James Pasternak
James Pasternak | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pasternak in 2010 | |
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 6 York Centre | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ward created |
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 10 York Centre | |
| In office December 1, 2010 – November 3, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Mike Feldman |
| Succeeded by | Ward dissolved |
| Toronto District School Board Trustee for Ward 5 York Centre | |
| In office December 1, 2006 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Shane Manikowsky |
| Succeeded by | Howard Kaplan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 15, 1959 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Politician |
James Pasternak (/ˈpæstərnæk/ ⓘ PAST-ər-nak; born February 15, 1959[1]) is a Canadian politician who represents Ward 6 York Centre on the Toronto City Council. Pasternak has served on council since he was elected in 2010, representing Ward 10 (later amalgamated into Ward 6). He was a Toronto District School Board trustee before his election to council.
Background
Pasternak is a graduate of York University. He also has degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the London School of Economics and Political Science.[2] He is a devout Jew.[3]
Political career
Pasternak was elected to Toronto City Council in the 2010 city council election to succeed Mike Feldman in Ward 10.[4] He was previously a Toronto District School Board trustee.
In 2012, Pasternak introduced a motion that asked City Manager Joe Pennachetti to update Toronto's anti-discrimination policy and to determine whether including Queers Against Israeli Apartheid in Pride events violated the policy. Pasternak believes "QuAIA is not there to support the Palestinian people; it’s there to bully and demonize Israel, its supporters and the Jewish community."[5][6] The following year, in 2013, Pasternak continued to lead the effort to defund Toronto Pride over the use of the term Israel apartheid by its participating members.[7]
In July 2025, he called on the Canadian government to ban Irish hip hop band Kneecap from entering Canada.[8] In November 2025, Pasternak attended a briefing in Israel by Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel while on a trip sponsored by the Israeli government.[9]
Election results
| 2022 Toronto municipal election, Ward 6 York Centre | ||
| Candidate | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| James Pasternak | 12,187 | 73.54% |
| Mike Arkin | 1,916 | 11.6% |
| Hope Schrier | 1,292 | 7.8% |
| Basil Canning | 1,179 | 7.1% |
| Total | 16,574 | 100% |
| Source: City of Toronto[10] | ||
| 2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 6 York Centre | ||
| Candidate | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| James Pasternak | 11,559 | 47.61% |
| Maria Augimeri | 9,223 | 37.99% |
| Louise Russo | 2,726 | 11.23% |
| Edward Zaretsky | 771 | 3.17% |
| Total | 24,279 | 100% |
| Source: City of Toronto[11] | ||
| 2014 Toronto election, Ward 10[12] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| James Pasternak | 11,183 | 57.78% |
| Igor Toutchinski | 3,112 | 16.08% |
| Epstein David | 2,126 | 10.99% |
| Mitchell Michael | 1,096 | 5.66% |
| Bucao Randy | 1,040 | 5.37% |
| Masucci Liberato | 796 | 4.11% |
| Total | 19,353 | 100% |
| 2010 Toronto election, Ward 10[13] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| James Pasternak | 3,159 | 19.15% |
| Nancy Oomen | 2,777 | 16.83% |
| Brian Shifman | 2,632 | 15.96% |
| Igor Toutchinski | 2,605 | 15.79% |
| Konstantin Toubis | 1,887 | 11.44% |
| Magda Gondor Berkovits | 935 | 5.67% |
| Jarred Friedman | 850 | 5.15% |
| Joseph Cohen | 535 | 3.24% |
| Eric Plant | 355 | 2.15% |
| Edward Zaretsky | 326 | 1.97% |
| Robert Freedland | 244 | 1.48% |
| Drago Banovic | 186 | 1.12% |
| Total | 16,491 | 100% |
| 2006 Toronto District School Board election, Ward 5[14] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| James Pasternak | 6,210 | 62.27% |
| Mitchell Worsoff | 1,940 | 19.45% |
| Donna Khaner | 1,077 | 10.80% |
| Frank Bonavota | 745 | 7.48% |
| Total | 9,972 | 100% |
References
- ↑ "James Pasternak Official Facebook Page" Toronto Star, November 22, 2010.
- ↑ "James Pasternak's Official Campaign Site". Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
- ↑ Ford allies refuse to move meeting from Jewish holiday
- ↑ "Changed council faces new mayor". Toronto Star, October 25, 2010.
- ↑ Make Pride Parade funding contingent on non-participation of QuAIA, Pasternak says Archived 2013-03-10 at the Wayback Machine, MAY 29, 2012, Jewish Tribune
- ↑ Israeli Apartheid out, QuAIA in – and funded Archived 2012-06-20 at the Wayback Machine, June 11, 2012, Jewish Tribune.
- ↑ "Council delays report on 'Israeli apartheid'". Xtra. March 19, 2013.
- ↑ "City councillor calls on Canada to bar band Kneecap from entering country". Village Report. July 23, 2025.
- ↑ Mannie, Kathryn (December 17, 2025). "Toronto councillors' trip to Israel was sponsored by Israeli government". torontotoday.ca.
- ↑ "Declaration of Results for the Toronto Municipal Election" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
- ↑ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ↑ "City of Toronto elections results 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-08-20. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
- ↑ City of Toronto elections page Archived 2010-10-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). www.toronto.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-14. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
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