Ron Kanter

Ronald M. Kanter (born February 25, 1948 in Brantford, Ontario) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990.

Kanter was educated at Glendon College, York University, the University of Toronto law school, and Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the Bar in 1976. In 1984, he was named a course director at the University of Toronto law school.

Kanter served as special assistant to Ontario Liberal Party leader Stuart Smith from 1976 to 1980. He served as an alderman on the Toronto City Council from 1980 to 1987, and was also a member of the Metro Toronto council from 1985 to 1987.

He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial election, upsetting Progressive Conservative leader and longtime MPP Larry Grossman by 3,676 votes in the constituency of St. Andrew—St. Patrick. He served as a backbench supporter of David Peterson's government for the next three years. In 1990, he wrote an influential work entitled "Space for all: options for a Greater Toronto Area greenlands strategy".

The Liberals were unexpectedly defeated by the Ontario New Democratic Party in the 1990 provincial election. Kanter finished third in his bid for re-election, finishing 1,383 votes behind Zanana Akande of the NDP.

Kanter now practises regulatory law with the firm of Gardiner Roberts LLP. He serves on the Toronto Board of Trade Task Force, and writes and speaks frequently on municipal government and planning issues.