Mark Grimes
Mark Grimes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Grimes in 2010 | |
| Toronto City Councillor | |
| In office December 1, 2003 – November 15, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Irene Jones |
| Succeeded by | Amber Morley |
| Constituency | Ward 3 Etobicoke—Lakeshore (2018-2022) Ward 6 Etobicoke—Lakeshore (2003-2018) |
| Chair of Etobicoke and York Community Council | |
| In office December 1, 2010 – January 1, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Frances Nunziata |
| Succeeded by | Vincent Crisanti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Orillia, Ontario |
| Spouse | Anne Grimes |
| Children | 5 |
| Residence | Alderwood, Toronto |
| Occupation |
|
Mark Grimes is a former Canadian politician who served on Toronto City Council from 2003 to 2022. Grimes represented Etobicoke—Lakeshore when it was Ward 6 until 2018 and Ward 3 onwards.
Background[edit]
Grimes was born in Orillia and grew up in New Toronto, a neighbourhood of Toronto where he was a paperboy.[1] Prior to politics, he worked as a trader on the Toronto Stock Exchange before starting his own transportation logistics company, MGA International Logistics. He and his wife Anne live in the Alderwood neighbourhood of Toronto with their five children.[2]
Political career[edit]
In 2003, Grimes ran as a municipal councillor in Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore to replace Irene Jones who left the seat to run in the provincial election. He was one of nine candidates to run for the seat. During the campaign, he and his closest rival Berardo Mascioli, accused each other of dirty tricks during the election campaign. On election night phone lines to both campaign offices were cut. Grimes won the election by 1,352 votes.[3]
In 2005, Grimes was appointed to the Toronto Transit Commission board but he resigned in 2006 due to a conflict with board chair Howard Moscoe. Grimes seconded a motion of non-confidence in Moscoe over his handling of negotiations with the TTC union. When the vote lost, Grimes immediately resigned. He said continuing to serve on the board would be a waste of time. he said, "Obviously my voice isn't going to be heard."[4][5]
Although Grimes was generally opposed to initiatives supported by Mayor David Miller, he became a key player in getting the land transfer tax passed in 2007. Grimes proposed a compromise that would see rebates for first-time buyers. He said, "I'm not there for the mayor or to play the left wing against the right wing ... Nobody likes new taxes, but I don't want to see libraries and ice rinks and community centres closing."[6]
After the 2010 election he was named chair of the Etobicoke-York Community Council.[2]
In a report dated July 5, 2016,[7] Valerie Jepson, the City of Toronto's integrity commissioner, a lawyer, following a 17-month investigation, produced a 44-page misconduct report on Councillor Mark Grimes. According to a Toronto Star newspaper story, dated July 5, 2016,[8] Commissioner Jepson found that Councillor Grimes had "breached council rules when he took part in 'improper' dealings with two different developers". The Star also reported that "Grimes revised an agreement with Davies Smith Developments that resulted in $100,000 less in cash benefits than originally agreed to for one of his ward communities". And "a side arrangement between Grimes and the developer committed $100,000 for improvements to a local park, but that deal not follow the proper procedures and the improvements never happened, Jepson found". Further, the story goes on to state that "The integrity commissioner also found that Grimes improperly used the influence of his office when he appeared in a promotional video for another developer, Empire Communities, in 2014". Grimes cooperated fully with the investigation and agreed to consult with Jepsen on future dealings with Empire Communities. Jepsen recommended that Council impose no penalties and not take any further remedial action.[9]
On November 16, 2018 the OPP charged Grimes along with outgoing city councillor Justin Di Ciano for allegedly filing false campaign expenses for the 2014 municipal elections, contrary to the Municipal Elections Act.[10][11] A few months later, Grimes was sued by Warren Kinsella after Grimes allegedly failed to pay invoices for services rendered by Kinsella's Daisy Group. Grimes paid a $10,000 retainer to Kinsella, according to the lawsuit. Then-councillor Di Ciano and Grimes hired the firm of strategist Kinsella, to compile a "research" dossier on him and political foes.[12] On February 10, 2020, Grimes was cleared of the non-criminal charge under the Municipal Elections Act as the Crown cited that they could not prove the allegations that had been made.[13]
Grimes was narrowly defeated in the 2022 Toronto municipal election by Amber Morley, four years after she lost to Grimes in the 2018 Toronto municipal election.[14] Grimes had been endorsed by Mayor John Tory both times.[15]
Election results[edit]
| 2018 Toronto election, Ward 3 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Mark Grimes | 16,527 | 40.90% |
| Amber Morley | 10,985 | 27.19% |
| Pamela Gough | 7,301 | 18.07% |
| Iain Davis | 2,722 | 6.74% |
| Svitlana Burlakova | 1,218 | 3.01% |
| Peggy Moulder | 575 | 1.42% |
| Patrizia Nigro | 394 | 0.98% |
| Michael Julihen | 320 | 0.79% |
| Michael Loomans | 199 | 0.49% |
| Robert Gunnyon | 167 | 0.41% |
| 2014 Toronto election, Ward 6 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Grimes | 11337 | 43.96 |
| Russ Ford | 8791 | 34.08 |
| Tony Vella | 2718 | 10.54 |
| Miroslaw Jankielewicz | 1114 | 4.32 |
| Sean O'Callaghan | 501 | 1.94 |
| Peggy Moulder | 398 | 1.54 |
| Michael Laxer | 305 | 1.18 |
| Everett Sheppard | 221 | 0.86 |
| Ruthmary James | 169 | 0.66 |
| Robert Sysak | 90 | 0.35 |
| John Letonja | 84 | 0.33 |
| Dave Searle | 64 | 0.25 |
| Total | 25,792 | 100.00 |
| 2010 Toronto election, Ward 6[16] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Grimes | 12,228 | 60.4 |
| Jem Cain | 5,847 | 28.9 |
| Michael Laxer | 717 | 3.5 |
| Wendell Brereton | 605 | 3.0 |
| Cecilia Luu | 466 | 2.3 |
| David Searle | 375 | 1.9 |
| Total | 20,238 | 100% |
| 2006 Toronto election, Ward 6[17] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Grimes | 6,472 | 42.6 |
| Jem Cain | 3,758 | 24.7 |
| Matthew Day | 2,327 | 15.3 |
| Gregory Wowchuk | 931 | 6.1 |
| Danuta Markiewicz | 531 | 3.5 |
| Rosalie Chalmers | 424 | 2.8 |
| Walter Melnyk | 309 | 2.0 |
| Tony Del Grande | 303 | 2.0 |
| George Kash | 131 | 0.9 |
| 2003 Toronto election, Ward 6 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Grimes | 5,334 | 32.4 |
| Berardo Mascioli | 3,982 | 24.2 |
| Jerry Smith | 3,437 | 20.9 |
| Diane Cleary | 1,180 | 7.2 |
| Mark Selkirk | 1,079 | 6.6 |
| Gregory Wowchuk | 893 | 5.4 |
| George Kash | 208 | 1.3 |
| Frederick Azman | 174 | 1.1 |
| David Searle | 94 | 0.6 |
| Robin Vinden | 83 | 0.5 |
References[edit]
- ^ "'Oh my lord, it's the paperboy'". Toronto Star. November 2, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ^ a b City of Toronto Councillors: Mark Grimes, City of Toronto, last accessed September 25, 2011.
- ^ Tamara, Shephard (December 3, 2003). "Grimes replaces Jones in Ward 6". Etobicoke Guardian.
- ^ Cowan, James (July 20, 2006). "TTC keeps Moscoe, Grimes resigns". National Post. p. A15.
- ^ Nickle, David (July 20, 2006). "Moscoe keeps job with TTC, Grimes steps down". Etobicoke Guardian. p. 1.
- ^ Byers, Jim (October 18, 2007). "Compromise could tip tax vote; Councillor Mark Grimes suggests modifications to unite warring sides as new taxes go to council; mayor's allies grow optimistic proposal can pass". Toronto Star. p. A8.
- ^ http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-94814.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "City watchdog finds councillor had "improper" dealings with developers". Toronto Star. July 11, 2016.
- ^ https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-94814.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Lancaster, John; Rieti, John (November 16, 2018). "2 Toronto city councillors charged with alleged campaign finance violations". CBC News. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ Pagliaro, Jennifer (November 16, 2018). "Etobicoke Councillors Grimes and Di Ciano charged with Elections Act offences over 2014 campaign expenses". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ "Toronto councillor peeved over CBC stories was privately 'threatening' reporter, lawsuit alleges". June 24, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
- ^ "Toronto councillor cleared of campaign spending violations | CBC News".
- ^ "Etobicoke ward election results: Amber Morley upsets Mark Grimes in Etobicoke–Lakeshore". CBC News. October 24, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Shephard, Tamara (October 25, 2022). "Amber Morley defeats longtime incumbent Mark Grimes in Etobicoke-Lakeshore". Etobicoke Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ City of Toronto elections page Archived 2010-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ City Clerk's Official Declaration 2006 Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine