View source for Mel Lastman

{{Short description|Canadian politician (1933–2021)}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Mel Lastman (S2311 fl1616 it0042).jpg
| caption = Lastman in 2003
| office = 62nd [[Mayor of Toronto]]
| term_start = January 1, 1998
| term_end = November 30, 2003
| predecessor = [[Barbara Hall (politician)|Barbara Hall]] (Mayor of [[Old Toronto]])<br/>[[Alan Tonks]] ([[Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto|Chairman of Metropolitan Toronto]])
| successor = [[David Miller (Canadian politician)|David Miller]]
| office2 = 3rd [[North York#Governance|Mayor of North York]]
| term_start2 = January 1, 1973<ref name="Lastman itemizes millions">
   {{cite news
   | last      = Parsons
   | first     = Anne
   | title     = Lastman itemizes millions: Mayors in Metro disclose holdings
   | newspaper = The Globe and Mail
   | date      = December 30, 1972
   | location  = Toronto
   | pages     = 1, 2
   | quote     = All Metro Toronto municipal politicians elected on 4 December 1972 took office on 1 January 1973.
   }}
</ref>
| term_end2 = December 31, 1997
| predecessor2 = Basil H. Hall
| successor2 = ''Position abolished''{{efn|The City of North York was amalgamated with the 5 other [[municipalities]] of [[Metro Toronto]] to form the city of [[Toronto]] on January 1, 1998.}}
| birth_name = Melvin Douglas Lastman
| birth_date = {{birth date|1933|03|09}}
| birth_place = [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|11|1933|03|09}}
| death_place = [[Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
| resting_place = [[Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto)|Mount Sinai Memorial Park]]
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (municipal)<br/>[[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] (provincial)
| spouse = {{marriage|Marilyn Bornstein|1952|January 1, 2020|end=died}}
| partner = Grace Louie (1957–1971)
| relations = 
| children = 4
| residence = 
| alma_mater = 
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Salesman]]|[[businessman]]|[[politician]]}}
| profession =
| signature = 
| website = 
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Melvin Douglas Lastman''' (March 9, 1933 – December 11, 2021) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as the third mayor of [[North York]] from 1973 to 1997 and the 62nd [[mayor of Toronto]] from 1998 to 2003. He was the first person to serve as the mayor of Toronto following the [[Amalgamation of Toronto|amalgamation]] of [[Metropolitan Toronto]] and its six constituent municipalities in 1998. Lastman is also known for having founded the Bad Boy Furniture chain.

==Early life==
Lastman was born on March 9, 1933, in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]] to [[Jewish]] immigrants from [[Poland]], Rose and Louis Lastman.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://search.ontariojewisharchives.org/Print?p=1&topic_facet=Religion&place_facet=Kensington+Market&action=List|title = Print &#124; Ontario Jewish Archives}}</ref> He began his sales career as a child, hawking fruit and vegetables at his family's [[Kensington Market]] grocery store.

He met Marilyn Bornstein when he was 16 and she was 13, and they were married five years later. He left school after Grade 12 and, with Marilyn's help, got a job at a [[College Street (Toronto)|College Street]] furniture store.<ref name=“globe-2000”>{{cite news|last=Philp|first=Margaret|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/marilyn-stands-by-her-man/article18428183/|title=Marilyn stands by her man|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|archivedate=18 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250218231848/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/marilyn-stands-by-her-man/article18428183/|url-status=live|date=1 December 2000|access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref> He quickly established himself as a successful salesman. He switched to selling appliances and promoted himself as "Mr. Laundry" (alias the "Bad Boy").

==Business career==
He opened a small frame building at [[Kennedy Road (Toronto)|Kennedy Road]] and [[Eglinton Avenue]] in [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], [[Ontario]], selling used appliances.<ref name="torontodotca">{{cite web|url=http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid%3D3f274df130113410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD%26vgnextchannel%3D2ad8dddc97703410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD |title=Biography - Mel Lastman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415111443/http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=3f274df130113410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD&vgnextchannel=2ad8dddc97703410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD |archive-date=April 15, 2016 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref>

===Bad Boy Furniture===
At age 22, in 1955, Lastman bought out Heather Hill Appliances and established '''Bad Boy Furniture'''.<ref name="torontodotca"/>

Having adopted the nickname "the Bad Boy" for himself, he developed Bad Boy Furniture into a chain of stores around the Toronto area. "Bad Boy" Lastman was associated with many publicity stunts, including travelling to the [[Arctic]] in the 1960s to "sell a refrigerator to an [[Inuit|Eskimo]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/02/01/toronto_mayors_edward_keenan_ponders_rob_ford_david_miller_and_mel_lastman.html |title=Author ponders Toronto mayors Ford, Miller and Lastman |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=February 2013 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420015218/http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/02/01/toronto_mayors_edward_keenan_ponders_rob_ford_david_miller_and_mel_lastman.html |archive-date=April 20, 2016 }}</ref> Lastman sold the chain in 1975 to run in the [[1975 Ontario general election|Ontario general election]]. The Bad Boy trademark was ultimately acquired by the large furniture chain [[The Brick]] but the new owners allowed it to lapse through lack of use until it expired.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.emeryvillagevoice.ca/Nobody%E2%80%99s-Real-Bad-Boy|title=Emery Village Voice|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106120311/https://www.emeryvillagevoice.ca/Nobody%E2%80%99s-Real-Bad-Boy|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, Lastman's son Blayne and business partner Marvin Kirsh re-launched the chain under the name Bad Boy Furniture Warehouse Ltd, over the objections of the senior Lastman, who felt the economic climate was unsatisfactory. The store was soon memorable to most Ontario television viewers who saw its commercials. The advertisements featured Lastman in a cameo appearance, Blayne in a striped prison uniform, and always ended with the line: "Who's better than Bad Boy? Nooobody!" In 2006 it was formally renamed as '''Lastman's Bad Boy''' and since as '''Lastman Bad Boy Superstore'''.

Bad Boy Furniture Warehouse Ltd. filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2023 to deal with $13.7 million in debts.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Deschamps |first1=Tara |title=Bad Boy Furniture aiming to restructure business as it faces 'challenging' economy |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bad-boy-bankrupt-1.7027100https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bad-boy-bankrupt-1.7027100 |access-date=15 November 2023 |date=13 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113174723/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/bad-boy-bankrupt-1.7027100 |archive-date=13 November 2023}}</ref> After failing to file a proposal to creditors, Bad Boy became officially bankrupt in January 2024; any remaining assets would be sold off to pay creditors.<ref name="TheStar-2024-01-24">{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/business/theyre-done-theyre-bankrupt-bad-boy-officially-gone-after-failing-to-file-restructuring-plan/article_356994fa-baf4-11ee-b93c-b315deb3909e.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=business |title='They're done. They're bankrupt.' Bad Boy officially gone after failing to file restructuring plan |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=2024-01-24 |df=mdy-all |access-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-date=January 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128212835/https://www.thestar.com/business/theyre-done-theyre-bankrupt-bad-boy-officially-gone-after-failing-to-file-restructuring-plan/article_356994fa-baf4-11ee-b93c-b315deb3909e.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=business |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Political career==

===North York municipal politics===
Lastman entered politics in 1969, when he ran for and was elected to the North York [[Toronto Board of Control#North York|Board of Control]]. It was there he met another young motivated rising political figure, [[Paul Godfrey]], who would later serve as [[Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Chairman]].

====Mayoralty====
On December 4, 1972, Lastman was elected mayor of North York by defeating fellow North York controller Paul Hunt for the open mayoral seat.<ref name="Lastman sweeps North York 1972">
{{cite news
 | last      = Cabden
 | first     = Michael
 | title     = Lastman sweeps North York
 | newspaper = The Toronto Star
 | date      = December 5, 1972
 | pages     = 1, 11
}}
</ref>  Lastman took office on January 1, 1973, and was also automatically a member of Metro Council.<ref name="Lastman itemizes millions" /> Lastman was supported by many in North York for operating that city efficiently and effectively, and for keeping property taxes low. He successfully promoted the creation of [[North York City Centre]], which became unofficially known as the "new downtown" of Toronto. At the [[North York Civic Centre]], Mel Lastman Square is named after him.

While supporting development, he also supported the introduction of residential [[rent control]]s in the mid-1970s.<ref>Lastman urges Davis action on rent control
Toronto Star - October 10, 1975</ref>

In 1975, Lastman ran for the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] as a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] candidate in the [[Armourdale (electoral district)|Armourdale]] [[Electoral district (Canada)|electoral district]]. He lost to former Toronto Mayor [[Philip Givens|Phil Givens]] who was running for the [[Ontario Liberal Party]].<ref name="1975 Prov. Loss">{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=James S.|title=Lastman says he lost because he is too popular|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=September 19, 1975|page=A17}}</ref> That [[1975 Ontario general election|provincial election]] was his only election loss throughout his career.

Lastman joined the [[Ontario Liberal Party]] in 1987, although he subsequently claimed that it was the result of a misunderstanding. He agreed to support [[Norman Gardner]]'s bid for the Liberal nomination in [[Willowdale (federal electoral district)|Willowdale]], and did not realize that he was also purchasing a party membership card in the process. He did not regret his accidental membership, but said he had no long-term loyalty to the party (Globe and Mail, April 28, 1987).

Lastman was a critic of Metropolitan Toronto's [[Metro Hall]], attacking Metro Council's decision to locate the $220 million building downtown. He argued that it would be more equitable and would have been much cheaper to build the headquarters in the suburbs. Metro Hall was later passed over in favour of [[Toronto City Hall|City Hall]] for the future amalgamated city of Toronto. An attempt to put it up for sale only received a maximum bid of $125 million which was far below the construction cost.

Throughout Lastman's political career, he was generally supported by the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals, such as [[Norman Gardner]], [[Mike Colle]], [[Mike Feldman]], [[Joe Volpe]], and [[David Shiner (politician)|David Shiner]]. Though usually opposed by the [[New Democratic Party of Ontario|New Democratic Party]], he did cross party lines to work with left-leaning councillors [[Jack Layton]] and [[Olivia Chow]].<ref name="Jacke Layton and Mel">
{{cite news
 | last        = Honderich
 | first       = John
 | title       = Honderich: The evolution of Jack
 | url         = https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1043771--honderich-the-evolution-of-jack
 | newspaper   = The Toronto Star
 | date        = August 23, 2011
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140308120006/http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2011/08/23/honderich_the_evolution_of_jack.html
 | archive-date = March 8, 2014
 | url-status     = live
}}
</ref>

===Post-amalgamation Toronto mayor===
{{More citations needed|date=December 2021}}
In 1997, Lastman's position was abolished when the provincial government under [[Mike Harris]] amalgamated [[North York]] with [[Scarborough, Toronto|Scarborough]], [[York, Toronto|York]], [[East York]], [[Etobicoke]], and [[Old Toronto]], creating a [[List of Ontario census divisions|single-tier]] "megacity" forming the new City of Toronto. Lastman ran for the mayoralty of the "megacity" defeating incumbent Toronto Mayor [[Barbara Hall (politician)|Barbara Hall]]. Lastman's [[1997 Toronto municipal election|electoral victory]]<ref name="1997 results">{{cite web |url=http://www.toronto.ca/elections/results/results_1997.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021141358/http://www.toronto.ca/elections/results/results_1997.htm |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |title=1997 Toronto general election results |year=1997 |publisher=City of Toronto |access-date=July 12, 2013}}</ref> was credited to his very strong base of support in the suburban cities, namely North York as well as in Etobicoke and Scarborough. Hall had won the majority of the vote in old Toronto, York and East York.

Lastman gained national attention after multiple snowstorms, including the January [[North American blizzard of 1999|Blizzard of 1999]], dumped 118&nbsp;cm (46.5&nbsp;in) of snow and effectively immobilized the city.<ref name="Mel calls in the troops">{{cite news|last=Mansbridge|first=Peter|title=Toronto calls in troops to fight massive snowstorm|url=http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital+Archives/Environment/Extreme+Weather/ID/1721169786|access-date=March 8, 2014|newspaper=CBC News|date=January 13, 1999|author2=Adrienne Arsenault|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240526234617/https://www.webcitation.org/6Nufp50P5?url=http://www.cbc.ca/player/Digital%20Archives/Environment/Extreme%20Weather/ID/1721169786/|archive-date=May 26, 2024|location=Toronto|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/feature/when-youre-a-soldier-you-do-what-youre-told-an-oral-history-of-the-time-toronto-called-in-the-army-to-deal-with-the-snow|title=An oral history of the time Toronto called in the army to deal with the snow|work=National Post|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2021|last1=Dawson|first1=Nick Faris|archive-date=May 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501173407/https://nationalpost.com/feature/when-youre-a-soldier-you-do-what-youre-told-an-oral-history-of-the-time-toronto-called-in-the-army-to-deal-with-the-snow|url-status=live}}</ref> He called in the [[Canadian Army]] to aid snow removal by use of their equipment to augment police and emergency services. The move was ridiculed by some in other parts of the country, fuelled in part by what was perceived as a frivolous use of resources,<ref>Barnes, Alan (January 16, 1999). 'World class wimps' receive little sympathy, ''The Toronto Star'', p. A22.</ref><ref name="Megacity Mel Snowstorm critique">
{{cite news|title=Mel Lastman: Selling himself to a city|url=http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/mel/megacity_mel.html|access-date=March 8, 2014|newspaper=CBC News|year=2008|author=CBC News Staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612130710/http://www.cbc.ca/toronto/features/mel/megacity_mel.html|archive-date=June 12, 2008|location=Toronto|url-status=dead}}</ref> although Lastman's defenders noted that at the time the army was called in, Toronto was already at a standstill, and that the [[Environment Canada]] weather forecast called for another severe storm to hit the city later that week.

Lastman paid back the soldiers by giving them each a free pass to a [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] hockey game in honour of their hard work. These tickets were obtained free of charge due to an agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs' management claiming that if these soldiers had not come out to shovel the snow, then the Leafs game that day wouldn't have had as many people attending.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Ten years later, in 2009, Lastman gave an interview to the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' newspaper, stating he was proud of his decision to bring in the army during the Blizzard of 1999.<ref name="10-years Later, Mel backs Calling in the Army">{{cite news|last=Tambar|first=Jaspreet|title=10 Years later, Mel Lastman proud he called in army|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/01/11/10_years_later_mel_lastman_proud_he_called_in_army.html|access-date=March 8, 2014|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=January 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308091338/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/01/11/10_years_later_mel_lastman_proud_he_called_in_army.html|archive-date=March 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some{{who|date=December 2021}} expected that Lastman would face Independent [[House of Commons of Canada|federal MP]] [[John Nunziata]] in the 2000 municipal election, but Nunziata dispelled the rumours when he found that he could not hold onto his seat in Parliament while campaigning for Mayor.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} Re-elected in November 2000, with an 80% majority, his closest opponent, civic activist [[Tooker Gomberg]], drew just a little more than 8% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=Toronto Megacity Election 2000|url=http://frightlibrary.org/megaelect/index2.htm|website=Fright Library|publisher=frightlibrary.org|access-date=June 9, 2016|archive-date=June 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630214158/http://frightlibrary.org/megaelect/index2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Lastman shared Gomberg's three main campaign planks; namely, committing Toronto to 100% [[recycling]] diversion by 2010 to replace the controversial [[Adams Mine]] plan, agreeing with Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] to end [[homelessness]] in Toronto, and appointing [[Jane Jacobs]], the ethicist and [[urbanist]], to head the Toronto Charter Committee to explore the potential for [[Province of Toronto|more autonomy for Toronto]]. Jacobs had publicly endorsed Gomberg.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

Among his accomplishments as mayor of Toronto, Lastman brought [[World Youth Day 2002|World Youth Day]] to Toronto in 2002. He also succeeded in pushing the construction of the TTC [[Sheppard line]], the first new subway line in decades. He played a key role in developing the Yonge and Sheppard area, notably in the negotiations that had the [[Empress Walk]] condominium complex developed and two leading schools refurbished, all without using public funds.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mel Lastman|url=http://www.toronto-mayor.com/mayor-mel-lastman.html|website=toronto-mayor.com|publisher=toronto-mayor.com|access-date=June 9, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529141145/http://www.toronto-mayor.com/mayor-mel-lastman.html|archive-date=May 29, 2016}}</ref>

On January 14, 2003, Lastman announced that he would not run for re-election, citing deteriorating health. On November 10, 2003, [[David Miller (canadian politician)|David Miller]] was elected out of a field of five leading candidates to succeed Lastman as city mayor.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

Lastman sometimes commented publicly on Toronto affairs, such as in 2007 when the city faced a $575 million shortfall and struggled to make service cuts to immediately save $100 million.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} Lastman also sympathized that provincial downloading had burdened Toronto, but also criticized Miller's service cuts as hurting the quality of life while not going far enough to solve the shortfall. Lastman pointed out that spending had increased by $1.5 billion since he left office, and suggested that councillors had to consider measures such as contracting out services and cutting staff.<ref>Kerry Gillespie. City service cuts stupid, Lastman says. Toronto Star. August 14, 2007. {{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/246039 |title=City service cuts stupid, Lastman says |newspaper=The Toronto Star |date=August 14, 2007 |access-date=August 16, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929082908/http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/246039 |archive-date=September 29, 2012 }}</ref>

==Controversies==
In 1993, Lastman saw [[Bill Clinton]] impersonator Tim Watters on television, and shortly afterwards contacted him and arranged for a commercial to be shot.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} The commercial featured Watters dressed as Clinton delivering the classic ''Nooobody!'' line.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}  While merely a mildly amusing commercial to most of the viewing public, Lastman's move attracted attention, as he soon received a letter from the [[White House]] requesting that he "[[cease and desist]] all unauthorized use of the likeness of the [[President of the United States of America]] in advertising of commercial services and products".<ref name="Bad Boy 1990s TV Commercials">{{cite news|last=Myers|first=Jennifer|title=Bad Boy makes good|url=http://www.mediamasters.com/profitmg.htm|access-date=March 8, 2014|newspaper=Profit Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203105806/http://www.mediamasters.com/profitmg.htm|archive-date=February 3, 2013|url-status=live|issn=1183-1324|date=February–March 1996}}</ref>  Lastman refused to stop airing the commercials, and even produced several more, featuring both Watters and [[Hillary Clinton]] impersonator Elaine Kouba. "Last time I checked," Lastman quipped, "this was Canada, not the [[51st state]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.badboy.ca/en/pg-About-Us |title=Our History |publisher=Bad Boy Furniture |url-status=live |archive-date=April 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422135323/http://www.badboy.ca/en/pg-About-Us }}</ref>

After his wife Marilyn was caught shoplifting from an [[Eaton's]] store in Toronto, he threatened to kill [[CITY-TV]] reporter [[Adam Vaughan]] unless he stopped reporting on his family.<ref>Timothy Appleby, "The mayor goes ballistic: Death threat against report has Lastman in hot water", ''Globe and Mail'', p. A1, A3, May 13, 1999.</ref><ref name = "Life and Times">
{{cite news
 | last        = MacDonald
 | first       = Anne-Marie
 | title       = The Making of Mel: The Life and Times of Mel Lastman
 | date        = November 3, 2003
 | url         = http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/lastman.html
 | newspaper   = CBC News 
 | archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20050418172529/http://www.cbc.ca/lifeandtimes/lastman.html
 | archive-date = April 18, 2005
 | url-status     = dead
}} 
</ref>

In June 2001, shortly before leaving for [[Mombasa]], [[Kenya]] to support Toronto's bid for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], he jokingly said to a reporter "What the hell do I want to go to a place like Mombasa?... I'm sort of scared about going out there, but the wife is really nervous. I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me."  The remarks sparked a firestorm of controversy, with much speculation that they would offend African [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] members and endanger Toronto's bid. Lastman apologized profusely for those remarks.  IOC Vice-president [[Dick Pound]] later stated that the comments did not affect the outcome of the bid.<ref>James Rusk, "Lastman apologizes for cannibal joke on eve of Kenya trip", ''Globe and Mail'', p. A1, June 21, 2001.</ref>

In January 2002, Lastman was ridiculed for hugging and shaking hands with members of the [[Hells Angels]] motorcycle gang when they held a convention in Toronto. Lastman later claimed that he did not know that the Hells Angels were involved in selling illegal drugs.<ref>James Rusk, "Lastman 'didn't know' Hells Angels sell drugs", ''Globe and Mail'', p. A1, A8; January 15, 2002.</ref>

During the [[2003 SARS outbreak]], Lastman did an interview on [[CNN]]. When asked about what the [[World Health Organization]] was doing about the outbreak, Lastman replied, "They don't know what they're talking about. I don't know who this group is. I've never heard of them before."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/sars-according-to-mayor-mel/article25283181/|title=SARS according to Mayor Mel|date=April 26, 2003|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|location=Toronto, ON|access-date=June 5, 2018|archive-date=August 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816075126/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/sars-according-to-mayor-mel/article25283181/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life and death==
Having met during the late 1940s when they were both teenagers, 19-year-old Lastman and his [[childhood sweetheart]] Marilyn Bornstein, three years his junior, got married in 1952.<ref name=“globe-2000”/> The couple's first child, son [[Dale Lastman|Dale]], was born in March 1957. Their second son, Blayne, was born during the early 1960s.

In 1988, with Lastman in his seventh consecutive term as mayor of North York, more than 15 years after he first took the office, his wife Marilyn decided to enter local politics in her own right by running for the council seat representing North York’s Ward 13.<ref name=“torontostar-2020”>{{cite news|last=Royson|first=James|url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/marilyn-lastman-touched-the-hearts-of-those-who-mattered-most/article_cc6b96fb-ccf1-5f37-9f62-1cfe9536c112.html/|title=Marilyn Lastman touched the hearts of those who mattered most|agency=[[The Toronto Star]]|archivedate=18 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250218231159/https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/marilyn-lastman-touched-the-hearts-of-those-who-mattered-most/article_cc6b96fb-ccf1-5f37-9f62-1cfe9536c112.html|url-status=live|date=17 January 2020|access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref> At the [[1988 Toronto municipal election|November 1988 municipal election]], incumbent Lastman ended up securing his eight mayoral term, while she lost to former school trustee Bob Bradley.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bittersweet victory for Mel as Marilyn loses |first=Royson |last=James |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=November 15, 1988 |page=8}}</ref><ref name="1988TorontoResults">{{cite news |title=Civic election '88 |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=November 16, 1988 |page=A16}}</ref>

In 1989, Lastman contracted hepatitis C during a surgery.<ref name = "Hepatitis C">
{{cite news
| last         = Abbate
| first        = Gay 
| date         = 31 January 2003
| title        = Lastman says illness led to gaffe
| url          = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lastman-says-illness-led-to-gaffe/article1010392/
| work         = The Globe & Mail
| location     = Toronto
| access-date  = 2021-12-12
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20211212162723/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lastman-says-illness-led-to-gaffe/article1010392/
| archive-date = 2021-12-12
| url-status   = live
}}</ref> He was one of thousands of [[Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada |
Canadians infected from tainted blood]] products provided by [[Canadian Red Cross]] in the 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name = "Hepatitis C"/> In his final year in mayoral office, Lastman had spent much of it dealing with his medical conditions, including a bout with [[cancer]].<ref name = "Hepatitis C"/>

In late November 2000, weeks after being re-elected for a second term as Toronto mayor—and facing an impending [[Can$]]6million retroactive [[child support]] lawsuit by former Bad Boy Furniture employee Grace Louie claiming to have been Lastman's 14-year [[mistress (lover)|mistress]] who bore him two [[illegitimate children]], Kim (born in September 1958) and Todd Louie (born in March 1962), both of whom were also named as [[plaintiff]]s—Lastman called a press conference where, flanked by his wife of 47 years, he admitted to the [[extramarital affair]] with Louie while neither confirming nor denying [[paternity (law)|paternity]] of the two children.<ref>{{cite news|last=Priest|first=Lisa|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lastman-mortified/article18428185/|title=Lastman 'mortified': Facing lawsuit, mayor reveals affair but doesn't admit paternity|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|page=A1, A19|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219050138/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/lastman-mortified/article18428185/|url-status=live|date=1 December 2000|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="globe-and-mail">{{cite news|last=Immen|first=Wallace|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/documents-paint-picture-of-life-as-mels-mistress/article4169561/|title=Documents paint picture of life as Mel's mistress|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|archivedate=17 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250217213537/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/documents-paint-picture-of-life-as-mels-mistress/article4169561/|url-status=live|date=1 December 2000|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref><ref name=“globe-2000”/> Addressing the media, Lastman further claimed to have disclosed the affair to his wife and kids "some years ago" and that they had given him their "unqualified forgiveness".<ref name=“globe-2000”/><ref name="brothers-duty">{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brothers-want-toronto-mayor-to-fulfill-his-duty-1.218286|title=Brothers want Toronto mayor to fulfill his 'duty'|agency=[[CBC News]]|archivedate=17 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250217204805/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brothers-want-toronto-mayor-to-fulfill-his-duty-1.218286|url-status=live|date=1 December 2000|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> Grace, Kim, and Todd Louie's lawsuit against Lastman further alleged "neglect and mental suffering", claiming Kim and Todd grew up in poverty while Mel and Marilyn Lastman's sons enjoyed a life of privilege.<ref name="cbc-6mil-lawsuit">{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lastman-faces-6-million-paternity-suit-1.200415|title=Lastman faces $6-million paternity suit|agency=[[CBC News]]|archivedate=17 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250217204343/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/lastman-faces-6-million-paternity-suit-1.200415|url-status=live|date=1 December 2000|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> Various details of the Lastman-Louie affair that began in 1957 and ended in 1971 soon became public, including their 1966 trip to [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]], [[Francoist Spain|Spain]], and [[Morocco]] and that in 1974, three years after the relationship ended, Louie accepted a Can$27,500 settlement from Lastman in return for signing a [[legal release]] document freeing him from allegations or suggestions that he is the father of the two children.<ref name="cbc-6mil-lawsuit"/><ref name="globe-and-mail"/><ref>{{cite news|author=[[James Brooke (journalist)|James Brooke]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/04/world/a-secret-life-emerges-in-lawsuit-facing-toronto-mayor.html|title=A Secret Life Emerges in Lawsuit Facing Toronto Mayor|agency=[[The New York Times]]|archivedate=17 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250217210004/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/04/world/a-secret-life-emerges-in-lawsuit-facing-toronto-mayor.html|url-status=live|date=4 January 2001|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref> 

Louie's lawsuit was dismissed in May 2001 by the [[Ontario Superior Court of Justice]] judge Mary Lou Benotto who, though not challenging claims by Todd and Kim Louie that Lastman fathered them, ruled that it was too late to claim retroactive child support.<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/judge-throws-out-lawsuit-against-mayor-lastman-1.268682|title=Judge throws out lawsuit against Mayor Lastman|agency=[[CBC News]]|archivedate=17 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250217211259/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/judge-throws-out-lawsuit-against-mayor-lastman-1.268682|url-status=live|date=23 May 2001|access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-680554393|title=Louie v. Lastman, [2001] O.T.C. 368 (Superior Court of Justice of Ontario): May 22, 2001|agency=VLex.com|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219170921/https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-680554393|url-status=live|date=|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> The plaintiffs appealed the decision in June 2001;<ref>{{cite news|last=Gadd|first=Jane|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louie-family-launches-appeal/article4149773/|title=Louie family launches appeal|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219171832/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louie-family-launches-appeal/article4149773/|url-status=live|date=21 June 2001|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> and the case went before the [[Court of Appeal for Ontario|Ontario Court of Appeal]]<ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-681595253|title=Louie v. Lastman, (2001) 152 O.A.C. 341 (Court of Appeal for Ontario): December 14, 2001|agency=VLex.com|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219174502/https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-681595253|url-status=live|date=|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=|first=|url=https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-680983673|title=Louie v. Lastman, (2002) 164 O.A.C. 161 (Court of Appeal for Ontario): May 14, 2002|agency=VLex.com|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219165730/https://ca.vlex.com/vid/louie-v-lastman-680983673|url-status=live|date=|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> where it was dismissed in September 2002 by judge Marc Rosenberg who also ruled the claim "too late" along with an explanation that "child support can not be claimed decades after the plaintiffs are no longer [[dependent]]s (children)".<ref>{{cite news|last=Makin|first=Kirk|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louies-suits-against-lastman-dismissed/article1026355/|title=Louies' suits against Lastman dismissed|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|archivedate=19 February 2025|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20250219172511/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louies-suits-against-lastman-dismissed/article1026355/|url-status=live|date=18 September 2002|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> The plaintiffs appealed the appeals court ruling, taking the case to the [[Supreme Court of Canada|Canadian Supreme Court]] where it was dismissed in March 2003.<ref>{{cite news|last=Abbate|first=Gay|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louies-out-of-luck/article20448248/|title=Louies out of luck|agency=[[The Globe and Mail]]|archivedate=28 October 2024|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20241028025638/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/louies-out-of-luck/article20448248/|url-status=live|date=28 March 2003|access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

Lastman's wife, Marilyn died after a brief illness on January 1, 2020, at the age of 84.<ref>{{cite news |title='Lost His Best Friend': Marilyn Lastman, wife of former mayor Mel Lastman, dies |url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/marilyn-lastman-wife-of-former-mayor-mel-lastman-dies |access-date=January 2, 2020 |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102224410/https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/marilyn-lastman-wife-of-former-mayor-mel-lastman-dies |url-status=live }}</ref> One year later, Lastman died of [[heart failure]] on December 11, 2021, at the age of 88.<ref>{{Cite news|last=The Canadian Press|title=Mel Lastman, long-serving and often controversial former Toronto mayor, dead at age 88|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/former-toronto-mayor-mel-lastman-dies-age-88-1.6282854|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=December 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212043411/https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6282854|url-status=live}}</ref> He and his wife Marilyn were both laid to rest at the [[Mount Sinai Memorial Park (Toronto)|Mount Sinai Memorial Park]] in [[North York]], [[Toronto]].

==See also==
*[[Moose in the City]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Archival records|title=Mel Lastman fonds|location=|inventory_number=Fonds 59|description_URL=http://gencat.eloquent-systems.com/torontodetail.html?key=32854|dates=|access_conditions=}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040308143718/http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/mel_lastman/profile_continued.htm City of Toronto – Mel Lastman profile]

{{TorMayors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lastman, Mel}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century mayors of places in Ontario]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Toronto]]
[[Category:Canadian businesspeople in manufacturing]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Jewish mayors of places in Canada]]
[[Category:Mayors of North York]]
[[Category:Mayors of Toronto]]
[[Category:Metropolitan Toronto councillors]]