Al Santing
Encyclopedia
Al Santing is a businessman and former municipal politician in Windsor
, Ontario
, Canada
. For years, he was a fixture in the city's conservative movement.
Santing was born in The Netherlands, and moved to Canada with his family at age thirteen. He lived for a while in rural New Brunswick
, and later moved to Ontario. He owned a tire store in private life. Santing campaigned for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
in the 1977 provincial election
, and finished third against New Democratic Party candidate Dave Cooke
in Windsor—Riverside.
Santing served on the Windsor City Council from 1980 to 1985, and was known as one of its more right-wing members. In 1982, he sided with a group of ratepayers in seeking wage cuts for city workers. Other councillors accused him of grandstanding, and of undermining the city's labour negotiations.
He campaigned for Mayor of Windsor in the 1985 municipal election, calling for private-sector investment in the city's waterfront. A newspaper article described him as a forty-seven years old. He finished second against David Burr, who was supported by the New Democratic Party.
After leaving public office, Santing worked as chairman of the tourism and convention bureau and corporate fundraising chairman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He joined VR Windsor Inc. Brokers in April 1987. Santing supported bringing a casino
to Windsor as early as 1988, several years before city council decided to accept the proposal.
Santing worked with the Ontario Liberal Party
in the 1987 provincial election
. He attempted to return to council in the 1988
and 1991
municipal elections, but was defeated both times.
During the late 1990s, Santing argued that the federal Goods and Services Tax
(GST) caused significant damage to Canada's retail industry in the early 1990s.
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. For years, he was a fixture in the city's conservative movement.
Santing was born in The Netherlands, and moved to Canada with his family at age thirteen. He lived for a while in rural New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, and later moved to Ontario. He owned a tire store in private life. Santing campaigned for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
in the 1977 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and finished third against New Democratic Party candidate Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was an NDP member of the provincial legislature from 1977 to 1997, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.-Early career:...
in Windsor—Riverside.
Santing served on the Windsor City Council from 1980 to 1985, and was known as one of its more right-wing members. In 1982, he sided with a group of ratepayers in seeking wage cuts for city workers. Other councillors accused him of grandstanding, and of undermining the city's labour negotiations.
He campaigned for Mayor of Windsor in the 1985 municipal election, calling for private-sector investment in the city's waterfront. A newspaper article described him as a forty-seven years old. He finished second against David Burr, who was supported by the New Democratic Party.
After leaving public office, Santing worked as chairman of the tourism and convention bureau and corporate fundraising chairman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. He joined VR Windsor Inc. Brokers in April 1987. Santing supported bringing a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
to Windsor as early as 1988, several years before city council decided to accept the proposal.
Santing worked with the Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
in the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
. He attempted to return to council in the 1988
Windsor municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Windsor municipal election was held in the City of Windsor, Ontario to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees.-Results:*Bob Girard was a veteran community and environmental activist in Windsor. He was a member of Surrounding Citizens Reacting Against Pollution during the 1980s,...
and 1991
Windsor municipal election, 1991
The 1991 Windsor municipal election was held in the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada on November 12, 1991, to elect a mayor, ten councillors, utility commissioners and school trustees.-Council:...
municipal elections, but was defeated both times.
During the late 1990s, Santing argued that the federal Goods and Services Tax
Goods and Services Tax
A goods and services tax or value added tax is a tax on exchanges.By country:*Goods and Services Tax *Goods and Services Tax *Goods and Services Tax *Goods and Services Tax...
(GST) caused significant damage to Canada's retail industry in the early 1990s.