Deb Matthews

Deborah Drake Matthews is a former Canadian politician who served as the 10th deputy premier of Ontario from 2013 to 2018. A member of the Liberal Party, Matthews was the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for London North Centre from 2003 to 2018, and was a cabinet minister from 2008 to 2018 in the governments of Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne.

Deb Matthews
Matthews speaking at the 2017 Creative Commons Global Summit
10th Deputy Premier of Ontario
In office
February 11, 2013 – January 17, 2018
PremierKathleen Wynne
Preceded byDwight Duncan
Succeeded byChristine Elliott
Member of Provincial Parliament
for London North Centre
In office
October 2, 2003 – June 6, 2018
Preceded byDianne Cunningham
Succeeded byTerence Kernaghan
Personal details
Born
Deborah Drake Matthews

(1953-11-02) November 2, 1953[1]
London, Ontario, Canada
Political partyOntario Liberal
ResidenceLondon, Ontario

Early life and education

Matthews was born in London, Ontario. She is the third of nine children born to Donald Jeune Matthews, former president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Her mother was Joyce Eleanor Matthews, and her sister is Shelley Peterson, the wife of former Ontario Premier David Peterson.[2]

She graduated from St. George's Public School and A.B. Lucas Secondary School. She studied at the University of Western Ontario where she earned a PhD in social demography. Her doctoral dissertation was entitled the "Consequences of immigrant concentration in Canada, 2001–2051."[3] She worked at a number of positions in private business and also taught at the University of Western Ontario. Matthews was honoured twice on the University Students' Council Teaching Honour Roll at the University of Western Ontario.

Political career

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.

2003 election

In the 2003 election, Matthews defeated Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Dianne Cunningham by almost 7,000 votes.[4] On October 23, 2003, she was appointed the parliamentary assistant to the minister of community and social services, Sandra Pupatello.

2007 election and in cabinet

Matthews was re-elected in the 2007 election.[5] She was appointed as the minister of children and youth services and minister responsible for women's issues after the election.[6] 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 the minister of health and long-term care to replace David Caplan.

2011 election

Matthews was re-elected in the 2011 election,[7] and was re-appointed as health minister on October 20, 2011.[8] In 2012, Matthews came under pressure because of revelations at Ornge, Ontario's air ambulance service. Members of the opposition Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties called for her to resign. In response to the revelations at Ornge, Matthews announced an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigation.[9][10] During the Liberal Party leadership race in 2013, she was an early supporter of Kathleen Wynne's candidacy to lead the party.

2014 election

Following her re-election in 2014,[11] Matthews was shuffled from health to a revamped role as president of the Treasury Board.[12][13] On June 13, 2016, she retained her position as deputy premier and was also appointed as minister of advanced education and skills development. She was additionally responsible for digital government. Matthews left cabinet on January 17, 2018, having declined re-election in the 2018 election.[14]

Electoral record
2014 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalDeb Matthews16,37935.98%-7.93%
New DemocraticJudy Bryant13,85330.43%+7.72%
Progressive ConservativeNancy Branscombe12,01626.40%-2.53%
GreenKevin Labonte2,4455.37%+2.05%
FreedomSalim Mansur6391.40%+0.78%
CommunistDave McKee1150.25%–
PauperMichael Spottiswood700.15%+0.03%
2011 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalDeb Matthews19,16743.91%-3.26%
Progressive ConservativeNancy Branscombe12,62828.93%+5.21%
New DemocraticSteve Holmes9,91422.71%+6.06%
GreenKevin Labonte1,4513.32%-9.13%
FreedomMary Lou Ambrogio2690.62%–
LibertarianJordan Vanklinken1690.39%–
PauperMichael Spottiswood540.12%–
2007 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalDeb Matthews21,66947.17%+3.74%
Progressive ConservativeRob Alder10,89723.72%-5.20%
New DemocraticSteve Holmes7,64916.65%-7.88%
GreenBrett McKenzie5,72012.45%+10.77%
2003 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
LiberalDeb Matthews20,21243.43%+22.54%
Progressive ConservativeDianne Cunningham13,46028.92%-11.29%
New DemocraticRebecca Coulter11,41424.53%-11.93%
GreenBronagh Joyce Morgan7801.68%+0.88%
Family CoalitionCraig Smith4320.93%-0.09%
FreedomLisa Turner2420.52%+0.18%

References

Notes
  1. Was known as Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
  2. From 2014 to 2016 she was President of the Treasury Board and also Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Citations
  1. Martin, Sandra (February 17, 2012). "Poised under fire, Deb Matthews tackles Ontario's ailing health-care system". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  2. "Best-selling author, actress Shelley Peterson visits library Aug. 16" Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Orangeville Banner, August 9, 2010.
  3. Deborah Drake Matthews (2006). "Can Immigration Compensate for Below-Replacement Fertility?: The Consequences of the Unbalanced Settlement of Immigrants in Canadian Cities, 2001–2051" (PDF). London, Ontario: Faculty of Graduate Studies, The University of Western Ontario. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
  4. "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014.
  5. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 8 (xvii). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009.
  6. Ferguson, Rob; Benzie, Robert (October 31, 2007). "Premier goes for new blood; Expanded 28-member cabinet has eight ministers from Toronto, three from 905 area". Toronto Star. p. A13.
  7. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013.
  8. "Ontario's new cabinet". Toronto Star. October 21, 2011. p. A18.
  9. Donovan, Kevin (February 12, 2012). "ORNGE will be probed by OPP detectives". Toronto Star.
  10. Talaga, Tanya; Donovan, Kevin (February 21, 2012). "Deb Matthews won't resign over ORNGE scandal". Toronto Star.
  11. "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. p. 6.
  12. Richard Brennan; Robert Benzie; Rob Ferguson (June 24, 2014). "Kathleen Wynne warns financial cupboard is bare". Toronto Star.
  13. Adrian Morrows (June 23, 2014). "Job of finance minister split as Wynne gets set for cabinet shuffle". The Globe and Mail.
  14. "Kathleen Wynne's shuffled cabinet features 40% women". CBC News. June 13, 2016.
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