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Kristyn Wong-Tam

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Kristyn Wong-Tam
MPP
Kristyn Wong-Tam at a Press Conference on Ontario Tribunals.jpg
Wong-Tam in 2023
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Toronto Centre
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 2, 2022
Preceded bySuze Morrison
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 13 Toronto Centre
In office
December 1, 2018 – May 4, 2022
Preceded byWard created
Succeeded byRobin Buxton Potts
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale
In office
December 1, 2010 – November 30, 2018
Preceded byKyle Rae
Succeeded byWard dissolved
Critic roles
2022–presentOpposition Critic for 2SLGBTQ+ Issues
2022–presentOpposition Critic for Attorney General
2023–presentOpposition Critic for Small Business
Personal details
Born1971 (age 52–53)
British Hong Kong
NationalityCanadian
Political partyOntario New Democratic
Other political
affiliations		Independent (municipal)
SpouseFarrah Khan
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario
Occupation
  • Businessperson
  • politician
WebsiteCampaign website
Constituency website
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黃慧文
Simplified Chinese黄慧文
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHuáng Huìwén
Wade–GilesHuang2 Hui4-wen2
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingWong4 Wai6-man4

Kristyn Wong-Tam MPP (Chinese: 黃慧文;[1] born c. 1971) is a Canadian politician who has represented Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 2022 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).

They are non-binary and use they/them pronouns.[2][3] They served on Toronto City Council from 2010 to 2022. Wong-Tam was first elected in 2010 Toronto election in Ward 27 Toronto Centre-Rosedale, and was subsequently re-elected following the 2014 election and 2018 election in the newly created Ward 13 Toronto Centre. Wong-Tam resigned as a Toronto city councillor in May 2022, to run as the NDP candidate in Toronto Centre for the June 2022 provincial election.

Early life and work

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Born in Hong Kong and raised in a Buddhist family,[4][5] they immigrated to Toronto with their family in 1975.[6] They grew up in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto, with their family settling there first before a move to the suburbs.[7] A real estate agent and business owner, they are the former owner of a Timothy's franchise in Toronto's Church and Wellesley Village,[8] and the owner of the KWT (formerly the XEXE) contemporary art gallery at Bathurst and Richmond Street West.[9][10]

Activism

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Wong-Tam came out as a lesbian in high school, at the age of 16[11] and has been an activist for both LGBTQ and Asian Canadian community issues, serving on the Chinese Canadian National Council[8] and helping to found Asian Canadians For Equal Marriage[12] and the Church and Wellesley Village's business improvement area.[8] In 2011, they cooperated with Toronto's Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line to create an award, named in memory of Toronto artist Will Munro, to honour LGBT youth involved in community arts projects in Ontario.[13]

Prior to the 2010 Toronto municipal election, it emerged that Wong-Tam had provided support for the political advocacy group Queers Against Israeli Apartheid (QuAIA). In an interview with the Toronto Sun newspaper, they said that they lent their credit card to register the group's website because no one in the group owned a credit card. Wong-Tam "listed their home address in the registration but gave the contact number as her Coldwell Banker real estate office on Yonge St."[14] Wong-Tam was the registered owner of the site until August 31, 2010.[15]

Political career

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Rookie councillor (2010–14)

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In the 2010 election, Wong-Tam ran in Ward 27 to replace Kyle Rae who had chosen to retire, defeating opponent Ken Chan in the heated race by just 400 plus votes.[16] They were endorsed by the Toronto and York Labour Council,[17] neighbouring councillor Adam Vaughan, street nurse Cathy Crowe and author Michele Landsberg.[18]

In a post-election interview with the Toronto Sun, Wong-Tam said that they were "really looking forward to working with the Mayor" and that they supported Mayor Rob Ford's campaign pledge to scrap the personal vehicle tax and the land transfer tax. Wong-Tam also said that they did not renew their New Democratic Party membership, saying: "I think all (council) rookies are saying the same thing – they don't want to be pigeon-holed."[19]

Second term (2014–18)

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Wong-Tam was re-elected in Ward 27 in 2014.[20]

Third term (2018–22); defunding the police, banning feeding of pigeons, and false Covid claim

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In the lead up to the 2018 Toronto municipal election, City Council approved a redrawing of municipal ward boundaries, increasing its size from 44, after an independent consultant recommended the city adopt a 47 ward system.[21] However, the Ontario government under Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford amended the Municipal Elections Act, forcing the City of Toronto to cut the number of wards from 47 to 25. There was swift reaction regarding this move from various council members, including Wong-Tam, who called the move "extremely anti-democratic" and described it "as a takeover of Toronto." Wong-Tam said in an interview "This greater concentration of power does not give and deliver better government", and "He [Ford] will speak in populist platitudes about saving taxpayer dollars, but it's going to come at the cost of the erosion of the democratic process."[22]

In June 2020 they co-sponsored an unsuccessful city council motion to defund the Toronto police force by 10% (about $122 million), and use the money for community resources. Mike McCormack, president of the Toronto Police Association, said such a cut would lead at least 500 police officers losing their jobs.[23][24]

In July 2021 they proposed a motion to make it illegal for residents to feed pigeons in both public and private spaces.[25]

In November 2021, after authoring a controversial column in the Toronto Sun in which they falsely claimed that vaccinated people can transmit COVID-19 “just as easily as those who are unvaccinated,” they apologized for their mistake and said that they would not pursue another term as vice-chair of the Toronto Public Health when their current one expired the following month.[26]

Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament; drag performers (2022–present)

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On April 8, 2022, Wong-Tam and Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced that Wong-Tam would be the party's candidate in Toronto Centre in the June 2 election.[27] Wong-Tam resigned from their council seat effective May 4.[28] They won the Toronto Centre seat by more than 2,000 votes.[29]

Wong-Tam was named the Official Opposition critic for the Attorney General and 2SLGBTQ+ Issues on July 13, 2022. They were made critic for small business on March 29, 2023.[30]

In 2023, Wong-Tam sought greater legal protection for drag performers in Ontario. They had come to face harassment and intimidation at their shows.[citation needed] They introduced a private member's bill known as the "Bill 94, Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act, 2023" in April to allow the attorney general of Ontario to temporarily designate addresses, such as drag venues, as community safety zones – similar to zones which exist around abortion sites. Anti-2SLGBTQ+ harassment, intimidation or hate speech within 100 metres of a designated zone would be subject to a fine up to $25,000.[31][32][33]

Election results

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2022 Ontario general election: Toronto Centre
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Kristyn Wong-Tam 15,285 43.77 −9.89 $117,371
Liberal David Morris 12,820 36.71 +9.56 $86,950
Progressive Conservative Jess Goddard 4,245 12.16 −1.96 $25,855
Green Nicki Ward 1,784 5.11 +1.99 $13,592
New Blue Steve Hoehlmann 385 1.10   $0
Communist Ivan Byard 166 0.48   $0
None of the Above Ron Shaw 131 0.38   $326
Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda Jennifer Snell 105 0.30 +0.07 $0
Total valid votes/expense limit 34,921 99.36 +0.27 $123,610
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 224 0.64 −0.27
Turnout 35,145 39.82 −14.48
Eligible voters 88,307
New Democratic hold Swing −9.72
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-05-21.
2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 13 Toronto Centre
Candidate Votes Vote share
Kristyn Wong-Tam 15,706 50.26%
George Smitherman 4,734 15.15%
Lucy Troisi 2,698 8.63%
Khuram Aftab 1,794 5.74%
Walied Khogali Ali 1,408 4.51%
Ryan Lester 968 3.10%
Tim Gordanier 734 2.35%
Jon Callegher 713 2.28%
John Jeffery 530 1.70%
Catherina Perez 511 1.64%
Megann Willson 411 1.32%
Barbara Lavoie 176 0.56%
Jordan Stone 161 0.52%
Richard Forget 150 0.48%
Jonathan Heath 144 0.46%
Kyle McNally 138 0.44%
Darren Abramson 108 0.35%
Gladys Larbie 101 0.32%
Rob Wolvin 64 0.20%
Total 31,249
100%
Source: City of Toronto[34]
2014 Toronto election, Ward 27[35]
Candidate Votes %
Kristyn Wong-Tam 19,682 62.49%
Megan McIver 5,340 16.96%
Benjamin Dichter 1,528 4.85%
Jordan Stone 1,270 4.03%
David Byford 839 2.66%
Susan Humfryes 794 2.52%
Robin Lawrance 704 2.24%
Kamal Ahmed 609 1.93%
Alain DAmours 378 1.20%
Rob Wolvin 351 1.11%
Total 31,495 100%
2010 Toronto election, Ward 27[36][37]
Candidate Votes %
Kristyn Wong-Tam 7,527 28.277%
Ken Chan 7,065 26.541%
Chris Tindal 3,447 12.949%
Simon Wookey 2,128 7.994%
Joel Dick 1,667 6.262%
Robert Meynell 1,223 4.594%
Enza Anderson 1,127 4.234%
Ella Rebanks 838 3.148%
Ben Bergen 380 1.428%
Susan Gapka 367 1.379%
Gary Leroux 283 1.063%
Paul Spence 243 0.913%
Jonas Jemstone 142 0.533%
Ram Narula 108 0.406%
Perry Missal 74 0.278%
Total 26,619 100%

References

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  1. ^ "Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam) | Twitter". twitter.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  2. ^ Wong-Tam, Kristyn [@kristynwongtam] (June 23, 2022). "Today I swore my Oath in front of my wife, parents, friends and The Clerk as the first Asian-Canadian queer, non-binary person to be elected to Queen's Park. Forever and a day I will cherish this special moment. Thank you to the great people of #TorCen. We made history together! https://t.co/EN2JKDgKNh" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Kristyn Wong-Tam (@kristynwongtam)". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  4. ^ "Wong-Tam replaces Kyle Rae in Ward 27" Archived 2017-09-12 at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Sun, October 25, 2010.
  5. ^ "City hall rookies 2010: Kristyn Wong-Tam" Archived 2012-10-23 at the Wayback Machine Toronto Star, November 24, 2010.
  6. ^ RUtv News (2012-02-10), RUtv News Feature Report: Kristyn Wong-Tam, retrieved 2016-09-22[dead YouTube link]
  7. ^ "RUtv News feature report: Kristyn Wong-Tam – RUTV News". Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  8. ^ a b c "Blend of business & activism marks Ward 27 candidate Kristyn Wong-Tam". Xtra!. October 7, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  9. ^ "Inside City Hall:The Arrival of Kristyn Wong-Tam" Archived 2018-06-29 at the Wayback Machine. Toronto Standard, July 25, 2010.
  10. ^ "Kristyn Wong-Tam: Juggling city hall and an art gallery". The Globe and Mail. February 11, 2011. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  11. ^ "Parental Guidance: Pride 2007 honoured groups/PFLAG Toronto sticks up for queer kids". Xtra!. June 21, 2007. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  12. ^ "City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam". City Councillors. City of Toronto. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  13. ^ (2010). "The Spirit of Will Munro Award Archived July 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine", Youthline.ca. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  14. ^ "The other face of the Ward 27 frontrunner" Archived 2010-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Sun Newspaper, September 23, 2010
  15. ^ Ruocco, Johnna (September 24, 2010). "Ward 27 candidate owned Queers Against Israeli Apartheid website". National Post. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  16. ^ "Ward 27: Kristyn Wong-Tam replaces Kyle Rae in diverse riding". The Toronto Star. 2010-10-25. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  17. ^ "Reading the Labour Council tea leaves". The Globe and Mail. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "Rating the races". Now Magazine. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  19. ^ Toronto Sun, Dec. 3, 2010, p. 6 "Kristyn Wong Tam" by Don Peat
  20. ^ DeMara, Bruce (2014-10-27). "Kristyn Wong-Tam easily wins Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  21. ^ "Three seats being added to Toronto council for the 2018 election | The Star". The Toronto Star. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  22. ^ "Ontario will introduce legislation to slash Toronto city council — a move not welcomed by some". CBC News. July 27, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  23. ^ "Toronto councillors put forward motion to reduce police budget by 10%," CBC.
  24. ^ "Toronto council votes against cutting 2021 police budget, votes for mayor’s reform plan," The Toronto Star.
  25. ^ "It could soon be illegal to feed pigeons in Toronto," Toronto City News.
  26. ^ "Apologizing for an ‘honest mistake,’ Kristyn Wong-Tam says she won’t be extending her term as public health vice-chair," The Toronto Star.
  27. ^ Pagliaro, Jennifer (2022-04-08). "Kristyn Wong-Tam to leave city council to run for the NDP in June provincial election". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Archived from the original on 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  28. ^ "Kristyn Wong-Tam resigning from Toronto city council, running as Ontario NDP candidate - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  29. ^ Fox, Chris (2 June 2022). "CP24.com Managing Digital Producer". CP24.com. CP24. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Kristyn Wong-Tam | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  31. ^ "Ontario NDP urges legal protections for drag performances | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  32. ^ Hopper, Tristin (April 6, 2023). "Ontario MPP wants to demarcate areas in which 'offensive remarks' are illegal". National Post. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
  33. ^ "Bill 94, Keeping 2SLGBTQI+ Communities Safe Act, 2023". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help) | Legislative Assembly of Ontario | url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-43/session-1/bill-94
  34. ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2018.
  35. ^ Ulli S. Watkiss (October 30, 2014). "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 5, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  36. ^ City of Toronto elections page Archived October 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ Watkiss, Ulli S. "2010 Clerk's Official Declaration of Election Results" (PDF). City Clerk's Office, City of Toronto. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
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