Michael Joseph Coteau is a Canadian politician who serves as the Member of Parliament for Don Valley East in the House of Commons of Canada.
21 Facts About Michael Coteau
2.
Michael Coteau served in the Cabinet of Ontario under Premier Kathleen Wynne from 2013 to 2018 in several portfolios, including Citizenship and Immigration, Tourism, Culture and Sport and Community and Social Services.
3.
Michael Coteau resigned as from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on August 17,2021 to run for his constituency's federal seat, vacated by Yasmin Ratansi, in the 44th Canadian general election.
4.
Michael Coteau's father is from Carriacou, Grenada and his mother is from Yorkshire, England.
5.
Michael Coteau came to Canada with his parents in 1976 and grew up in social housing in Flemingdon Park in North York.
6.
Michael Coteau's family was low-income and he had to borrow the money needed to cover his university application fee from a friend's father.
7.
Michael Coteau attended Carleton University and graduated with a degree in history and political science.
8.
Michael Coteau was a Toronto District School Board Trustee for Ward 17, winning elections in 2003,2006, and 2010.
9.
Michael Coteau initiated the 'Community Use of Schools' motion that cut user fees and made schools more accessible to groups that offer programs for children.
10.
Michael Coteau helped introduce nutritional changes in schools that supported healthy food programs and increased awareness of student hunger.
11.
Michael Coteau won the election beating PC candidate Michael Lende by 7,645 votes.
12.
The Liberals won a minority government and Michael Coteau was appointed as parliamentary assistant to the minister of tourism and culture.
13.
In 2013, after Kathleen Wynne replaced Dalton McGuinty as premier, Michael Coteau was named Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
14.
Michael Coteau was one of ten members of the Wynne's cabinet with no prior cabinet experience.
15.
In June 2014, Michael Coteau was made Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport by Premier Kathleen Wynne, as well as Minister Responsible for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.
16.
Michael Coteau made headlines advocating for children to be able to play street hockey.
17.
On February 16,2016, it was announced that Michael Coteau would add responsibility for anti-racism, responsible for establishing various anti-racism programs.
18.
Michael Coteau was appointed Minister of Community and Social Services, holding down three separate portfolios for the government.
19.
In 2018, Michael Coteau defeated Conservative candidate Denzil Minnan Wong, Toronto's deputy mayor, to win his third election in the North Toronto constituency.
20.
In June 2019, Michael Coteau entered the race for leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.
21.
Michael Coteau said he had "a different vision" and would "restore decency to our politics".