Background
Lyons was born in Hamilton, Ontario, where his father owned the city"s first chain of grocery stores, Lyons Food Mart.
Lyons was born in Hamilton, Ontario, where his father owned the city"s first chain of grocery stores, Lyons Food Mart.
University of Toronto.
He practiced law in Toronto until his death at age 75. As a lawyer, Lyons was a pioneer in Canada of the use of class action lawsuits, successfully arguing a case in the 1970s against Ford Motor Company which led to a 5-year anti-rust guarantee for consumers. Lyons was a prominent lobbyist in the 1980s and 1990s who was especially prominent in lobbying at the municipal level
His reputation was tarnished and his influence diminished as a result of the Justice Denise Bellamy was appointed to lead an inquiry into the computer leasing scandal and described Lyons in her report as the city"s “most sought-after lobbyist” during the mayoralty of Mel Lastman.
In 1999 Lyons had helped two firms, MFP and Dell Financial Services (Dancer Fitzgerald Sample), compete for the same city computer-leasing contract. The inquiry report concluded that it was “plausible” Lyons tried to solicit the fee on behalf of himself or city budget chief Tom Jakobek.
In his testimony to the inquiry, Lyons admitted to funnelling $15,000 in campaign contributions from a city supplier to city councillors. While the Ontario Provincial Police investigated the matter after the inquiry, no charges were ever laid.
Lyons died at the age of 75 on July 26, 2015 after collapsing while running.
Director of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority
Director - Via Rail Canada
Director of Ontario Place
Director on both the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Fund and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Fund
Chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission
Chairman of Gray Coach Lincolnshire Limited
Chairman of Trentway-Wagar Properties
Chairman of the Jays Care Foundation
Vice Chairman of the Toronto Police Services Board
President of the Expo’98 Consortium.
Lyons moved to Toronto to study law, graduating from the University of Toronto and a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Member of the Executive Committee of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto.