MEL LASTMAN
(Melvin Douglas Lastman)
Lastman was going to Kenya to promote Canada’s bid for the 2008 Olympics. He had been asked if he would visit Mombassa. Lastman was a very strong advocate for a pluralistic Toronto and Canada and had wide support amongst ethnic minorities. This statement surprised many and he was widely criticized. He later explained that he had been suffering from symptoms of hepatitis which clouded his judgment.
Melvin Douglas Lastman, nicknamed "Mayor Mel" or "Mega City Mel", is a Canadian businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1973 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other municipalities, was amalgamated with the city of Toronto. Lastman ran for and won the mayoral race for the new "megacity", defeating incumbent Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. Re-elected in November 2000, he served until his retirement after the 2003 municipal election.
