Anthony Perruzza (/pəˈruːtsə/ ⓘ pə-ROOT-sə, Italian: [perˈruttsa]; born 1959 or 1960) is a Canadian politician who has served on Toronto City Council since 2006.
Perruzza was a North York councillor from 1988 to 1990, and served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
[7] After serving one term as a trustee, Perruzza campaigned a second time for the North York City Council in the 1988 municipal election.
[10] He accused his council colleagues of shirking their responsibility to provide affordable housing,[11] and spoke against Lastman's effort to institute a mandatory fee for North York municipal candidates, describing the plan as a "price tag on democracy that will favor incumbents".
[13] In early 1990, Perruzza recommended that North York license and regulate its previously-illegal rooming houses and basement apartments.
He argued that the city had an obligation to provide protection to tenants and improve living conditions, but could not do so as long as the dwellings had no legal status.
[14] He opposed an 8.4 per cent property tax increase in the same period, and suggested that the city transfer $11.7 million from its planned performing arts centre to make up the necessary operational funds.
[16] Perruzza campaigned for the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, challenging Liberal incumbent Laureano Leone in Downsview.
[19] Some North York councillors accused Perruzza of billing the city for stationery and business cards for use in his provincial campaign.
[20] Perruzza and fellow MPP George Mammoliti supported a fight led by community residents to rebuild the York Woods Library Theatre in 1992.
[21] The following year, he announced his support for a compromise Metro Toronto tax reform plan that reflected the interests of both downtown and North York residents.
[26] He campaigned for Toronto City Council's redistributed eighth ward, which includes the Jane and Finch area, in the 2000 municipal election.
[30] Several incidents occurred during advanced polling on the weekend of November 4–5, 2006, leading to Perruzza and Li Preti accusing one another of dirty campaigning and the breaking of numerous election and criminal laws.
However, in a completely unprecedented move, the City of Toronto hired off-duty police officers at a cost of approximately $23,200 to guard all 40 voting locations in the ward on election day to assure that voters would remain safe and free from harassment.
[33][34] Perruzza has reiterated his call for a licensing system for landlords, and supports increased public transit in Toronto's York Region.
[39] After much pressure from Perruzza, other local politicians and community, Metrolinx retracted their statement and promised to make the land available at a nominal cost.
[44] On April 12, 2023, Perruzza announced his campaign for mayor of Toronto in the 2023 by-election, releasing a statement that, if elected, he would oppose increases in property taxes, transit fares and user fees.