John Filion

Filion attended York University and he graduated with a degree in history. He became a journalist specializing in education issues. He was the founding editor of the Canadian World Almanac.

He first entered politics as a trustee on the North York Board of Education to which he was elected in 1981. From 1987 to 1990 he served as chair of the school board. He was elected to North York's city council in 1990 replacing retiring councillor Jim McGuffin. He moved to Toronto city council with the creation of the new city in 1997. He received a great deal of attention for his role as chair of the city's Board of Health. He used this position to push for a smoking ban in Toronto bars and restaurants and to force restaurants to post records of their health inspections. As a member of the police services board he was a sharp critic of chief Julian Fantino and also publicly accused members of the police force of monitoring his activities.

In 2013, after admissions by Mayor Rob Ford that he had purchased and smoked crack cocaine while in office, made homophobic and racist remarks and possibly drove while intoxicated, Filion put forward an emergency motion which transferred much of the mayor's budget and emergency powers to the Deputy Mayor. A further motion put forward by Filion also removed his ability to set key matters on the legislative agenda, and removed his right to fill vacancies on the civic appointments committee.{{cite news |last1=Mendleson |first1=Rachel |last2=Edwards |first2=Peter |title=Rob Ford stripped of power as mayor by Toronto council |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2013/11/18/rob_ford_stripped_of_power_as_mayor_by_toronto_council.html |accessdate=27 May 2020 |work=thestar.com |publisher=Toronto Star |date=18 November 2013 |language=en}}

As chair of the Toronto Board of Health, Filion created the DineSafe eatery inspection and notification system which increased compliance with food safety regulations in Toronto restaurants from 42% to 90% and reduced cases of food-borne illnesses in Toronto by 30% in its first 8 years.{{cite news |last1=Cribb |first1=Robert |title=DineSafe cuts rate of sickness {{!}} The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/nutrition/2009/04/17/dinesafe_cuts_rate_of_sickness.html |accessdate=27 September 2018 |work=thestar.com |publisher=Toronto Star |date=17 April 2009 |language=en}} He also championed the restaurant smoking ban.{{cite news |last1=David |first1=Rider |title=John Filion not seeking re-election to Toronto council {{!}} The Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/06/20/john-filion-not-seeking-re-election-to-toronto-council.html |accessdate=27 September 2018 |work=thestar.com |publisher=Toronto Star |date=20 June 2018 |language=en}}

Executives from the Toronto Parking Authority and Giorgio Mammoliti pushed for a deal that would have had the city overpay by approximately $2.6 million for a piece of land in Mammoliti's ward, according to a report to Toronto City Council by law firm Torys LLP. The deal was days from being completed when it fell through largely due to pressure from Filion. Filion repeatedly questioned the cost of the purchase. He also accused Toronto Parking Authority executives of withholding information. According to the report Filion told the TPA's vice president of real estate, Maria Casista, "I'm calling the cops".{{cite news |last1=Lancaster |first1=John |last2=Smee |first2=Michael |title=Mammoliti, TPA execs 'actively' pushed land deal with inflated $12M price tag, secret report says |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mammoliti-tpa-execs-actively-pushed-land-deal-with-inflated-12m-price-tag-secret-report-says-1.4643265 |accessdate=27 September 2018 |publisher=CBC |date=2 May 2018}} Toronto's auditor general and the Ontario Provincial Police are currently (2018) investigating the land deal.{{cite news |last1=Dubinsky |first1=Zach |last2=Lancaster |first2=John |title=OPP probing 'possible criminal activity' in aborted $12M City of Toronto land deal {{!}} CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/opp-probing-possible-criminal-activity-in-aborted-12m-toronto-parking-authority-land-deal-1.4502697 |accessdate=27 September 2018 |work=CBC |publisher=CBC |date=25 January 2018}}

Filion spearheaded Toronto's A La Cart program, an attempt to introduce variety into Toronto's street food scene.{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/04/21/cuisine_a_la_cart.html|title=Cuisine a la cart| website=thestar.com|accessdate=2016-07-24| first=Matthew| last=Chung| date=April 21, 2007}} The program was terminated two years into its three-year pilot program.{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=fd264215-66a1-496b-bcb0-29166952cbab |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809184507/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/toronto/story.html?id=fd264215-66a1-496b-bcb0-29166952cbab |archive-date=2014-08-09 |url-status=dead |title=City's recipe for a disaster|accessdate=2016-07-24}} Some participants in the program complained they were left bankrupt from the experience.{{cite web| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2010/09/17/why_torontos_street_food_program_is_in_shambles.html| title=Why Toronto's street food program is in shambles| work=thestar.com|accessdate=2016-07-24| first=David| last=Rider| date=September 17, 2010}} Meddling city bureaucracy and expensive, city-specified food carts that malfunctioned were some of the reasons cited for the failure of Filion's program. Councillor Filion wouldn't apologize for the failure but did admit to it being a humbling experience. He suggested he would do it differently if given the chance.

Early on April 4, 2019, bullets were fired into Filion's car and home, several weeks after an armed man attempted to force his way into Filion's home. Filion stated, "I suspect I have been targeted and that this is related to my work as a city councillor."{{cite news |title=Bullets fired at home of Toronto councillor John Filion and CBC host Anna Maria Tremonti |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/john-filion-home-shot-at-1.5085251 |accessdate=April 4, 2019 |work=CBC News |date=April 4, 2019}}

He is the partner of Canadian Broadcasting Corporation journalist Anna Maria Tremonti.Acknowledgements in Filion's book The Only Average Guy: Inside the Uncommon World of Rob Ford. Random House of Canada, 2015. {{ISBN|9780345816016}}.

Unofficial results as of October 26, 2010 03:55 am

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Category:1950 births

Category:Journalists from Montreal

Category:Journalists from Toronto

Category:Living people

Category:Toronto city councillors

Category:York University alumni

Category:Politicians from Montreal

Category:20th-century Canadian municipal councillors

Category:21st-century Canadian municipal councillors