Mike Colle was first elected as an MPP in 1995. In October 2007, he was re-elected to serve his fourth term to represent the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence.

Current Role:

Mike currently serves as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services (Emergency Management Ontario). He will be spearheading the Ontario Government’s efforts to rebuild three schools in Haiti. He is also a Member of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

Mike has long been interested in community safety, as can be attested by his most recent work on crime and safety legislation, such as:

• Bill 56, Unlawful Firearms in Vehicles Act, 2008
• Bill 151, Zero Tolerance to Violence on Public Transit Act, 2009
• Bill 238, Liquor Licence Amendment Act (Unlawful Weapons in Bars), 2009

Recent Legislation Passed:

• In April of 2010, Mike put forth the Tom Longboat Day Resolution, which passed unanimously in the Ontario Lgeislature. This Resolution proclaims June 4th as Tom Longboat Day in Ontario,honouring a local hero.
• In 2009, Mike championed for the rights of vulnerable caregivers and Foreign Workers, calling for the regulation of Foreign Worker Recruitment Agencies in Ontario. Within a few short months, legislation was passed in Ontario to protect caregivers and foreign workers.
• Mike also joined forces with his colleague to put forth legislation declaring April of each year Hispanic Heritage Month in Ontario.

Other Roles and Highlights:

• From 2007 to early 2010, Mike served as Chief Government Whip in the Provincial Legislature.
• Mike served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from June 2005 to July 2007. As Minister, he signed the historic Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement that resulted in $1 Billion in support for Ontario’s newcomers.
• Prior to that, Mike served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance where he brought forth Automobile Insurance Reform and the new Mortgage Brokers Act.
• He was appointed chair of the Justice Policy Legislative Committee that brought forth Bill 138, the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, and was a member of the MPP Advisory Committee to regulate and recognize Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• When first elected in 1995 as an M.P.P., Mike served as critic for transportation, consumer and business services, municipal affairs and for the Greater Toronto Area.
• While in Opposition, he successfully initiated legislation to preserve the Oak Ridges Moraine, end Mandatory Retirement and to install Red-Light Cameras.
• Locally, he spearheaded a campaign to save and restore the Eglinton Theatre, and to reform the Ontario Municipal Board. He also led efforts to erect a bronze statue of Al Waxman in the Kensington Market.He also fought to establish the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park- north of Peterborough, and brought forth legislation to close down puppy mills and enhance animal protection.
• Most recently, he participated in the Aquatic Working Group which worked towards a plan that would keep local Toronto pools open. He also spearheaded the campaign for the Eglinton LRT.
• Prior to being elected as an M.P.P., Mike served as a City of York Councillor, Metropolitan Toronto Councillor, TTC Commissioner and Chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission.
• Before entering public service, Mike taught history and economics at St. Michael’s College, where he also coached football.

Personal Life:

• Mike is a proud member of the Fairbank Royal Canadian Legion Branch 75 and the Forest Hill Lion’s Club.
• He volunteers with Ride for Sight and the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Mike and his wife, Sharon, have four children and five grandchildren. They live in the Eglinton-Lawrence riding, where Mike continues his lifelong passion for running.

Mike has four marathons and one half-marathon to his credit. Mike ran his most recent marathon in September of 2008, and has a P.B.T. of 3:29.

M.P.P. Colle has had a number of Private Member’s Bills adopted into law, including:

• Caregiver and Foreign Worker Recruitment and Protection Act
• Oak Ridges Moraine Protection Act
• Establishment of the Greenbelt across Southern Ontario
• End of Mandatory Retirement for people over 65 years
• Installing Red-light Cameras at high accident intersections across the province
• Portable Heart Defibrillators (or AED) in public places across the province.