lost the race to Liberal incumbent Maria Minna by 7,738 votes.[10] Minna has held the seat since the 1993 election.
Provincial politics
On February 15, 2006, the Toronto—Danforth NDP riding association nominated Tabuns as the party's candidate in the provincial byelection to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of former NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Marilyn Churley. Churley resigned her provincial seat in order to run in the 2006 federal election as the NDP candidate for Beaches-East York.
Tabuns' opponents in the election were former broadcaster and Liberal candidate Ben Chin, Progressive Conservative candidate Georgina Blanas and Green Party candidate Paul Charbonneau. On March 30, 2006, Tabuns won the by-election with 47.8% support from voters.[11]
Upon being sworn in as an MPP, NDP Leader Howard Hampton reorganized his shadow cabinet and gave the rookie member a long list of portfolios including Transportation, Environment, Public Infrastructure Renewal, Greater Toronto Area, Culture, Tourism and Recreation, Citizenship and Immigration, and Multicultural Affairs.[12]
In October 2006, Tabuns was voted Best MPP by Now Magazine readers for his positions on climate change, the Portlands Energy Centre, and early childhood learning centres in his constituency.[13] Tabuns has also been known for his stance on same-sex parental rights, anti-toxics legislation and recognition of foreign credentials. In the same month, Tabuns was recognized for tabling a motion to reclaim June 22, 2006 as Chinese Canadian Head Tax Redress Day.[14]
Tabuns was re-elected in the 2007 provincial election.
Following the resignation of party leader Howard Hampton in June 2008, Peter Tabuns has been mentioned in the press as a likely candidate in the emerging race for the leadership.[15] On October 27, Tabuns officially launched his campaign for the leadership.[16] The party's leadership convention was held in March, 2009. Tabuns lost to Andrea Horwath by a margin of 60% to 40% on the third ballot following the defeat of contenders Michael Prue and Gilles Bisson in earlier rounds.
References
- ^ About Pete. Meet Pete Tabuns. Ontario NDP leadership biography. [1]
- ^ Lynda Hurst. Toronto's chief tobacco fighter: Hero or crackpot? Toronto Star. Apr 20, 1997. pg. A2.
- ^ Peter Small. Toronto to end smoking in mall food courts 1996 ban may cover all restaurants. Toronto Star. Oct 18, 1995. pg. A1.
- ^ Paul Moloney. City softens smoke ban, satisfies few. Toronto Star. Oct 9, 1996. pg. A1.
- ^ Paul Moloney. Health board zaps its beef with burger chain. Toronto Star. Mar 22, 1996. pg. A5.
- ^ The Dirty Tricks Campaign. "Canadian Free Press". September 12 - October 3, 2000. [2]
- ^ City of Toronto - 1997 Election Results. [3]
- ^ Pickets Pound Greenpeace. Heather Campbell. NOW Magazine. November 7, 2002. [4]
- ^ Canada News Wire, "COPE Local 343 - Press Release", February 24, 2009
- ^ Canada Votes, 2004. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. [5]
- ^ By-Election 2006: Toronto-Danforth. Summary of Valid Ballots Cast For Each Candidate. Elections Ontario. [6]
- ^ Peter Tabuns: biography. Ontario NDP. [7]
- ^ Peter Tabuns voted Best MPP. "NOW Magazine" October 26th, 2006 [8]
- ^ Canadians Recognize Head Tax Redress. Chinese Canadian National Council [9]
- ^ Robert Benzie. Race to succeed Hampton crowded. Toronto Star. June 28, 2008. [10]
- ^ Tabuns to try for NDP leadership. CBC News. October 27, 2008. [11]
External links
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