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)
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2000
Preceded by	Ward created
Speaker of Toronto City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2010[1]
Preceded by	Sandra Bussin
Chair of the Etobicoke York Community Council
In office June 27, 2005 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Suzan Hall
Succeeded by	Mark Grimes
Mayor of York
In office December 1, 1994 – December 31, 1997
Preceded by	Fergy Brown
Succeeded by	Office dissolved
York City Councillor for Ward 7
In office December 1, 1988 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by	Gary Bloor
Succeeded by	Randy Leach
Personal details
Born	c. 1950 (age 73–74)
Nationality	Canadian
Occupation	Accounting 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

City of York

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

The amalgamation of Toronto, in 1998, led to Nunziata being 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]

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]

Controversies

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]

Code of Conduct Violation

In July 2024, the City of Toronto's Integrity Commissioner released a report that Nunziata "violated Articles 5 and 7 of the Code of Conduct"^[10] for city councillors by using constituent contact information for election purposes without permission, during the 2022 Toronto municipal elections. Though the Integrity Commissioner determined that Nunziata "had no intention to mislead my office" and "did not know the truth until my investigation revealed it.", the Integrity Commissioner determined that Nunziata was ultimately responsible for the conduct of her staff in the matter.^[11][12] The election was hotly contest with the runner up, Chiara Padovani, losing by 94 votes.^[13]

Electoral record

Candidate	Vote	%
Frances Nunziata (X)	10,077	47.61
Chiara Padovani	9,983	47.16
Gabriel Takang	1,107	5.23

2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 5 York South—Weston
Candidate	Votes	Vote share
Frances Nunziata	8,425	32.18%
Frank Di Giorgio	5,674	21.67%
Chiara Padovani	5,358	20.47%
Lekan Olawoye	3,889	14.85%
Deeqa Barre	1,172	4.48%
Keaton Austin	467	1.78%
Luis Portillo	352	1.34%
Fred Fosu	245	0.94%
Joey Carapinha	241	0.92%
Cedric Ogilvie	189	0.72%
Harpreet Gulri	168	0.64%
Total	26,180	100%
Source: City of Toronto[14]

2014 Toronto election, Ward 11
Candidate	Votes	%
Frances Nunziata	13,201	71.334
Jose Garcia	3,212	17.357
Dory Chalhoub	2,093	11.310
Total	18,506	100%

Unofficial results as of October 27, 2014 11:51 PM ^[15]

2010 Toronto election, Ward 11
Candidate	Votes	%
Frances Nunziata	10,544	66.789
Fulvio Sansone	2,290	14.506
Leo Marshall	1,718	10.882
Abdi Hashised	1,235	7.823
Total	15,787	100%

2010 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results ^[16]

2006 Toronto election, Ward 11
Candidate	Votes	%
Frances Nunziata	6,469	49.601
Paul Ferreira	4,812	36.896
Rocky Gualtieri	1,235	9.469
Pansy Mullings	526	4.033
Total	13,042	100%

2006 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results ^[17]

2003 Toronto election, Ward 11
Candidate	Votes	%
Frances Nunziata	9,819	77.984
Rosemarie Mulhall	2,772	22.016
Total	12,591	100%

2003 City Clerk's Official Declaration of Results ^[18]

References

1. "Mayor John Tory calls on smaller city council to 'work together'". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2019-12-25.
2. "Councillor Frances Nunziata". 22 August 2017. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
3. Palango, Paul (March 11, 1993). "How Bob Rae helped nail two corrupt pols". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved July 5, 2004.
4. "Feuding York Aldermen. Aldermen Nicolo Fortunato and Frances Nunziata today leave East Mall court, where Fortunato appeared on charges of threatening". Retrieved 2022-10-21.
5. "Councillor wants city to seize johns' cars". Retrieved October 21, 2022.
6. "City Council consideration on December 7, 2010". Retrieved 2022-10-21.
7. "John Tory's failure of leadership on homelessness is a shame". Retrieved October 21, 2022.
8. Anna Mehler Paperny. Nunziata awaits rights tribunal verdict in he-said, she-said case The Globe and Mail. February 1, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
9. City violated rights of disabled ex-aide The Toronto Star. March 31, 2011.
10. Report on Councillor Frances Nunziata’s Use of Constituent Contact Information
12. Two Toronto councillors used constituent contact info for election purposes without permission: integrity commissioner
13. Cohen, Ben (2024-07-23). "Frances Nunziata campaign 'cheated,' says election rival in the wake of ethics report". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2024-08-01. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
14. "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
15. "Councillor Toronto Election 2014Poll By Poll Results" (PDF). October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
16. "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, October 25, 2010" (PDF). October 28, 2010. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
17. "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 13, 2006" (PDF). November 16, 2006. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
18. "Declaration of Results of Voting – Monday, November 10, 2003" (PDF). November 13, 2003. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.

External links

• City of Toronto Councillor Profile