Ward 8 — Eglinton-Lawrence

Biography: Mike Colle is the current city councillor for Ward 8, having held that position since 2018, and serves as deputy mayor for North York. Prior to being councillor, Mike Colle was the Liberal MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence from 1995 to 2018.

Colle was the chair of the FIFA World Cup 2026 subcommittee, and vice chair of both the infrastructure and environment committee and nominating panel-corporations.

In 2025, Pasternak and fellow councillor Mike Colle were under scrutiny for taking a trip to Israel as part of a “Canadian political leadership mission.” The trip took place in November, just over two months after a United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that Israel was committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. In December 2025, Pasternak and Colle disclosed to the city’s integrity commissioner that Israel had paid almost $10,000 in travel costs for them.

Colle is opposed to the redevelopment projects at Lawrence Plaza, which entailed demolishing the current buildings and replacing them with mixed-used towers between six and 40 storeys.

He also hosted a gathering to discuss how to address the break-ins at local businesses in Ward 8. In 2024, he pushed for a public inquiry on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT delays, which later opened in 2025.

In 2026, following the shooting at Salsa on St. Clair, Colle urged the federal and provincial government to initiate a crackdown on illegal firearms and make the bail system stricter for those who have gun-related offences.

Platform: Colle’s campaign website says that he will fight against “gun criminals who shoot up our streets, schools, synagogues, and small businesses.” He also says that he would support more policing, specifically demanding RCMP and OPP officers within the ward. Colle also adds that police presence will be used to fight antisemitic attacks.

The Ward 8 candidate also vows to complete the $140 million-worth Lawrence Heights community centre, and to bring back speed cameras in school zones.

Biography: Liz Grade is a real estate broker with Royal LePage Commercial. In 2025, Grade ran for federal office with the Conservative Party in University-Rosedale. She came second out of seven candidates, losing to incumbent Liberal Chrystia Freeland.

On social media, Grade has posted in support of Premier Doug Ford’s removal of the city’s downtown bike lanes, and about the issue of antisemitism in the city.

Platform: On her website, Grade points to safer streets, less traffic and lower costs as her main priorities. Grade says that she wants to hire 1,000 more police officers, and investing in frontline workers and community care. She also wants to expand addiction recovery and treatment centres in the city, while cutting city funding for drug kits. She is opposed to safe consumption sites.

In a post on her Instagram, Grade proposes a two-year tax freeze. She also wants to conduct a full audit on city spending, cut waste and red tape, imposing term limits. In another post, Grade says that she will keep bike lanes off major streets, and wants to fix gridlock along the Allen Road Expressway.

Biography: Domenico Maiolo is the chair of the Dufferin-Wingold Business Improvement Area (BIA) in North York. The association’s website describes Maiolo as a business owner. The BIA claims it successfully lobbied the city for a safer crosswalk at Glengrove Ave and Dufferin Street, and has repainted rusted fire hydrants. On his campaign website, Maiolo says he volunteered for non-profits, food drives and churches.

Platform: Maiolo’s website doesn’t list any concrete priorities, but mentions an “accountable and responsible government”.

Biography: On his website, Jason McDonald says that he’s been a local barber in Ward 8 for 27 years.

Platform: McDonald’s platform consists of four pillars. The first involves cutting city spending on consultants, and banning contractors that repeatedly delay projects. Pillar two involves “exposing” backroom deals by ending tax breaks granted to private golf clubs (as well as other private commercial tax breaks), pushing for a live tracker for construction timelines, and public disclosure of developer and lobbyist meetings. The third pillar is focussed on businesses along Eglinton impacted by the construction of Line 5. McDonald wants to establish an Eglinton Small Business Relief Fund from contractor fines, and reinvest funds into the ward’s streetscapes and parking. Finally, McDonald proposes Vision Zero speed reduction and safety measures around school zones, renter protections, and reinvesting in youth programs, parks and services for seniors. He is opposed to “blanket residential tax surges.”

Biography: Enzo Torrone is a business owner and longtime chair of the Fairbank Village BIA. According to Torrone’s LinkedIn, he is a self-employed mortgage broker.

Platform: On his website, Torrone says that his priorities are affordable homes, better transit and faster commutes, and safe streets.

He proposes expanded community policing initiatives, housing growth that is matched by expansion of resources like schools and city infrastructure, an audit on city finances, and relief for the small businesses affected by Eglinton Crosstown construction delays.

Biography: Daniel Trayes is a former staffer for city councillor Paul Ainslie and a member of the board of directors of the Inner City Family Health Team, a group of health care professionals working with people who are unhoused or have experienced homelessness. He says he was homeless for nearly 20 years from 1997 to 2016.

Trayes has previously run for city council four times. He came last out of 16 candidates in the 2024 by-election for a seat in Don Valley West, getting five votes.

Platform: Trayes said his priorities include more support for people with mental illnesses and addictions, and more affordable housing. In response to a survey, Trayes said Toronto should keep property-tax increases roughly to the rate of inflation, rely on land transfer taxes and development charges for new revenue, and allow more housing in every ward, including those currently made up of single-family homes, but with “proper planning” and “public consultation.”