Ward 16 aspirant aims to curb spending

Although Ward 16 council candidate Michael Coll might sound like someone who already represents you, he’s quick to point out there’s no connection between himself and MPP Michael Colle.

“The only thing we really have in common is the fact we both want to represent Eglinton-Lawrence and the fact that we can both run a sub-three-hour and 40 minute marathon,” says Coll, a thirty-something contract firefighter.

“We come from different generations, we’re different people and we have different priorities.”

Some of Coll’s priorities for the ward include zoning, parking issues and crime reduction.

“This area has intensified enough and it’s really important we have the right kind of developments in the right parts of the ward.”
He’d also push to reduce a city budget he sees as bloated.

“It’s really important to keep spending under control and it starts with councillors’ own office budget.

“I think the process is broken and I think that’s been made clear with different councillors’ expenses.”

The Leslieville resident says municipal issues aren’t too different from one ward to the next so he’s not worried about the fact that he doesn’t live in Ward 16 at the moment.

“I don’t think it’s going to count against me. I think once people get to know me, they’ll understand who I am and what I’m about and that I seek to represent their best interests.”

Coll said he’s currently looking to move into Ward 16.  

Some of the issues in Coll’s sights include relaxing street parking fees, getting rid of panhandling and graffiti, and introducing a plan to get a rebate on car licensing fees for those who join fitness facilities. Although Coll says he’s aware that car licensing falls under provincial jurisdiction, he’d push the provincial government to introduce such an incentive to encourage healthy living.

It’s an idea he’s familiar with, having himself run from Sudbury to Toronto in 2007 to raise money for The Hospital for Sick Children.

It’s an event he lists as his greatest personal achievement.