Tom Marazzo
Tom Marazzo is a Canadian military veteran, former teacher, and leader in the 2022 Canadian convoy protest.
Career
[edit]Joining in September 1998 in Hamilton, Ontario and working until 2016, Marazzo worked for the Canadian Armed Forces as a military officer.[1][2] Marazzo reached the rank of captain and worked as a construction engineer.[3] He left the regular forces in 2015, moving to the supplemental reserves.[3] He was never deployed internationally.[3]
Marazzo taught computer software at Georgian College from 2019 until 2021 when he was fired after questioning his the college's COVID-19 vaccine policy.[4][5][2]
Marazzo was the Peterborough—Kawartha candidate for the Ontario Party in the 2022 Ontario general election.[6] He alleged that Peterborough mayor Diane Therrien pressured Peterborough police into charging the owners of burger restaurant Peterburgers under city noise bylaws.[6] Marazzo won 1,972 votes, representing 3.77% of the votes cast, losing to Dave Smith of the Progressive Conservative Party.[7]
Activism
[edit]Marazzo was a spokesperson[8] and a leader in the Canada convoy protest,[9][10] and he helped lead logistics and keep emergency routes on roads open.[5]
During a press conference at the Canada convoy protest, Marazzo suggested that protest organisers could collaborate with the federal opposition parties: the New Democratic Party, the Conservative Party of Canada, and the Bloc Québécois to form a coalition against the government.[4]
On 17 June 2022, fellow protest leader Tamara Lich was arrested for breaching bail conditions that forbade her from meeting Marazzo.[11][12]
Marazzo is a leader of the Veterans 4 Freedom group.[13]
Emergency Act inquiry
[edit]While being questioned at the public enquiry into the Canadian government use of the Emergencies Act, Marazzo stated that the protest group Diagolon is only an internet meme and not real.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Marazzo previously lived in Barrie, Ontario but moved away after losing his job at Georgian College.[2]
Electoral history
[edit]| 2022 Ontario general election: Peterborough—Kawartha | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Dave Smith | 20,205 | 38.58 | +0.90 | ||||
| Liberal | Greg Dempsey | 15,998 | 30.55 | +5.96 | ||||
| New Democratic | Jen Deck | 11,196 | 21.38 | −12.37 | ||||
| Ontario Party | Tom Marazzo | 1,972 | 3.77 | |||||
| Green | Robert Gibson | 1,914 | 3.65 | +0.33 | ||||
| New Blue | Rebecca Quinnell | 1,088 | 2.08 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 52,373 | 100.0 | ||||||
| Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots | 206 | |||||||
| Turnout | 52,579 | 51.47 | ||||||
| Eligible voters | 103,171 | |||||||
| Progressive Conservative hold | Swing | −2.53 | ||||||
Source(s)
| ||||||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Joy, Liz (November 2, 2022). "Diagolon is 'a time-travelling, cocaine addicted goat': Tom Marazzo". SaskToday.ca. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c Gibson, Shawn (February 20, 2022). "Former Georgian College instructor becomes face of convoy protest in Ottawa". CollingwoodToday.ca. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Fired Georgian College instructor becomes face of convoy protest in Ottawa". OrilliaMatters.com. February 10, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Aiello, Rachel (November 2, 2022). "Emergencies Act inquiry hears from protester Pat King, 'Freedom Convoy' lawyer". CTVNews. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Tumilty, Ryan; Nardi, Christopher (November 2, 2022). "Lawyer for organizers tells inquiry Pat King, others, were using Freedom Convoy for own gains". woodstocksentinelreview. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ a b Kovach, Joelle (April 20, 2022). "Ontario Party candidate Tom Marazzo files complaint against Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien". thepeterboroughexaminer.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "Ontario election 2022 results: Peterborough-Kawartha | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Merver, Jordan (March 22, 2022). "Tom Marazzo to run for Ontario Party in upcoming provincial election". PTBO Today. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Ballingall, Alex; MacCharles, Tonda (November 2, 2022). "Pat King, Diagolon, and 'legal nonsense': Prominent 'Freedom Convoy' leaders downplay controversial elements of their protest movement at Emergencies Act inquiry". thestar.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Guly, Christopher (November 4, 2022). "'Too much confusion' at political, police levels during trucker protest, says former Harper-era minister Fantino". The Hill Times. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ Grant, Meghan (June 27, 2022). "Freedom convoy leader Tamara Lich arrested in Alberta, accused of breaching bail conditions". CBC News.
- ^ Osman, Laura (July 26, 2022). "'Freedom Convoy' organizer Tamara Lich released on bail, again". CP24. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ Berthiaume, Lee (June 22, 2022). "'You've had allies all along': Conservative MPs meet with convoy figures in Ottawa". CTVNews. Retrieved November 5, 2022.