His Worship
Steven Del Duca
Del Duca in 2022
5th Mayor of Vaughan
Assumed office
November 15, 2022
DeputyLinda Jackson
Preceded byMaurizio Bevilacqua
Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
In office
March 7, 2020 – August 3, 2022
Preceded byJohn Fraser (interim)
Succeeded byJohn Fraser (interim)
Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth
In office
January 17, 2018 – June 29, 2018
PremierKathleen Wynne
Preceded byBrad Duguid
Succeeded byJim Wilson
Ontario Minister of Transportation
In office
June 24, 2014 – January 17, 2018
PremierKathleen Wynne
Preceded byGlen Murray
Succeeded byKathryn McGarry
Member of Provincial Parliament
for Vaughan
In office
September 6, 2012 – June 7, 2018
Preceded byGreg Sorbara
Succeeded byMichael Tibollo
(Vaughan—Woodbridge)
Personal details
Born
Steven Alfonso Del Duca

(1973-07-07) July 7, 1973 (age 50)
Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
Political partyIndependent[a] (since 2022)
Other political
affiliations		Ontario Liberal (2012–2022)
SpouseUtilia Amaral
Children2
Residence(s)Woodbridge, Ontario
OccupationUnion administrator

Steven Alfonso Del Duca (born July 7, 1973) is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the 5th mayor of Vaughan since 2022. Del Duca previously served as the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party from 2020 to 2022 and was an Ontario cabinet minister from 2014 to 2018, first as the minister of transportation and then as the minister of economic development. He represented the riding of Vaughan in the Ontario Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2018. On October 24, 2022, he was elected the mayor of Vaughan,[1] taking office on November 15.

Early and personal life

Steven Alfonso Del Duca[2] was born on July 7, 1973, in Etobicoke, Ontario.[3] He is a first-generation Canadian, born to an Italian father and a Scottish mother.[4] His paternal grandfather immigrated to Canada from Italy in 1951.[5]

Del Duca has cited his grandparents as key influences on his political career, stating, “Ontario and Canada gave them a ton of opportunity. I grew up believing… you have to be dedicated, sacrifice, all those important things. But the other half of the bargain is that this province, this country are supposed to give you real opportunity.”[6]

He lives with his wife, Utilia Amaral, and their two daughters, in Woodbridge, Ontario.[7] Del Duca's younger brother, Michael, was killed in a car crash in June 2018.[8]

Education and early career

Del Duca studied political science and Canadian history at the University of Toronto and Carleton University before earning a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.[9] He was not called to the bar in Ontario and has not practiced law.[10]

Del Duca founded a local group called Go Vote Vaughan in 2006 in an effort to boost voter turnout in his hometown’s municipal elections and worked on a city task force for democratic reform at a time when Vaughan’s local government had a reputation for dysfunction.[11]

In 2008, Del Duca served as the fundraising chair for the Annual Vaughan Hospital Fundraising Gala that raised over $1 million. He worked with all levels of government, community leaders and organizations to establish the Greater Toronto Region Economic Summit, which took place in May 2009.[12]

Del Duca has worked as an executive assistant to MPP Greg Sorbara and was the director of public affairs for the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario before he was elected in 2012.[13][14][15]

Political career

Member of Provincial Parliament and cabinet minister

In 2012, he ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of Vaughan, in a by-election called to replace Greg Sorbara who retired earlier in the year.[14] He defeated the Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Tony Genco.[16][17] He was re-elected in the 2014 provincial election defeating PC candidate Peter Meffe.[18]

On June 24, 2014, he was named to cabinet by Premier Kathleen Wynne as the minister of transportation.[19] In 2014, as the Minister of Transportation, he allocated $29 billion dedicated to transit and transportation in the GTA over 10 years.[20]

In June 2016, the Ministry of Transportation issued a press release about twelve new stations for the GO Transit network, only ten of which had been approved by the Metrolinx board planning the regional transit projects.[21] The board convened in late June to approve the two additional stations, Kirby GO Station for the Barrie line, and Lawrence East station as part of the SmartTrack project. Metrolinx reports stated that the Kirby station would have a negative effect on overall ridership on the line.[21]

Del Duca defended the decision stating that Metrolinx’s original analysis didn’t take into account the explosive population growth planned in Vaughan and Etobicoke, and the transit needs that would accompany this growth. He also noted that a similar economic assessment done by Toronto staff gave the Toronto Relief Line a negative score despite an expert consensus that the project was needed to meet Toronto’s long-term transit needs.[22]

In January 2018, Del Duca left his position as minister of transportation and took over the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth.[23]

During the June 2018 election, Del Duca ran for the Ontario Liberal Party in the provincial election for Vaughan–Woodbridge, and lost to PC Candidate Michael Tibollo.[24] Del Duca was amongst a wave of Ontario Liberal Party MPPs who lost their seat during that election, removing the Liberal Party from government and relegating them to the third party in Ontario's legislature. After losing his seat, Del Duca taught a course at York University from January to April 2019.

Weeks after losing his provincial seat, it was reported that Del Duca would be running to be regional chair of York Region in the October 22, 2018, municipal election,[25] but owing to the provincial government's passing of the Better Local Government Act, there was no election for the post.[26]

Ontario Liberal leader

On April 3, 2019, Del Duca announced that he would enter the 2020 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election. On March 7, 2020, he won the election with 58.8 per cent of the ballot vote, having received 1,258 delegate votes.[27] Under his leadership, the Ontario Liberals have retired their $10 million debt from the 2018 election and nominated an equal slate of male and female candidates across the province.[28]

He has focused his time on publicly-funded education, health care, a clean, safe and health environment, and economic dignity.[29] Key commitments include a plan to end for-profit long-term care and adopt a “home-care first” approach to seniors’ care, a portable benefits package for Ontario workers, and a ban on handguns across the province.[30][31][32] Del Duca has also announced that the Ontario Liberal Party will work to provide equal pay and opportunity for women, create five new provincial parks, fight systemic racism in schools and policing, and boost Old Age Security payments.[33][34][35][36]

2022 Ontario general election

Del Duca ran in the riding of Vaughan—Woodbridge in the 2022 Ontario general election.[37] After failing to win the seat, Del Duca announced his pending resignation as party leader.[38] His resignation took effect on August 3 with the appointment of John Fraser to serve as the interim leader.

Mayor of Vaughan

In August 2022, Del Duca announced he would run for mayor of Vaughan.[39]

On October 24, 2022, he was narrowly elected the 5th mayor of Vaughan.[40] He took office on November 15.[41]

Del Duca served as mayor of Vaughan during the 2022 Vaughan shooting, where six people (including the gunman) were killed and one was injured. Del Duca also attended the candlelight vigil held for the victims of the shooting.[42][43]

Electoral record

2022 Vaughan mayoral election

Mayoral candidate Vote %
Steven Del Duca 22,699 38.06%
Sandra Yeung Racco 21,848 36.64%
Danny DeSantis 7591 12.72%
Paul Donofrio 2697 4.52%
Lino Mancinella 2427 4.07%
Parveen Bola 1492 2.50%
Robert Gulassarian 880 1.48%
2022 Ontario general election: Vaughan—Woodbridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Michael Tibollo 19,340 53.78% +3.28
Liberal Steven Del Duca 12,615 35.08% +3.08
New Democratic Will McCarty 1,927 5.35% -9.21
New Blue Luca Mele 802 2.23%
Green Philip James Piluris 694 1.93% -0.33
Ontario Party Gerrard Fortin 304 0.84%
Populist Mario Greco 249 0.69%
Moderate Walid Omrani 27 0.07%
Total valid votes 35,958 99.3%
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 242 0.7%
Turnout 36,200 44.2%
Eligible voters 81,873
Progressive Conservative hold Swing
Source: Elections Ontario[44]
2018 Ontario general election: Vaughan—Woodbridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Michael Tibollo 21,687 50.50 +23.49
Liberal Steven Del Duca 13,742 32.00 -25.99
New Democratic Sandra Lozano 6,254 14.56 +3.60
Green Michael DiPasquale 972 2.26 +0.06
Libertarian Paolo Fabrizio 291 0.68
Total valid votes 42,946 100.0  
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[45]
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Steven Del Duca 33,545 55.99 +4.62
Progressive Conservative Peter Meffe 16,654 27.80 -5.49
New Democratic Marco Coletta 7,105 11.86 +0.48
Green Matthew Pankhurst 1,336 2.23 +0.47
Libertarian Paolo Fabrizio 1,277 2.13 +1.19
Total valid votes 59,917 100.0  
Liberal hold Swing +5.06
Source: Elections Ontario[46]
Ontario provincial by-election, September 6, 2012
Resignation of Greg Sorbara
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Steven Del Duca 16,469 51.37 -1.65
Progressive Conservative Tony Genco 10,674 33.29 +2.05
New Democratic Paul Donofrio 3,647 11.38 +0.05
Green Paula Conning 564 1.76 +0.35
Libertarian Paolo Fabrizio 300 0.94 -0.94
Family Coalition Bart Wysokinski 144 0.45  
Independent Stephen Tonner 118 0.37  
Freedom Erin Goodwin 90 0.28  
People's Phil Sarazen 54 0.17  
Total valid votes 32,060 100.00
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 301 0.93
Turnout 32,361 25.62
Eligible voters 126,323
Liberal hold Swing -1.85
Source: Elections Ontario[47]

Notes

  1. ^ Municipal politicians in Ontario are elected on a non-partisan basis.

References

  1. ^ "Former Ont. Liberal leader Steven Del Duca elected mayor of Vaughan". CTV News. CTV News. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "The Executive Council of Ontario". The Executive Council of Ontario - Newsroom. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  3. ^ MacCharles, Tonda (May 4, 2022). "Who is mystery man Steven Del Duca? Here's why friends, rivals and colleagues say not to underestimate the aspiring Liberal premier". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 6, 2022. Born July 7, 1973 in Etobicoke, Del Duca lived there until he was 14 when the family of four children moved to Vaughan.
  4. ^ "Who is Steven Del Duca, the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party?". globalnews.com. March 7, 2020.
  5. ^ "DEL DUCA: Economic Dignity Charter would benefit Ontario workers". torontosun.com. August 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Wells, Paul (March 18, 2022). "Coffee with Del Duca". Medium. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  7. ^ Kalinowski, Tess (July 10, 2014). "Ontario's new transportation minister focused on construction, not more plans". Toronto Star.
  8. ^ "Former Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca's brother killed in King Township crash | The Star". thestar.com. June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "Who is Steven Del Duca, the new leader of the Ontario Liberal Party?". Global News. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "Where have all the lawyers gone?". www.lawtimesnews.com. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11. ^ Narwhal, The. "Steven Del Duca once halted Highway 413. But is the Ontario Liberal leader a climate visionary?". The Narwhal. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  12. ^ "PAAC Presents Breakfast with Steven Del Duca". QP Briefing. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  13. ^ Lapointe, Kelly (July 21, 2014). "Construction's own Del Duca now transportation minister".
  14. ^ a b "Steven Del Duca nominated for Liberals in Vaughan byelection". CP24. August 12, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  15. ^ Gray, Jeff (May 28, 2022). "Ontario's Liberals were decimated in the 2018 election. Steven Del Duca has worked to rebuild the party, but he's still a longshot for the premier's office". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. September 6, 2012. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Ontario NDP's by-election win leaves majority outside Liberals' grasp". The Globe and Mail. September 6, 2012.
  18. ^ "General Election by District: Vaughan". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on June 17, 2014.
  19. ^ Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  20. ^ "Construction's own Del Duca now transportation minister - constructconnect.com". Daily Commercial News. July 21, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Spurr, Ben (September 16, 2017). "What is the Kirby GO station and why did it get approved?". Toronto Star. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  22. ^ "Opinion | Former minister Steven Del Duca: I wasn't meddling, I was building transit". The Toronto Star. December 7, 2018. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  23. ^ "Wynne shuffling cabinet to add new blood and replace retiring ministers". The Toronto Star. January 17, 2018. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  24. ^ "Liberal cabinet minister Steven Del Duca loses to PC newcomer in Vaughan-Woodbridge".
  25. ^ "Former Liberal cabinet minister del Duca to run for chair of York Region". Toronto Star. June 19, 2018.
  26. ^ "Ontario passes bill slashing Toronto city council". CBC News. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  27. ^ "Vaughan's Del Duca wins Ontario Liberal leadership on first ballot". yorkregion.com. March 7, 2020.
  28. ^ "Ontario Liberals say they've paid off $10-million debt from the 2018 election". Toronto. March 5, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  29. ^ Guardian, Graeme Frisque | Brampton. "Ontario Liberals say 50% of candidates are women, outline 'Equal Pay and Opportunity' plan at Brampton event". Toronto. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  30. ^ "Ontario Liberals pledge to end for-profit long-term care, invest more in home care". Toronto. April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  31. ^ "Ontario Liberals promise $16 minimum wage, portable benefits package if elected". Toronto. March 26, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  32. ^ "Ontario Liberals promise handgun ban, offer few details | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  33. ^ "Ontario Liberals Want To Make It Mandatory For Jobs To Post Their Salaries If Elected". Narcity. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  34. ^ "Ontario Liberals want to create 5 new provincial parks if elected". Toronto. April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  35. ^ "Ontario Liberals pledge action on anti-racism, including more diverse police hiring | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  36. ^ "DEL DUCA: Ontario Liberal plan puts more money in seniors' pockets". torontosun. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  37. ^ "Candidates in: Vaughan—Woodbridge (113)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  38. ^ "Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca loses race in hometown and quits". CP24. June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  39. ^ "Steven del Duca to run for mayor of Vaughan | the Star". Toronto Star.
  40. ^ "Former Ont. Liberal leader Steven Del Duca elected mayor of Vaughan". CTV News. CTV News. October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  41. ^ "2022 Candidates' Guide - Ontario municipal council and school board elections". ontario.ca. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  42. ^ "'It's just unspeakable': Vaughan mayor reacts to deadly mass shooting | Globalnews.ca".
  43. ^ "More than 150 attend candlelight vigil for victims of Vaughan, Ont., condo shooting rampage". CBC News. December 22, 2022. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023.
  44. ^ "Vote Totals From Official Tabulation" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 3. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  45. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 12. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  46. ^ "General Election Results by District, 097 Vaughan". Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  47. ^ "Official return from the records / Rapport des registres officiels - Vaughan by-election" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2014.

External links

Ontario provincial government of Kathleen Wynne Cabinet posts (2) Predecessor Office Successor Brad Duguid Minister of Economic Development and Growth2018 Jim Wilson Glen Murray Minister of Transportation2014–2018 Kathryn McGarry
Leaders of the Ontario Liberal Party
Cabinet of Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne (2013–2018)
Mayors of cities in Ontario
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