Tony Rizzo (born June 27, 1940) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.

Rizzo owns a number of bricklaying companies. Prior to his provincial election, Rizzo was an alderman in the City of York from 1982 to 1990. He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990, defeating Liberal incumbent Chaviva Hosek by 2,280 votes in the Toronto riding of Oakwood. The NDP won an unexpected majority government in this election under the leadership of Bob Rae.

On October 10, 1990, Rizzo left the NDP caucus following allegations that he had violated the tenets of the Ontario Labour Relations Board in his private career. He served as an Independent member until June 9, 1992, when he rejoined the NDP caucus.^[1]

In 1994, Rizzo was one of twelve NDP MPPs to vote against Bill 167, proposed legislation that would have extended spousal benefits to same-sex couples. This decision lost him support within the NDP, as many socially liberal members of the NDP's Toronto organization refused to work on his 1995 campaign.

Rizzo ran for re-election in the 1995 provincial election, but lost to Liberal Mike Colle by 975 votes.

He sought a return to municipal politics in the 1997 and 2000 Toronto municipal elections, running on a platform of lower property taxes and safer neighbourhoods. He was defeated both times. By 2000, he was describing himself as a member of the Liberal Party.

Rizzo's son Luigi unsuccessfully challenged veteran municipal councillor Howard Moscoe in the 2003 municipal election.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography