Tony Ianno, the comeback kid

Posted on March 12, 2007 by Philip Preville

It’s March break week at city hall, which means all’s rather quiet in the clamshell. No matter—lots of other stuff to talk about, like federal politics, with a budget next Monday, and an election that could be as little as five or six weeks away. You read it here first: Tony Ianno says he’ll be seeking the Liberal nomination in Trinity-Spadina again, in the hopes of reclaiming the seat he held for about a dozen years before losing it to New Democrat Olivia Chow last year.

Many will consider this the comeback no one asked for. (Including some Liberals: At last December’s Liberal convention, Ianno lost in his bid to become party President.) But in his defeat last January, he actually tallied more votes than in any previous election, including his four victories, making him the only incumbent candidate to increase his vote count and still manage to lose.

In the interim, on municipal election day last November, Ianno was the second-happiest person at Adam Vaughan’s victory party. It’s not because Vaughan is a supporter; in fact, Vaughan intends to stay out of the federal race completely. “I don’t believe party politics has a role at city hall,” he says. “Aside from raising issues with the candidates, I won’t be involved.” That said, a number of regular Ianno volunteers worked on Vaughan’s campaign, and his victory over the official NDP candidate, Helen Kennedy, was a big blow to Chow, who will not be able to count upon the organizational help of the ward’s city councillor during the campaign.

Ianno is also no doubt hoping that the Island Airport issue has been neutralized, at least to a degree. The Tories studied the possibility of shutting down the Port Authority, then decided not to, which is a vindication of sorts. What’s more, a libel suit filed by the Port Authority has hampered Community Air, the citizens’ group that opposes the Island Airport and has long been a thorn in Ianno’s side. They recently issued a release announcing a press conference to “outline that in spite of attempts to resolve the libel suit against itself and some of its members, the Toronto Port Authority are continuing legal action.” One day later, a second release announced that the press conference had been “postponed until further notice.” When headed before the courts, silence is golden. No doubt it’s golden for Ianno too. Meanwhile, Vaughan is stealing everybody’s thunder on the Island Airport issue, with his plans to narrow the southern tip of Bathurst Street, which would sod over traffic lanes currently used by cars queueing for the airport ferry.

None of this turns the tide in Ianno’s favour. Chow is a formidable politician and excellent campaigner who now holds the advantages of incumbency. Still, a grudge match between these two tiny titans would likely be another nasty nail-biter. I can hardly bear to watch, but I can’t look away either.

Image credit: www.tonyianno.ca

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