Ron Kanter

Ronald M. Kanter (born February 25, 1948) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990.

Background

Kanter was educated at Glendon College, York University, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar in 1976. In 1984, he was named a course director at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Kanter served as special assistant to Ontario Liberal Party leader Stuart Smith from 1976 to 1980.

Politics

He served as an alderman on the Toronto City Council from 1980 to 1987, and was also a member of the Metro Toronto council from 1985 to 1987.

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, upsetting Progressive Conservative leader and longtime MPP Larry Grossman by 3,676 votes in the constituency of St. Andrew—St. Patrick.^[1] Shortly after the election he was appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to Solicitor General Joan Smith in David Peterson's government.

In July 1989, Kanter was implicated in the Patti Starr affair. Starr, who was head of the National Council of Jewish Women, misused her position by having the organization make political contributions to the riding associations of prominent Liberal MPPs. Kanter's riding of St. Andrew-St. Patrick was among those who received these illegal contributions.^[2] In August, when Peterson shuffled his cabinet in the wake of the scandal, Kanter was not included.^[3]

The Liberals were defeated by the Ontario New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election. Kanter's connection to the tainted Starr scandal was mentioned as one of the reasons that he finished third in his bid for re-election, 1,383 votes behind winner Zanana Akande of the NDP.^[4]

Later life

Kanter now practises regulatory law with the firm of Macdonald Sager LLP. He serves on the Toronto Board of Trade Task Force, and writes and speaks frequently on municipal government and planning issues.

In July 1990, he authored a publication entitled "Space for all: options for a Greater Toronto Area greenlands strategy". The report, commissioned by the provincial government recommended the establishment of a regional green lands system. Kanter said "Not only should green lands be protected, but they should be linked wherever possible by trail systems, local parks, river valleys and other green corridors." The report placed special emphasis on the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine.^[5]

Election results

1982 Toronto City Council election (2 elected)

Ward 5 (The Annex and Yorkville)

Ying Hope (incumbent) - 9,009

Ron Kanter (incumbent) - 8,558

David Scott - 3,987

Georgina Langford - 977

John Papagiannis - 622

1985 Toronto municipal election (Metropolitan Toronto Council) (1 elected)

Ward 5 (The Annex and Yorkville)

Ron Kanter (incumbent) - 9,788

Ying Hope (incumbent) - 5,849

References

1. ^ "Results from individual ridings". The Windsor Star. September 11, 1987. p. F2.
2. ^ Matt Maychak. Liberal links to fallen Starr scares MPPs. Toronto Star. June 15, 1989. pg A30.
3. ^ Alan Storey, Derek Ferguson. Tainted ministers axed: Peterson drops 8 in cabinet shuffle. Toronto Star. August 2, 1989. pp. A1, A27.
4. ^ Hall, Joseph (September 12, 1990). "School principal Akande graduated to Queen's Park". Toronto Star. p. A13.
5. ^ "Report calls for $100 million to protect Metro-area lands". Toronto Star. July 27, 1990. p. A11.
6. ^ "How Metro-Area Voted". The Toronto Daily Star. 1987-09-11. p. A12.
7. ^ "How Metro-Area Voted". The Toronto Daily Star. 1990-09-07. p. A10.