33 Facts About Michael Colle

Michael Colle is a Canadian politician who has served as deputy mayor of Toronto since 2023, representing North York.

Michael Colle was formerly a York city councillor and Metro Toronto councillor, where he sat as the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission from 1991 to 1994.

Michael Colle moved to Canada at a young age, and was educated at Carleton University.

Michael Colle worked as a teacher of history and economics for eighteen years, including several years at Michael Power High School and St Michael's College School in Toronto, Ontario.

Michael Colle's son Josh was a member of Toronto City Council between 2010 and 2018.

Michael Colle served on the City of York council for Ward 2 from 1982 to 1985, and on the Metro Toronto Council representing York Eglinton from 1988 to 1994.

Michael Colle was chair of the Toronto Transit Commission from 1991 to 1994.

Michael Colle was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election, defeating incumbent Tony Rizzo in the riding of Oakwood.

In 1996, Michael Colle supported Dwight Duncan's unsuccessful bid to become Ontario Liberal Party leader.

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party won both elections, and Michael Colle sat in opposition during this period.

Michael Colle championed environmental causes during his time in the legislature including the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Michael Colle was a co-chair of Mel Lastman's 1997 bid to become Mayor of Toronto.

Michael Colle was named to cabinet on June 29,2005 as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Michael Colle was criticized for his role in giving out $32 million in government grants to immigrant and cultural groups without official applications or formal statements of purpose.

Michael Colle was to appear before the Standing Committee on Estimates before the Legislature was prorogued by the premier.

On July 26,2007, Michael Colle resigned as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

On February 24,2009, Michael Colle introduced the Zero Tolerance to Violence on Public Transit Act, 2009 in an attempt to address the growing incidence of gun violence on Toronto public transit.

On March 25,2009 Michael Colle appeared to buck his own party by introducing Bill 160: The Caregiver and Foreign Worker Recruitment Act, 2009.

In 2010, Michael Colle took on the issue of bedbugs eventually convincing Health Minister Deb Matthews to provide $5 million to fight the scourge with a bedbug strategy.

Michael Colle spent most of his fourth term advocating to get the Eglinton Crosstown LRT built.

Michael Colle had advocated for the construction of the LRT following the Mike Harris government cancellation of the construction of the Eglinton West Line in 1996.

Michael Colle was appointed as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Infrastructure.

Michael Colle served as parliamentary assistant to the minister of transportation.

In March 2016 Michael Colle tabled the Tomato Act, proclaiming the tomato as the official vegetable of Ontario and designating July 15 as Tomato Day.

Weeks after the provincial election, Michael Colle registered as a candidate for Toronto City Council's Ward 13 in the 2018 Toronto municipal election, after his son Josh Michael Colle, the incumbent Ward 15 city councillor, announced his retirement from politics.

In September 2020, Michael Colle has requested that protected bike lanes be installed along Yonge Street from south of St Clair Avenue to north of Lawrence Avenue in conjunction with on-street patios and other traffic-calming measures.

Michael Colle defended the plan claiming that the city's goal is to move beyond people using cars to travel around the city's core.

Michael Colle has been critical of delays to the Eglinton Crosstown, which passes through his ward and has been delayed five years in opening.

In 2024, Michael Colle seconded a motion by another city councillor, Josh Matlow, calling for a public inquiry into the construction delays, and requesting the provincial minister, Prabmeet Sarkaria, depute before the city council.

On October 7,2020, Michael Colle tabled a motion to rename Locksley Avenue, from Eglinton Avenue West to Hopewell Avenue, to Jimmy Wisdom Way.

Michael Colle had previously opposed the expansion of rideshares, proposing an amendment, which ultimately was included, to a broader environmental motion about rideshares.

Michael Colle has been described as one of "three Toronto councillors hopelessly exacerbating the housing crisis" by More Neighbours Toronto.

Michael Colle opposed a proposal for an addition of a 50-storey development, acknowledging that while the site was zoned for tower development, that he believed the project lacked of harmony with the existing development pattern, would exacerbate congestion and lacked proper access for garbage services.