View source for Michael Colle

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{For|the Canadian ice hockey player|Michael Dal Colle}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|honorific-suffix =[[Executive Council of Ontario|ECO]]
| name                = Mike Colle
| image               = Mike Colle, Air India Flight 182 Memorial ground breaking (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Colle in 2006
| office              = [[Deputy Mayor of Toronto]]<br />for [[North York]]
| term_start          = August 10, 2023
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Denzil Minnan-Wong]] (2022)
| 1blankname          = [[Mayor of Toronto|Mayor]]
| 1namedata           = [[Olivia Chow]]
| office1             = [[Toronto City Councillor]]<br />for [[Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence]]
| term_start1         = December 1, 2018
| term_end1           = 
| predecessor1        = ''Ward established''
| parliament2         = Ontario Provincial
| term_start2         = June 8, 1995
| term_end2           = June 7, 2018
| predecessor2        = [[Tony Rizzo]]
| successor2          = [[Robin Martin]]
| riding2             = [[Eglinton—Lawrence (provincial electoral district)|Eglinton—Lawrence]]<br />{{nobold|([[Oakwood (provincial electoral district)|Oakwood]]; 1995–1999)}}
| party               = [[Independent politician|Independent]] (1982–1994; 2018–present)
| otherparty          = [[Ontario Liberal Party|Ontario Liberal]] (1995–2018)
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1945|02|01}}
| birth_place         = [[Foggia]], [[Apulia]], [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| nationality         = Canadian
| alma_mater          = [[Carleton University]]
| residence           = 
| occupation          = Teacher
| spouse              = Sharon
| children            = [[Josh Colle]]
}}

'''Michael Colle''' ({{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|l|audio=Mikecollename.ogg}} "Cole"; born February 1, 1945) is a Canadian politician who has served as [[Deputy Mayor of Toronto|deputy mayor of Toronto]] since 2023, representing [[North York]]. He was elected to represent [[Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence]] on [[Toronto City Council]] in the [[2018 Toronto municipal election|2018 election]]. Colle served in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] from 1995 to 2018 and was a Cabinet minister during Premier [[Dalton McGuinty]]'s tenure. He was formerly a [[York, Toronto|York]] city councillor and [[Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Toronto]] councillor, where he sat as the chair of the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] (TTC) from 1991 to 1994.

==Background==
Colle moved to Canada at a young age, and was educated at [[Carleton University]]. He 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.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

His son [[Josh Colle|Josh]] was a member of [[Toronto City Council]] between 2010 and 2018.

His cousin is former politician [[Lorenzo Berardinetti]]. Colle and Berardinetti's families lived in the same home in downtown Toronto when they were children and the two cousins served together as Liberal MPPs in [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]].<ref name="story">{{cite news |title='I may end up in tears telling my story': How a former MPP and Toronto city councillor found himself living in a homeless shelter |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/i-may-end-up-in-tears-telling-my-story-how-a-former-mpp-and-toronto/article_eba3406c-b5c7-11ef-a0db-f3304969008b.html |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Toronto Star |date=December 26, 2024}}</ref>

==Politics==

===Early political career===
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. He was also chair of the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] from 1991 to 1994.

===Provincial politics===
{{Prose|date=November 2021|section}}
Colle was elected to the Ontario legislature in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 provincial election]], defeating incumbent [[Tony Rizzo]] in the riding of [[Oakwood (provincial electoral district)|Oakwood]].<ref name="1995 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=oakwood&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 8, 1995 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231002257/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1995_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=36&rec=0&district=oakwood&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=December 31, 2013}}</ref> In 1996, Colle supported [[Dwight Duncan]]'s unsuccessful bid to become [[Ontario Liberal Party]] leader. In the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 provincial election]], Colle defeated incumbent [[John Parker (Ontario politician)|John Parker]] in the redistributed riding of [[Eglinton—Lawrence (provincial electoral district)|Eglinton—Lawrence]].<ref name="1999 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=eglinton-lawrence&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 3, 1999 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903213121/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/1999_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=37&rec=0&district=eglinton-lawrence&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=September 3, 2014}}</ref>  The [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Party]] won both elections, and Colle sat in opposition during this period.

====Backbench====
Colle championed environmental causes during his time in the legislature including the protection of the [[Oak Ridges Moraine]]. He was a co-chair of [[Mel Lastman]]'s 1997 bid to become [[Mayor of Toronto]].

====2003 election====
The Liberals won the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 election]]. Colle was re-elected in Eglinton—Lawrence.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=eglinton-lawrence&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903213124/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=eglinton-lawrence&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=September 3, 2014}}</ref>

==== Cabinet ====
Colle was named to cabinet on June 29, 2005, as [[Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Ontario)|Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]].<ref name="2005McGuintyCab0630">{{cite news |title=Cabinet shuffle focuses on health care, education; McGuinty to head new Research and Innovation ministry |newspaper=The Kitchener Record |date=June 30, 2005 |page=A5}}</ref> From October 2007 to February 2010 he was [[Chief Government Whip (Ontario)|Chief Government Whip]].

He 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. In one case that the auditor general highlighted, the Ontario Cricket Association received $1 million when it asked for $150,000.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/06/06/summer_break_starting_early_at_queens_park.html | title=Summer break starting early at Queen's Park | publisher=[[Toronto Star]] | date=6 June 2007 | access-date=2007-07-26 | first=Rob | last=Ferguson}}</ref> Premier McGuinty agreed to commission a special report on the matter, to be released in July 2007.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=https://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070511.ONTMULTI11%2FTPStory%2F%3Fquery%3Dcolle&ord=4696929&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true | title=McGuinty asks auditor to probe multicultural grants | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | first=Karen | last=Howlett | access-date=2007-07-26 | location=Toronto | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211014848/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070511.ONTMULTI11%2FTPStory%2F%3Fquery%3Dcolle&ord=4696929&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true | archive-date=2009-02-11}}</ref> Colle was to appear before the Standing Committee on Estimates before the Legislature was prorogued by the premier. Some believe this was arranged to prevent his testimony from going public.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario-legislature-prorogued/article1086340/ | title=Ontario legislature prorogued | first=Karen | last=Howlett | newspaper=The Globe and Mail | access-date=2018-06-02 | date=5 June 2007 | location=Toronto}}</ref> On July 26, 2007, Colle resigned as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. [[Gerry Phillips]] was sworn in as the new Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in addition to his responsibilities as [[Minister of Government Services (Ontario)|Minister of Government Services]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/07/26/minister_quits_over_grants.html | title=Minister quits over grants | access-date=2007-07-26 | date=26 July 2007 | publisher=[[Toronto Star]] |author1=Cohen, Tobi |author2=Puxley, Chinta}}</ref>

==== 2007 election ====
In the [[2007 Ontario general election|2007 provincial election]], Colle was re-elected to serve his fourth term to represent Eglinton—Lawrence.<ref name="2007 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=4 (xiii)}}</ref>

On February 24, 2009, 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.<ref>{{cite news |first=Karolyn |last=Coorsh |title=New bill proposes $50,000 and more jail time |newspaper=Town Crier (Leaside-Rosedale) |date=March 19, 2009 |url=http://www.towncrieronline.ca/main/main.php?direction=viewstory&storyid=7850&rootcatid=8&rootsubcatid= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706205916/http://www.towncrieronline.ca/main/main.php?direction=viewstory&storyid=7850&rootcatid=8&rootsubcatid= |archive-date=July 6, 2011}}</ref>

On March 25, 2009, Colle appeared to buck his own party by introducing Bill 160: ''The Caregiver and Foreign Worker Recruitment Act, 2009.'' This was in response to a ''[[Toronto Star]]'' report on the abuse of foreign nannies.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Dale |last1=Brazao |first2=Robert |last2=Cribb |title=Nannies trapped in bogus jobs |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=March 14, 2009 |url=http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/602352 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316232053/http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/article/602352 |archivedate=March 16, 2009}}</ref>  After some initial reluctance by the government, Colle was able to convince the [[Ministry of Labour (Ontario)|labour minister]] and the government to intervene.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Dale |last1=Brazao |first2=Robert |last2=Cribb |title=Star nannies series inspired MPP to demand action |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=April 3, 2009 |url=https://www.thestar.com/article/612977 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418142848/https://www.thestar.com/article/612977 |archivedate=April 18, 2009}}</ref> The government committed to introducing legislation to license "nanny brokers", ban placement fees, and post licensed placement agencies on an online registry.

The McGuinty government introduced Bill 210, Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009 (EPFNA) on October 21, 2009, and passed the "Nanny Protection Act" on December 15, 2009.

In 2010, 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/bedbugs/article/918775 | work=The Toronto Star | first=Rob | last=Ferguson | title=Ontario declares $5 million war on bedbugs | date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=August 13, 2024 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903175405/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/01/10/ontario_declares_5_million_war_on_bedbugs.html |archivedate=September 3, 2014}}</ref>

Colle also spent most of his fourth term advocating to get the [[Eglinton Crosstown LRT]] built. The provincial government has committed $8 billion for the new Eglinton line that runs along the southern border of his riding. Colle had advocated for the construction of the LRT following the [[Mike Harris]] government cancellation of the construction of the [[Eglinton West line|Eglinton West Line]] in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/despite-being-almost-a-decade-away-eglinton-celebrates-transit-line |newspaper=National Post |title=Despite Being Almost A Decade Away, Eglinton Celebrates Transit Line |date=June 21, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>

====2011 election====
In October 2011 he was re-elected to serve his fifth term to represent Eglinton—Lawrence.<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=4}}</ref> He was appointed as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Infrastructure. During this term Colle organized a petition requesting the addition of [[Oakwood station (Toronto)|Oakwood station]] on the [[Eglinton Crosstown LRT line]].<ref name=InsideToronto2012-08-29>
{{cite news 
| url         = http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1309460-oakwood-avenue-light-rail-station-closer-to-reality/
| title       = Oakwood Avenue light rail station closer to reality 
| publisher   = [[Inside Toronto]]
| author      = Rahul Gupta
| date        = 2012-08-29
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150123080605/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1309460-oakwood-avenue-light-rail-station-closer-to-reality/
| archive-date = 2015-01-23
| url-status     = live 
| quote       =  That's the contention of local city councillor Josh Colle, who believes provincial transit planning agency Metrolinx will eventually add an Oakwood stop to the station map for the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown LRT line scheduled for completion in 2020. 
}}
</ref><ref name=InsideToronto2012-10-26>
{{cite news 
| url         = http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1313358-modified-lrt-master-agreement-puts-oakwood-station-on-the-map-colle/
| title       = Modified LRT master agreement puts Oakwood station on the map: Colle 
| publisher   = [[Inside Toronto]]
| author      = Rahul Gupta
| date        = 2012-10-26
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20121029044641/http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/1313358-modified-lrt-master-agreement-puts-oakwood-station-on-the-map-colle/
| archive-date=2012-10-29
| url-status     = live 
| quote       = Provincial Minister of Transportation Bob Chiarelli also indicated Friday in a tweet directed at Toronto Community News' TOinTransit and Colle that an Oakwood stop on the Crosstown LRT is confirmed. 
}}
</ref>

====2014 election and 2018 defeat====
In June 2014 he was re-elected to serve his sixth term to represent Eglinton—Lawrence.<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=General Election by District: Eglinton-Lawrence |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923153836/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=020 |archive-date=September 23, 2014}}</ref> He served as parliamentary assistant to the [[Ministry of Transportation of Ontario|minister of transportation]]. He was also appointed as deputy government whip.

In March 2016 Colle tabled the Tomato Act, proclaiming the [[tomato]] as the official vegetable of Ontario and designating July 15 as Tomato Day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-next-ontario/queens-park-this-week-will-new-carding-rules-make-a-difference|title=Queen's Park This Week: Will new carding rules make a difference?|date=2016-03-24|work=TVO|access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=3833|title=Tomato Act, 2016|website=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=2018-10-31}}</ref> The bill died on the order paper.

He was defeated in the [[2018 Ontario general election|2018 provincial election]].

===Return to municipal politics===

==== 2018 election ====
Weeks after the provincial election, Colle registered as a candidate for [[Toronto City Council]]'s Ward 13 (which was essentially Ward 15 from the 2014 election, with some boundary adjustments) in the [[2018 Toronto municipal election]], after his son [[Josh Colle]], the incumbent Ward 15 city councillor, announced his retirement from politics.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/07/25/ttc-chair-josh-colle-retiring-from-politics-after-8-years-on-city-council.html "TTC chair Josh Colle leaving politics — and his father is seeking his council seat"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', July 25, 2018.</ref>

In the last-minute redistricting imposed by the provincial government, Wards 13 and 14 (essentially corresponding to 2014 Wards 15 and 16) became the new Ward 8, so that Colle was now running against [[Christin Carmichael Greb]], incumbent councillor from the former Ward 16. Colle won with 14,094 votes (41% of votes in the ward) to 7,395 for Carmichael Greb.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-a-look-at-the-2018-toronto-election-results-ward-by-ward/|periodical=Globe and Mail|title=A look at the 2018 Toronto election results, ward by ward|date=2018-10-22|author=Molly Hayes, Joe Friesen, Victoria Gibson}}</ref>

==== Work on council ====
In April 2019, Colle announced that he is going to introduce a motion that would ask the [[Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario]] (AGCO) to suspend the liquor licence of bars where gun violence happens frequently.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.toronto.com/news-story/9281417-bars-where-gun-violence-occurs-shouldn-t-sell-booze-coun-mike-colle/|title=Bars where gun violence occurs shouldn't sell booze: Coun. Mike Colle|last=Nickle|first=David|date=2019-04-12|website=Toronto.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2019/04/12/liquor-licences-revoked-gun-bars/|title=Councillor asks for liquor licences to be revoked from 'gun bars'|website=toronto.citynews.ca|date=April 12, 2019 |access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

In September 2020, 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.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-01|title=City council looks to create a protected bike lane on Yonge Street in midtown|url=https://trnto.com/protected-bike-lane-on-yonge-midtown/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=TRNTO.com}}</ref> The motion was approved by the city council on October 29 in a 19 to 3 vote, Councillor [[Stephen Holyday]], one of the councillors voting against the motion, argued that approving this will create a bottleneck on an already congested thoroughfare that also serves as a vital backup artery for TTC subway replacement. Colle defended the plan claiming that the city's goal is to move beyond people using cars to travel around the city's core.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Toronto City Council approves midtown bike lane plan|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/toronto-city-council-approves-midtown-bike-lane-plan|access-date=2020-10-30|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Toronto council OKs plan that could see bike lanes on Yonge Street by summer 2021 {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/yonge-street-bike-lanes-council-1.5780712|access-date=2020-10-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Yonge Street in Toronto could have bike lanes by next summer|url=https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/10/yonge-street-toronto-bike-lanes-next-summer/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=www.blogto.com}}</ref> When the province of Ontario enacted measures that required the city to remove bike lanes from various city corridors, Colle proposed that the city put signs up highlighting where the changes increased commuters average commute times.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=Bill 212: City council opposes controversial bike lane removal plan |url=https://www.thetrillium.ca/municipalities-newsletter/bill-212-city-council-opposes-controversial-bike-lane-removal-plan-9842999 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=The Trillium}}</ref>

Colle has been critical of delays to the [[Line 5 Eglinton|Eglinton Crosstown]], which passes through his ward and has been delayed five years in opening. In 2024, 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeffords |first=Shawn |date=October 9, 2024 |title=2 Toronto councillors call for public inquiry into Eglinton Crosstown delays |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/2-toronto-councillors-call-for-public-inquiry-into-eglinton-crosstown-delays-1.7345972 |work=CBC News}}</ref>

On October 7, 2020, Colle tabled a motion to rename Locksley Avenue, from [[Eglinton Avenue West]] to Hopewell Avenue, to Jimmy Wisdom Way. Jimmy Wisdom was a local community icon and renowned musical performer as a young man in [[Montego Bay, Jamaica]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Draaisma|first=Muriel|date=2020-11-02|title=Toronto artist paints mural to honour barber and musician Jimmy Wisdom {{!}} CBC News|work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mural-street-renaming-toronto-barber-jimmy-wisdom-1.5787293|access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>

Mayor [[Olivia Chow]] appointed Colle as one of four deputy mayors in 2023.<ref>https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/olivia-chow-committee-appointments-1.6932465 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref> As deputy mayor, Colle was one of the supporters for the renaming of Dundas Square to Sankofa square.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plans Finalized To Rename Yonge-Dundas Square Amid Heated Backlash |url=https://storeys.com/yonge-dundas-square-rename-sankofa/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=storeys.com}}</ref>

Throughout 2024, Colle maintained a focus on crime issues, bringing motions on car theft, hosting a summit on small business break-ins after increases in both crimes, and criticizing antisemitic graffiti.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jabakhanji |first=Sara |date=March 1, 2024 |title=Toronto councillor sounds alarm on rise in small business break-ins across the city |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/small-businesses-break-and-enter-prevention-summit-1.7130871}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Westoll |first=Nick |date=2021-12-15 |title=Toronto councillor calls for crackdown amid upward trend in vehicle theft |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2021/12/15/cars-vehicle-theft-toronto/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=CityNews Toronto}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2024-01-08 |title=Toronto city councillors James Pasternak and Mike Colle visited the vandalized 'IDF' food store while urging other levels of government to help deal with ongoing protests |url=https://thecjn.ca/news/colle-pasternak-idf/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=The Canadian Jewish News}}</ref> The motion on auto-theft proposed that the city conduct intergovernmental cooperation to revoke licenses from those convicted of auto theft, and ban the export of used cars through major Canadian ports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=City of Toronto |date=April 3, 2024 |title=Motion MM16.48 - Urgent Action on the Auto Theft Crisis |url=https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-244820.pdf |website=City of Toronto}}</ref>

In response to tariffs threatened and then levied by the United States of America both before and during 2025, Colle has proposed worsening business conditions in the city for the company Tesla and put forward a motion promoting buying local in city procurement, disagreeing that there would be major cost implications for procurement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Councillor Mike Colle talks the "Buy Local" Initiative on The Morning Zoom |url=https://www.zoomerradio.ca/blogs/station-blog/2025/02/06/city-councillor-mike-colle-talks-the-buy-local-initiative-on-the-morning-zoom/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.zoomerradio.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Smee |first=Michael |date=Feb 16, 2025 |title=A Toronto councillor wants to drive Tesla out of town. But the city says it hasn't broken any bylaws |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-tesla-colle-yorkdale-1.7459880}}</ref> Colle had also previously opposed the expansion of rideshares, proposing an amendment, which ultimately was included, to a broader environmental motion about rideshares. The amendment proposed to cap the total number of rideshare drivers in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yakub |first=Mehanaz |date=2023-10-20 |title=Toronto votes "yes" to decarbonize vehicles-for-hire |url=https://electricautonomy.ca/policy-regulations/2023-10-20/toronto-decarbonize-vehicles-for-hire/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Electric Autonomy Canada}}</ref>

==== Housing ====
Colle advocates for the reintroduction of a speculation tax as part of a solution to address the rising price of housing in Toronto. Colle asked the province in December 2021 to introduce a tax on the sale of homes that are not principal residences in an effort to discourage speculators and "home flippers."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Merali|first=Farrah|date=December 6, 2021|title=Toronto councillor pushes for speculation tax to cool 'insanity' of escalating real estate prices|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-city-councillor-calls-for-speculation-tax-1.6271555|website=[[CBC News]]}}</ref> Ontario previously had such a tax under the government of [[Bill Davis]] in the 1970s.<ref name=":0" />

Colle has been described as one of "three Toronto councillors hopelessly exacerbating the housing crisis" by [[More Neighbours Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Three Toronto councillors hopelessly exacerbating the housing crisis |url=https://www.moreneighbours.ca/news/blog-post/three-toronto-councillors-hopelessly-exacerbating-the-housing-crisis |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=www.moreneighbours.ca}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ron |date=2023-10-02 |title='Development war' as 50 storeys proposed on micro lot at Yonge and Eglinton |url=https://postcity.com/development-war-as-50-storeys-proposed-on-micro-lot-at-yonge-and-eglinton/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Post City News}}</ref>

==Electoral record==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
| colspan="3" |'''[[2022 Toronto municipal election]], Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence'''
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Votes
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Vote share
|-
| scope="row" |'''Mike Colle'''
| align="right" |'''17,109'''
| align="right" |'''70.31%'''
|-
| scope="row" |Evan Sambasivam
| align="right" |3,447
| align="right" |14.17%
|-
| scope="row" |Wendy Weston
| align="right" |1,990
| align="right" |8.18%
|-
| scope="row" |Philip Davidovits
| align="right" |1,275
| align="right" |5.24%
|-
| scope="row" |Domenico Maiolo
| align="right" |513
| align="right" |2.19%
|-
! scope="row" |'''Total'''
! align="right" |24,334
! align="right" |{{Right|100%}}
|-
| colspan="3" |Source: [[Municipal government of Toronto|City of Toronto]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Declaration of Results|url=https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9085-FinalDeclaration-of-Results-for-the-2022-Toronto-Municipal-Election.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250227154608/https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/9085-FinalDeclaration-of-Results-for-the-2022-Toronto-Municipal-Election.pdf|archive-date=February 27, 2025|access-date=April 10, 2025|publisher=Toronto City Clerk's Office}}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
| colspan="3" |'''[[2018 Toronto municipal election]], Ward 8 Eglinton—Lawrence'''
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Candidate
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Votes
! scope="col" style="background:#ddf;" |Vote share
|-
| scope="row" |'''Mike Colle'''
| align="right" |'''14,094'''
| align="right" |'''41.34%'''
|-
| scope="row" |[[Christin Carmichael Greb]]
| align="right" |7,395
| align="right" |21.69%
|-
| scope="row" |Dyanoosh Youssefi
| align="right" |5,253
| align="right" |15.41%
|-
| scope="row" |Beth Levy
| align="right" |3,122
| align="right" |9.16%
|-
| scope="row" |Jennifer Arp
| align="right" |2,404
| align="right" |7.05%
|-
| scope="row" |Lauralyn Johnston
| align="right" |992
| align="right" |2.91%
|-
| scope="row" |Josh Pede
| align="right" |420
| align="right" |1.23%
|-
| scope="row" |Darren Dunlop
| align="right" |210
| align="right" |0.62%
|-
|Randall Pancer
| align="right" |134
| align="right" |0.39%
|-
|Peter Tijiri
| align="right" |72
| align="right" |0.21%
|-
! scope="row" |'''Total'''
! align="right" |34,096
! align="right" |{{Right|100%}}
|-
| colspan="3" |Source: [[Municipal government of Toronto|City of Toronto]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Declaration of Results|url=https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/97da-2018clerksofficialdeclarationofresults.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025222651/https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/97da-2018clerksofficialdeclarationofresults.pdf|archive-date=October 25, 2018|access-date=November 25, 2021|publisher=Toronto City Clerk's Office}}</ref>
|}
{{Ontario provincial election, 2018/Eglinton—Lawrence}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2014 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|22,825|54.8| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|[[Robin Martin]]|14,069|33.7| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Thomas Gallezot|3,044|7.3| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Lucas McCann |1,314 |3.2 | }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Michael Bone|265|0.6| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Jerry Green|144|0.3| }}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2011 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|20,752|54.1| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|[[Rocco Rossi]]|12,857|33.5| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Gerti Dervershi|3,763|9.8| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Josh Rachlis |575 |1.5 | }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Michael Bone|152|0.4| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Jerry Green|146|0.4| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Sujith Kumar Reddy|79|0.2| }}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2007 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|17,324|43.1| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Bernie Tanz|15,098|37.5| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Karin Wiens|4,135|10.3| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Andrew James |2,899 |7.2 | }}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Tom Gelmon|296|0.7| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Family Coalition|Rina Morra|253|0.6| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Freedom|Franz Cauchi|128|0.3| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Joseph Young|107|0.3| }}
{{end}}

{{Election box begin | title=[[2003 Ontario general election]]}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|23,743|56.89|+0.11}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Corinne Korzen|12,402|29.72|-5.53}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Robin Alter|43,51|10.43|+6.12}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Mark Viitala |1,236 |2.96 |+1.86}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1999|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|24,151|56.78}}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|[[John Parker (Canadian politician)|John Parker]]|14,994|35.25}}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|Jay Waterman|1,835|4.31}}
{{CANelec|ON|FCP|Frank D'Angelo|821|1.93}}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Shelly Lipsey |470 |1.1}}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Neil C. Dickie|263|0.62}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|ON|1995|percent=yes}}
{{CANelec|ON|Liberal|Mike Colle|8,599| }}
{{CANelec|ON|NDP|(x)[[Tony Rizzo]]|7,624| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Progressive Conservatives|Courtney Doldron|3,298| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Independent|Joseph Flexer|821| }}
{{CANelec |ON |Green |Constantine Kritsonis |269 | }}
{{CANelec|ON|Natural Law|Doug Storey |135| }}
{{CANelec|ON|Libertarian|Nunzio Venuto |100| }}
{{end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=mike-colle|name=Mike Colle|old_id=22}}

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Dalton_McGuinty}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Marie Bountrogianni]]
| post1         = [[Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Ontario)|Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]]
| post1years    = 2005–2007
| post1note     =
| post1followed = [[Gerry Phillips]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = Chair of the [[Toronto Transit Commission]]
| before = [[Lois Griffin (Toronto politician)|Lois Griffin]]
| after = [[Paul Christie (politician)|Paul Christie]]
| years = 1991–1994
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Toronto City Councillors}}
{{McGuinty Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colle, Mike}}
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