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Tonks is the son of the late Chris Tonks who was a mayor and alderman in what was then the Borough of York in Metropolitan Toronto. After graduating from Upper Canada College Alan Tonks attended York University where he earned a Master's degree in political economy and the University of Toronto where he received a Masters in Education. He spent time working for a Canadian aid agency in Jamaica before becoming a teacher.

Tonks entered municipal politics in the 1970s serving as an alderman in York before being serving as mayor from 1980 to 1988. He was unsuccessful Ontario Liberal PartyThe Ontario Liberal Party is a centrist provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the Ontario general election, 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada.'s candidate in the 1987 Ontario election against Bob RaeRobert Keith Rae (born August 2, 1948) was the 21st premier of Ontario, and the first to represent the NDP in that role. He served as premier from October 1, 1990, to June 28, 1995. The Hon. Bob Rae Rank 21st Term of office October 1, 1990 June 28, 1995 P in the ridingThis page refers to a Riding as a unit in local government. For the more usual meaning, see horse and related articles In the British Isles, a riding is a sub-division of a county. The word is a corruption of the Old Norse riding thridhing or thrithing me of York South. In 1988 he was elected Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto by the other members of Metro Toronto Council. He served as Metro Chairman until 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t when the municipality was amalgamated by the provincial government of Mike HarrisMichael Deane Harris (born January 23, 1945) was the twenty-second Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the " Common Sense Revolution" and his large cuts to provincial programs and taxes. The Hon. Mike Harris Rank. In 1999 Tonks was appointed chair of the Greater Toronto Services Board and in 2000 he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Liberal MP for York South-Weston defeating Independent MP (and former Liberal) John Nunziata. He was re-elected in the 2004 Canadian election and is currently a backbencher after having served as a parliamentary secretary in 2003.