Sandra Bussin

Sandra Bussin is a politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was a municipal councillor for Toronto City Council for Ward 32 in east Toronto from 1998 to 2010. From 2006 to 2010 she was Speaker of Toronto City Council.

Sandra Bussin
City Councillor for Ward 32 Beaches-East York
In office
December 1, 2000 – November 30, 2010
Preceded byNew ward
Succeeded byMary-Margaret McMahon
Speaker of Toronto City Council
In office
2006–2010
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byFrances Nunziata
City Councillor for Ward 26 - East Toronto
In office
January 1, 1998 – November 30, 2000
Serving with Tom Jakobek
Preceded byNew ward
Succeeded byWard abolished
Personal details
NationalityCanadian
OccupationTeacher

Background

Bussin was born in Toronto and grew up in the Dawes Road area.[1] She attended Coleman Avenue Public School, then to Central Tech and Eastern Commerce. Bussin graduated with a BA in fine arts from York University.[2] She worked as a teacher and served as a trustee for the Toronto District School Board.[3] She also worked as a senior political advisor at the provincial legislature for NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Morton Shulman.[4]

City councillor

Elected in 1997 to the first council of the newly amalgamated City of Toronto, Bussin served four terms as city councillor for Ward 32 Beaches-East York.[5] In the council term from 2003 to 2006, Bussin served as a deputy mayor of Toronto, jointly with Joe Pantalone and Mike Feldman.[6] In 2006, she was appointed as the first Speaker of Toronto City Council.[7]

She was known at council as an environmentalist,[8] who championed the modernisation of the Ashbridges Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant.[8] Bussin was formerly past chair of the Roundtable for a Clean and Beautiful City.[5] During her time as councillor six incinerators were shut down. She also managed a $2.2 million renovation and extension of the Beaches Library.[5] As well, $12 million was approved to build the new Main Square Recreation Centre and $750,000 for the new addition of the Kimberley Public School.[5] Bussin acquired the Kew Williams (Gardener's Cottage) for community use.[5] She secured $11 million for the landscape and active sport field plan in Ashbridges Bay area.[5]

During her time on city council, Bussin was closely aligned with mayor David Miller,[9] who is considered to be on the left wing of the political spectrum.[10]

Bussin was defeated by newcomer Mary-Margaret McMahon in the municipal election held on October 25, 2010. McMahon defeated Bussin by a margin of over 2.5 to 1.[11]

Controversies

In 2009, Bussin won financial support from Toronto City Council to take legal action against a local publication, Ward 32 News, which she claimed had made untrue and defamatory statements about her. This case was criticized by councillor Mike Del Grande, who was quoted by the Toronto Star as saying that "taxpayers could be easily intimidated by a councillor who has the financial backing of the city".[12]

In September 2009, Bussin placed a live call to John Tory's Newstalk 1010 Strong Opinions radio show to defend the legacy of outgoing Mayor David Miller.[13] Bussin provided only her first name and denied that she worked for the City of Toronto. She then concluded her call by saying "And good luck to you, John, because you're a three-time loser. And I don't see you being successful in the future." After being revealed as the caller, Bussin apologized to both Tory and to city council.[14] Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong requested a review of Bussin's actions from Toronto integrity commissioner Janet Leiper.[15]

In 2010, prior to her electoral defeat, Bussin faced criticism for her role in three unrelated zoning disputes involving an older house,[16] the post-arson replacement of a commercial building,[17] and a supportive-housing project for the mentally ill.[18] Also that year, Bussin was criticized for allocating her office operating budget to community groups including youth sports teams,[19] and a former restaurant employee told the Toronto Sun that he had been paid by the restaurant to "volunteer" for Bussin's campaign.[20]

After city council

As of 2012, Bussin works as a real estate agent for Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. She also writes a monthly column for a community newspaper called the Town Crier.[21]

Bussin attempted to regain her seat as councillor for Ward 32 in the 2014 municipal election. She lost again to Mary Margaret McMahon, by a larger margin than in the 2010 election.[22]

Election results
2014 Toronto election, Ward 32
Candidate Votes[23] %
Mary-Margaret McMahon (incumbent)15,76260.92
Sandra Bussin4,55217.59
Brian Graff1,9227.43
9 other candidates3,63914.06
Total25,875100.00
2010 Toronto election, Ward 32
Candidate Votes[24] %
Mary-Margaret McMahon15,15965.14
Sandra Bussin (incumbent)5,99825.78
Keith Begley7533.24
Bruce Baker4772.05
Brad Feraday3541.52
Martin Gladstone2100.90
Neil Sinclair1900.82
Albert Castells660.28
Kieron Pope630.27
Total23,270100.00
2006 Toronto election, Ward 32
Candidate Votes %
Sandra Bussin (incumbent)1037769.8
Erica Maier12878.7
John Lewis10817.3
Donna Braniff6604.4
Matt Williams5573.7
Alan Burke3322.2
John Greer3052.1
William Gallos1961.3
Luca Mele820.6
2003 Toronto election, Ward 32
Candidate Votes %
Sandra Bussin1224563.4
Chris Yaccato508226.3
Alan Burke5272.7
Colleen Mills5272.7
Donna Braniff5142.7
Jeffrey Dorman2241.2
Robert Livingston1830.6
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References
  1. "Tasty Caribbean Treats, Beach Neighbourhood, Toronto, Sandra Bussin, city councillor, Ontario". Travelandtransitions.com. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  2. Sue-Ann Levy. Fine art of fighting artsy-fartsy City Hall. Toronto Sun. October 28, 2008. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  3. 1994 Toronto general election results (former Metropolitan Toronto). Last accessed January 8, 2011.
  4. Ashante Infantry. Just another frantic day for a rookie councillor. Toronto Star. May 6, 1998. pg. 1.
  5. Sandra Bussin. City of Toronto Councillors. City of Toronto. Archived Bio. Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  6. Bruce Demara. Miller on duty, even from the slopes; Mayor only ever a phone call away Councillors still in holiday mode. Toronto Star. December 30, 2003. Pg. B02.
  7. Jim Byers. From teacher to first-ever speaker; Councillor Bussin accepts challenge to chair council meetings. Toronto Star. December 7, 2006. Pg. A18.
  8. Karen Palmer. Candidates go green, report finds; Environment group rates councillors' track records. Toronto Star. November 3, 2000. Pg. B02
  9. "Miller Goes To Bat For Friends". Toronto Election News. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  10. Vincent, Donovan; Moloney, Paul (2009-10-30). "Is Mayor David Miller a lame duck?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  11. "Five incumbents tossed, 14 new faces on next council". CTV Toronto. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  12. Spears, John (2009-08-07). "Councillor wins legal support from city". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  13. Vincent, Donovan (2009-09-30). "Bogus call from councillor praises mayor, taunts Tory". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  14. Weese, Bryn. "Bussin stirs up hot air". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  15. Lewington, Jennifer; Fenlon, Brodie; Mehler Paperny, Anna (2009-09-30). "Toronto council speaker admits she posed as caller to radio show". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
  16. Winsa, Patty (2010-06-03). "Homeowners challenge councillor over heritage designation". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  17. Granatstein, Rob. "Fiery controversy over condo: Granatstein". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  18. Vincent, Donovan (2010-08-02). "Bitterness surrounds controversial housing project". Toronto Star. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  19. "Councillors spend thousands in public cash on donations that boost their profile". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  20. SUE-ANN LEVY, Toronto Sun. "Former chef was asked to 'volunteer' on Bussin campaign". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
  21. Kuitenbrower, Peter (2012-02-02). "Bussin might want to take up baking; Ex-councillor won't leave her old seat behind". National Post. p. A11.
  22. http://www1.toronto.ca/City%20Of%20Toronto/City%20Clerks/Elections/Library/Files/Results%20PDFs/2014%20Election/2014-Councillor.pdf
  23. "Ward 32, Beaches-East York, Councillor" (PDF). City of Toronto. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  24. "Ward 32, Beaches-East York, Councillor". City of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
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