Allan Lamport
| Allan Austin Lamport | |
|---|---|
| 50th Mayor of Toronto | |
|
In office 1951–1955 |
|
| Preceded by | Hiram McCallum |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Saunders |
| MPP for St. David | |
|
In office 1937–1943 |
|
| Preceded by | Wilfrid Heighington |
| Succeeded by | William Dennison |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 3, 1903 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | November 18, 1999 (aged 96) Toronto, Ontario |
| Political party | Liberal |
Allan Austin Lamport, CM (April 4, 1903 – November 18, 1999) was Mayor of Toronto, Canada, from 1952 to 1954. Known as "Lampy", his most notable achievement was his opposition to Toronto's Blue laws which banned virtually any activities on Sundays. Lamport fought to allow professional sporting activities on Sundays. He won the 1954 election, but resigned after six months to become vice-chairman (later chairman) of the newly formed Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Lamport later returned to City Council and made headlines for his opposition to Yorkville's hippies in the late 1960s.
He first sat on Toronto City Council in 1937. A licensed pilot, he urged the city to build airports on Toronto Island and in Malton, Ontario. These projects were approved and became the Toronto Island Airport and what is now Pearson International Airport. He also advocated the construction of the Mount Pleasant Road extension connecting it to Jarvis Street in order to create a north-south alternative to Yonge Street.
From 1937 to 1943 he was an Ontario Liberal Party Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Toronto riding of St. David. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and once rose in the legislature to denounce Henry Ford for his lack of support for the Canadian war effort calling him a "black-hearted American Quisling". As a result he was transferred by the RCAF to the east coast and was unable to carry out his political duties contributing his electoral defeat in the 1943 provincial election. He returned to city council in 1946 and campaigned for the provincial government of George Drew to permit the opening of cocktail bars in Toronto. In 1947, the legislature approved the opening of bars in cities with more than 100,000 people. In 1949 he was elected to the Board of Control for the first time.
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