Howard Moscoe was a dedicated politician and former member of Toronto’s City Council, representing Ward 15 in the western Eglinton-Lawrence area. As one of the city’s longest-serving councillors, Moscoe was known for his candour and passionate approach, often sparking debates. Read more about his life and political career on torontoyes.com.
Early Life and Education
Howard Moscoe was born on November 28, 1939, in Toronto. His father, Alexander Moscoe, was born into a Jewish family in Łódź, Poland, and immigrated to Canada as a child. Alexander became an educator, and one of Howard’s uncles was Toronto’s first licensed taxi driver.
Howard graduated from high school and attended the Toronto Teachers’ College, where he trained as an art teacher. After completing his education, he taught at a secondary school and later became the president of the North York Elementary Teachers’ Federation.
Business Ventures and Entry into Politics
Howard Moscoe began his political career in 1974, running for a position with the North York Hydro Commission. The following year, he ran as a candidate for the Ontario New Democratic Party in the Wilson Heights riding during the provincial elections.
Moscoe demonstrated a keen ability to merge politics with entrepreneurship. In the late 1980s, he designed a brand of plastic sleeves to protect election signs from rain damage, which became widely used during campaigns. In 1988, he supplied 78 plastic sleeves for municipal elections.
In 1978, Moscoe was first elected to the North York City Council, defeating incumbent Murray Markin. As a councillor, he had a long-standing feud with Mayor Mel Lastman, often criticising Lastman’s reformist rhetoric.
In 1982, Moscoe sought legal advice from the Law Society of Upper Canada, alleging that Lastman misled voters during his campaign.
Howard Moscoe supported legislative reforms to cap campaign contributions at $500 annually and advocated for candidates to declare their expenses and contributions within 90 days post-election. His efforts led North York to become the first municipality in the Toronto region to adopt such legislation.
From 1985 to 1988, Moscoe served as North York’s City Controller. Despite frequent disputes with other members, he excelled in administrative leadership, managing finances, and developing policy initiatives.
Moscoe championed the creation of a municipal housing corporation in North York, aiming to promote affordable rental housing. He warned that government inaction on housing could lead to a rise in homelessness. Additionally, he pushed for workplace equity and supported anti-smoking regulations while personally battling to quit smoking.
In 1988, Moscoe criticised Ontario Premier David Peterson’s proposed reforms on Sunday shopping laws, labelling them as an attack on unions and small businesses.
From 1997 to 2003, Moscoe was elected as a Toronto city councillor. From 2006 to 2010, he chaired Toronto’s Licensing and Standards Committee. During his tenure, Moscoe prioritized licensing rental landlords in Toronto and advocated for changes to Ontario’s accessible parking system to address misuse by non-disabled drivers.
Howard Moscoe’s dedication to public service left a lasting impact on Toronto’s municipal policies. In recognition of his contributions, a small street on York University’s campus in North York was named in his honour.