Michael Robert Arthur Layton (born November 16) is a Canadian politician who served on Toronto City Council from 2010 to 2022. Layton represented Ward 19 Trinity—Spadina from 2010 to 2018 and its successor Ward 11 University—Rosedale from 2018 to 2022. He did not run for re-election 2022, becoming the chief sustainability officer at York University in March 2023.
Layton is a candidate for his former city council seat in the 2026 Toronto municipal election.
Early life and education
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.
Layton has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and environmental management from the University of Toronto, where he was a member of 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.Mike Layton: chip off the old block?, CBC.ca, February 26, 2010. He worked as a bartender and manager at a restaurant on King Street West for six years.About Mike, Mike Layton, city councillor Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina. Last accessed August 27, 2011.
Political career
In 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 shelterCouncillor leads charge to save home for at-risk women. Toronto Star, December 4, 2011. and a community pool in Stanley Park.Fairhaven, Stanley Park pools go dry. Toronto Star, December 1, 2011.
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.Mean old Argos fold for Mike Layton. Toronto Sun, July 26, 2011.
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.Councillors vote down downtown Toronto casino. CBC News, May 21, 2013.
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.Integrated TTC-GO fare urged for Liberty Village riders. The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2013.
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.Mike Layton wants bars serving drinks at 6 a.m. for Olympic hockey. "CBC News", February 13, 2014.
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.
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." In July 2022, Layton announced he would not stand for re-election as ward 11 city councillor, citing family reasons.
The Toronto Star reported in July 2026 that Layton was mulling standing for the New Democratic Party in the 2026 Beaches—East York federal by-election, prompted by the resignation of Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith. However, at the end of July, he decide against running and the NDP appointed their candidate from the 2025 election, Shannon Devine. In August, Layton announced that he would seek his former city council seat in the 2026 municipal election.
Personal life
Layton 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.
He is the great-great-great-nephew of William Steeves, a Father of Confederation.
In the 2013 CBC Television film Jack, he is portrayed by Conrad Sweatman as an adult and Mitchell Kummen as a child.
Election results 2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 11 University—RosedaleCandidateVotesVote shareMike Layton22,37069.56%Joyce Rowlands4,23113.16%Nicki Ward2,9339.12%Marc Cormier9953.09%Michael Borrelli6712.09%Michael Shaw5811.81%George Sawision3761.17%Total32,157Source: City of Toronto 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 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%
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