- Deb Matthews
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Hon. Deb Matthews MPP for London North Centre Incumbent Assumed office
2003Preceded by Dianne Cunningham Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Incumbent Assumed office
October 7, 2009Preceded by David Caplan Personal details Born 1953
London, OntarioPolitical party Liberal Residence London Deborah Drake Matthews, Ph.D. (born 1953 in London, Ontario) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of London North Centre for the Ontario Liberal Party, and is currently the province's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty.
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Family life
Deb Matthews is the third of six children born to Joyce Eleanor Matthews and the children of Donald Jeune Matthews. She is the sister of Shelley Peterson, wife of former Ontario Premier David Peterson, and the granddaughter of John Henry (Jack) Matthews, who was the former Mayor of Brampton, Ontario and who previously ran as a CCF candidate. Matthews has three children and four grandchildren.
Background
Matthews was born in London North Centre and graduated from St. George’s Public School and A.B. Lucas Secondary School. She studied at the University of Western Ontario.
Work history
Before entering politics, Matthews held a number of positions in various fields. She has experience in the business community, the construction industry, fundraising in the non-profit sector and teaching at the University of Western Ontario. Matthews was honoured twice on the University Students' Council Teaching Honour Roll at the University of Western Ontario.
Community involvement
Matthews is actively involved in numerous community activities in London. This includes Orchestra London and the Thames Valley Children's Centre. Matthews also served on the advisory boards for the Salvation Army and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and as board member and president of the Big Sisters of London. In 1995-96, Matthews served as the fundraising co-coordinator for the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of London.
Education
In 2006, Matthews earned her PhD in social demography at the University of Western Ontario. Her dissertation was entitled "Can Immigration Compensate for Below-Replacement Fertility?: The Consequences of the Unbalanced Settlement of Immigrants in Canadian Cities, 2001-2051."[1]
Politics
Matthews has been involved in the Liberal Party since 1975, when she helped run Peterson's campaign in the old riding of London Centre. She co-chaired the Liberal Party's provincial campaigns in the elections of 1987 and 1995. Matthews was elected as President of the Ontario Liberal Party in 2003 and held the post until resigning in late 2006.
In the 2003 election, Matthews defeated Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Dianne Cunningham by almost 7,000 votes. Her riding includes significant portions of the London Centre riding once represented by her brother-in-law.
On October 23, 2003, she was appointed parliamentary assistant to Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's Minister of Community and Social Services.
In the 2007 election , Matthews defeated Progressive Conservative Rob Alder by over 10,000 votes. She served as Ontario's Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women's Issues from October 2007 to October 2009.
On December 4, 2008, Matthews introduced Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy as chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction. The long-term reduction plan set a target to reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over 5 years.
On October 7, 2009, Matthews was named Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to replace David Caplan.[2]
In the 2011 election, Matthews defeated Progressive Conservative Nancy Branscombe by over 6,000 votes. She was reappointed as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care on October 20, 2011.
Electoral record
Ontario general election, 2011 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Deb Matthews 19,157 43.81% -2.86% Progressive Conservative Nancy Branscombe 12,628 28.88% +4.40% New Democrat Steve Holmes 9,875 22.58% +6.07% Green Kevin Labonte 1,512 3.46% -8.88% Ontario general election, 2007 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Deb Matthews 21,669 46.7% +3.27% Progressive Conservative Rob Alder 11,366 24.5% -4.42% New Democrat Steve Holmes 7,667 16.5% -8.03% Green Brett McKenzie 5,730 12.3% +10.62% Ontario general election, 2003 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Liberal Deb Matthews 20,212 43.43% +22.54% Progressive Conservative Dianne Cunningham 13,460 28.92% -11.29% New Democrat Rebecca Coulter 11,414 24.53% -11.93% Green Bronagh Joyce Morgan 780 1.68% +0.88% Family Coalition Craig Smith 432 0.93% -0.09% Freedom Lisa Turner 242 0.52% +0.18% References
External links
- Deb Matthews' official MPP Site
- Deb Matthews' Ontario Liberal Party biography
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario biography
Provincial Government of Dalton McGuinty Cabinet Posts (2) Predecessor Office Successor David Caplan Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
2009-Incumbent Mary Anne Chambers Minister of Children and Youth Services
2007-2009Laurel Broten Categories:- Ontario Liberal Party MPPs
- People from London, Ontario
- 1953 births
- Living people
- University of Western Ontario alumni
- Women MPPs in Ontario
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