Editing Michael Colle (section)

===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]].