David Zimmer
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David Zimmer (born in April 7, 1944 in Kitchener, Ontario) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the North York area riding of Willowdale for the Liberal Party.
Educational and early political life
A lawyer by profession, Zimmer has practised at the firm of LeDrew Laishley Reed, and has served as an administrative law instructor in the Law Society's Bar Admission Course. Zimmer was also chairman of the Toronto Community Housing Corporation prior to entering political life, and was responsible for bringing Toronto Community Housing Corp. (a private company) into the provision of social housing in Toronto. Shortly before his election, he served as assistant deputy chairperson of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. He was also the Director of the Humane Society from 1982-84 and President of the Alzheimer Society of Canada from 1993-95.
Positions held
Zimmer was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 2003 provincial election, defeating Progressive Conservative incumbent David Young, 47% to 43%. This was considered an upset by most observers; Young is a moderate Tory, and had been touted by some as a possible future leader of his party.
Awards
Zimmer was recently awarded the Greatest Local Hero Award by the North York Town Crier for his volunteer and community work in Willowdale. In 2005, he received a Social Work Doctors’ Colloquium inaugural Award of Merit for his work towards a just and caring society. He has also been cited for his work on Ontario Municipal Board reform and the new City of Toronto Act, which gives Toronto greater power to manage its own affairs.
Current political career
Zimmer is currently the parliamentary assistant to Ontario Attorney General, and is a member of the standing committee on public accounts. He is also a co-chair of the Ontario Crime Control Commission and chairs the Ontario Liberal Party's Toronto Caucus. In 2004, his motion to create an "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" was passed with support from all parties. He also assisted Bryant with legislation to ban pit bulls in Ontario.
Zimmer re-elected in the Ontario general election, 2007.
Legacies
In 2006, the Ontario Legislature passed with unanimous consent of all parties, a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Zimmer, which will suspend the Ontario Driver’s license of anyone who is convicted of impaired boating.