Joe Tascona

Joseph N. Tascona (born October 9, 1951) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario representing the ridings of Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford and Simcoe Centre from 1995 to 2007. He also served as an alderman for Barrie City Council from 1991 to 1995. In 2010 he ran for mayor of Barrie but lost to Jeff Lehman.

Tascona is the son of Edna (Smith) and Joe Tascona.^[1] He has an M.B.A. from McMaster University and an LL.B. from Queen's University, and worked as a prominent labour and employment lawyer before entering public life. He also worked for the Ford Motor Company in matters relating to production and labour relations. He has also written several articles for the Industrial Relations Centre at Queen's University on labour and employment law. Tascona also has a sister, Judy who is the mother of former Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown.^[2]

Tascona began his political career at the municipal level, serving on Barrie City Council from 1991 to 1995 as an alderman in the City of Barrie's second ward. Tascona was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Barrie Public Library, and the Molson Hockey Centre and helping secure Barrie's waterfront land for public use.

In the provincial election of 1995, he was elected in the riding of Simcoe Centre, defeating LiberalBruce Owen and incumbent New DemocratPaul Wessenger by a plurality of over 17,000 votes.^[3] The Conservatives won the election and Tascona served as a backbench supporter of the Mike Harris government for the next four years.

In the 1999 provincial election, Tascona was re-elected in the redistributed riding of Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, defeating Liberal Maura Bolger by 18,345 votes.^[4] During his second term, Tascona was appointed as Parliamentary assistant to several ministers including the Minister of Education, the Solicitor General and the Minister of Consumer and Business Services.

Aunque los Conservadores Progresistas fueron derrotados en las elecciones provinciales de 2003 , Tascona fue reelegido en su circunscripción con un margen de victoria de 9531 votos. ^{[ 5 ]} Posteriormente fue nombrado portavoz de la oposición para el Fiscal General y el Servicio Gubernamental . Tascona también fue elegido Segundo Vicepresidente del Comité Plenario de la Cámara. En abril de 2006, presentó un proyecto de ley de iniciativa privada , la Ley para la Restauración de la Escritura , que exigía la protección de los propietarios de viviendas contra el fraude hipotecario y de títulos de propiedad, y dichas medidas fueron implementadas por el gobierno provincial.

En las elecciones provinciales de 2007 , Tascona fue derrotado por Aileen Carroll en la nueva circunscripción de Barrie . ^{[ 6 ]}

En 2010, Tascona se postuló para alcalde de Barrie. Fue el primero en registrar su nombre. Perdió ante el concejal de la ciudad de Barrie, Jeff Lehman, el 25 de octubre. ^{[ 7 ]}

• Historia parlamentaria de la Asamblea Legislativa de Ontario