Mike Colle was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration by Premier Dalton McGuinty in June, 2005. He was re-elected to his third term as member of provincial parliament for the midtown Toronto riding of Eglinton-Lawrence in October 2003.

After being elected in 1995, Mr. Colle served as Liberal critic for transportation, consumer and business services, municipal affairs and for the Greater Toronto Area.

While in opposition, Mr. Colle successfully initiated legislation to preserve the Oak Ridges Moraine and install red-light cameras. He also introduced a private members bill, and sat on a special government task force to regulate traditional Chinese medicine.

In 2003, Premier McGuinty appointed Mr. Colle as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Finance. As PA, he dealt with automobile insurance, revamping the Mortgage Brokers Act and the property tax file.

Mr. Colle was appointed Chair of the Justice Policy Legislature Committee which introduced Bill 138, the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.

Mr. Colle came to Toronto in 1950 from the Region of Puglia, Italy. A life-long resident of Toronto, he taught high school at St. Michael’s College School before entering politics.

An active member and volunteer for two service clubs, the Fairbank Branch Legion 75 and the Forest Hill Lion's Club, Mr. Colle values volunteer work and community participation.

Before being elected, he was also a councillor in the City of York and Metropolitan Toronto, and served as chair and commissioner of the Toronto Transit Commission.

Mr. Colle graduated from Carlton University with an Honours B.A. He has a Bachelor of Education from Queens University.

Mr. Colle, his wife, Sharon, and their four children live in north Toronto. In his spare time, he is a runner with three marathons to his credit and a personal best time of 3:29.