Michael Layton (born November 16, 1980) is a Canadian politician who served on Toronto City Council from 2010 until 2022. Layton most recently represented Ward 11 University—Rosedale. He was first elected in the 2010 municipal election in Ward 19 Trinity—Spadina. Layton did not run for re-election in 2022. In March 2023, Layton became Chief Sustainability Officer at York University.[2]
Mike Layton | |
|---|---|
 Layton in 2010 | |
| Toronto City Councillor for Ward 11 University—Rosedale (Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina; 2010–2018) | |
| In office December 1, 2010 – November 15, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Pantalone |
| Succeeded by | Dianne Saxe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Layton November 16, 1980 North York, Ontario, Canada[1] |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | New Democratic |
| Spouse |
Brett Tryon (m. 2012) |
| Children | Phoebe Layton Chloe Layton |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | mikelayton |
Early life and education
edit
Michael Layton was born on November 16, 1980, to Jack Layton and his first wife Sally Halford, and is the step-son of Layton's second wife, current Mayor of Toronto, and former NDP Member of Parliament for Trinity—Spadina and city councillor, Olivia Chow.[3][4]
Layton has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and environmental management from the University of Toronto, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and a Master of Environmental Studies from York University. After graduating, he worked for Environmental Defence, a national environmental charity eventually becoming deputy outreach director. He was also the coordinator for the Green Energy Act Alliance.[5] He worked as a bartender and manager at a restaurant on King Street West for six years.[6]
Political career
editIn 2010, he ran as a candidate in Ward 19 to replace Joe Pantalone who retired to run for mayor. Layton won the election with more than double the vote total of his closest rival, Karen Sun.
In 2011, Layton opposed spending cuts by Mayor Rob Ford. He worked to preserve a women's shelter[7] and a community pool in Stanley Park.[8]
In 2011, Layton took issue with an advertisement for the Toronto Argonauts. Layton claimed that it condoned domestic violence. The football team subsequently replaced the advertisement.[9]
Layton was a critic of plans to build a casino resort in downtown Toronto in 2012. His motion opposing the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commissions casino expansion plans passed 40–4 in the Toronto City Council.[10]
Working with residents in the Liberty Village neighbourhood in Toronto, Layton worked to try to get cheaper fares on the regional transit system GO Transit to improve public transit in downtown Toronto.[11]
For the gold medal hockey game in the 2014 Winter Olympics, Layton gained passage of a motion to allow bars to open earlier to serve alcohol during the game.[12]
In March 2019, Layton has put forward a motion, which was seconded by Mike Colle, to study the idea of suing oil companies over climate change.[13]
Layton was highly critical of the clearing of the homeless encampment at Lamport Stadium in 2021, referring to it as "extremely disappointing and disturbing" and stating "There is something fundamentally wrong with the use of violence or the threat of violence in order to further criminalize homelessness in our city."[14]
In July 2022, Layton announced he would not stand for re-election as ward 11 city councillor, citing family reasons.[15]
Personal life
editLayton married his wife Brett Tryon, a program coordinator for the charity Environmental Defence Canada, on Toronto Island in August 2012, near the location where Jack Layton and Olivia Chow were married in 1988.[16]
He is the great-great-great-nephew of William Steeves, a Father of Confederation.[17]
In the 2013 CBC Television film Jack, he is portrayed by Conrad Sweatman as an adult and Mitchell Kummen as a child.
Election results
edit| 2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 11 University—Rosedale | ||
| Candidate | Votes | Vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Layton | 22,370 | 69.56% |
| Joyce Rowlands | 4,231 | 13.16% |
| Nicki Ward | 2,933 | 9.12% |
| Marc Cormier | 995 | 3.09% |
| Michael Borrelli | 671 | 2.09% |
| Michael Shaw | 581 | 1.81% |
| George Sawision | 376 | 1.17% |
| Total | 32,157 | 100%
|
| Source: City of Toronto[18] | ||
| 2014 Toronto election, Ward 19 | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Layton | 21,014 | 83.66% |
| Scott Bowman | 2,490 | 9.91% |
| Albina Burello | 964 | 3.84% |
| George Sawision | 649 | 2.58% |
| Total | 25,117 | 100% |
| 2010 Toronto election, Ward 19[19] | ||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Layton | 9,125 | 45.387% |
| Karen Sun | 4,207 | 20.925% |
| Sean McCormick | 3,650 | 18.155% |
| Jim Likourezos | 1,313 | 6.531% |
| David Footman | 518 | 2.576% |
| Karlene Nation | 417 | 2.074% |
| Rosario Bruto | 398 | 1.98% |
| George Sawision | 356 | 1.771% |
| Jason Stevens | 121 | 0.602% |
| Total | 20,105 | 100% |
References
edit- ^ Layton, Jack (2004). Speaking Out: Ideas That Work for Canadians. Key Porter Books. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-55263-577-3.
- ^ Spurr, Ben, City Hall Bureau (March 14, 2023). "Former councillor Mike Layton to lead York University's climate change strategy". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Mike Layton joins parents in victory". National Post. October 25, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Jack Layton: A timeline of his accomplishments". CBC News. August 22, 2011.
- ^ Mike Layton: chip off the old block?, CBC.ca, February 26, 2010.
- ^ About Mike, Mike Layton, city councillor Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina. Last accessed August 27, 2011.
- ^ Councillor leads charge to save home for at-risk women. Toronto Star, December 4, 2011.
- ^ Fairhaven, Stanley Park pools go dry. Toronto Star, December 1, 2011.
- ^ Mean old Argos fold for Mike Layton. Toronto Sun, July 26, 2011.
- ^ Councillors vote down downtown Toronto casino. CBC News, May 21, 2013.
- ^ Integrated TTC-GO fare urged for Liberty Village riders. The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2013.
- ^ Mike Layton wants bars serving drinks at 6 a.m. for Olympic hockey. "CBC News", February 13, 2014.
- ^ "Toronto should sue oil companies over climate change, councillor says". Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ Draaisma, Muriel. "Toronto councillor, doctor say city must stop using police to clear homeless encampments". CBC.ca. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
- ^ "Toronto councillor Mike Layton will not seek re-election in October". thestar.com. July 27, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ Robertson, Dylan C. (August 26, 2012). "Councillor Mike Layton marries Brett Tryon on Toronto Island". Toronto Star. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
- ^ "William Henry Steeves". ancestry.com. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
- ^ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Councillor - Ward 19: 41 out of 41 polls reporting". City of Toronto. October 26, 2010. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.