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Lisa MacLeod

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Lisa MacLeod
MPP
Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
In office
June 20, 2019 – June 24, 2022
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byMichael Tibollo
Succeeded byNeil Lumsden
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byMichael Coteau[a]
Succeeded byTodd Smith
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
In office
June 29, 2018 – June 20, 2019
PremierDoug Ford
Preceded byHarinder Malhi[b]
Succeeded byJill Dunlop[c]
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Nepean—Carleton
In office
March 30, 2006 – May 9, 2018
Preceded byJohn Baird
Succeeded byRiding dissolved
Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
for Nepean
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 7, 2018
Preceded byRiding established
Personal details
Born (1974-10-29) October 29, 1974 (age 50)
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseJoseph Varner (m. c. 2002)[1]
Residence(s)Leslie Park,[2] Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Alma materSt. Francis Xavier University
OccupationPolitical aide
Websitelisamacleod.com Edit this at Wikidata

Lisa Anne MacLeod MPP (born 1974) is a Canadian politician who represents Nepean in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Elected in 2006, MacLeod is a member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. She previously served as the Ontario minister of children, community and social services from 2018 to 2019 and Ontario minister of heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries from 2019 to 2022.

On September 13, 2024, it was announced that MacLeod will not be seeking re-election in the next election.[3]

Background

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MacLeod was born on October 29, 1974,[4] in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.[5] She went to St. Francis Xavier University, where she obtained a degree in political science.[6] In 1998, she moved to Ottawa with a goal of becoming involved in politics.[7] She worked as an assistant to Ottawa City Councillor Jan Harder and as a riding assistant to federal Member of Parliament (MP) Pierre Poilievre.[8][9]

She is married to Joseph Varner and they have one daughter, Victoria. Varner was a candidate in the 2003 provincial election but lost to Richard Patten.[8]

In 2022, MacLeod revealed that she had been dealing with depression since 2014, and had also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a metabolic condition, which requires her to take life long medications. She described it as a "mental health crisis".[10]

Political career

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Opposition MPP

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MacLeod was elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election that was held to replace John Baird who resigned to run for the federal House of Commons. She won the election on March 30, 2006, beating her Liberal opponent Brian Ford in the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean—Carleton by a margin of 6,000 votes.[11] She was re-elected in 2007, 2011, and 2014.[12][13][14]

In 2007 MacLeod was satirized by Liberal strategist Warren Kinsella when she was mockingly portrayed in a spoofed picture suggesting she would rather be at home baking cookies than attending a political event with then PC Leader John Tory. Kinsella later removed the posting and apologized to MacLeod. Following the incident MacLeod wrote a cookbook called I'd Rather Be Baking Cookies: A Collection of Recipes from Lisa MacLeod and Friends. MacLeod said, "Why not play off that experience, make a cookbook and poke fun at the absurdity of it?" The money raised from the sale of the cookbooks went to her election campaign.[15] In 2019, Kinsella told Globe and Mail described her as the sister he never had.[16]

In 2012, she criticized Dalton McGuinty's Bill 13 legislation as being "unfair" to Catholic separate school boards because it forced them to allow gay–straight alliances. She labelled the Liberals as "bullies".[17]

In April 2014, Premier Kathleen Wynne launched a libel lawsuit against MacLeod and PC Party Leader Tim Hudak after they said that she "oversaw and possibly ordered the criminal destruction of [gas plant] documents."[18] In July 2015, Wynne, MacLeod, and Hudak reached an agreement whereby the lawsuit was dropped. They said in a joint statement,

Politics is not for the thin-skinned. However, our system also requires that politicians act honestly and based on fact, while respecting the views of others. ... In the lead-up to the last election the debate went beyond differences over our approach and at times became personal. The lawsuit between us, and the comments that led to it, did not reflect our view that the other is in fact a great mother/father, an honourable person and a dedicated public servant.

The statement avoided any apology or placement of blame.[19]

MacLeod announced her candidacy for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party on October 6, 2014, but withdrew on February 6, 2015, following federal cabinet minister John Baird's announcement that he was resigning from cabinet and would not be running for re-election to the House of Commons of Canada. MacLeod told reporters that she has been "under enormous pressure from my constituents to seek the federal nomination to replace John Baird", in the new riding of Nepean.[20] MacLeod decided not to seek Baird's seat in the House of Commons and remained at Queen's Park.[21]

In July 2014, MacLeod became the party's critic for Treasury Board issues, and in October of that year, she became the Vice-Chair for the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. She was Critic for Digital Government from June 2016 until February 2017, when she became the party' critic for Ottawa issues and the Anti-Racism Secretariat.[22] In January 2018, after party leader Patrick Brown stepped down and Vic Fedeli became leader, MacLeod was chosen to replace Fedeli as the party's finance critic.[23]

In government

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MacLeod was voted in the 2018 provincial election. On June 29, 2018, it was announced she would be the minister responsible for children, community, and social services, and Minister Responsible for woman's issues. In total she had five portfolios including immigration and anti-racism.

As Social Services Minister, MacLeod admitted to breaking a Progressive Conservative election promise by cutting the Ontario Basic Income Pilot Project on July 31, 2018.[24][25]

On February 13, 2019, the National Post reported that Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysts (ONTABA) had received a threatening message from MacLeod's office. In the email, ONTABA was directed to make a public statement in support of the changes to the Ontario Autism Program or face "four long years". MacLeod further threatened that if the message of support was not forthcoming, her office would release a press statement labeling ONTABA as "self-interested".[26] Immediate calls from parents of children with autism[27] for MacLeod's resignation were rebuffed by the minister.[28] On October 31, 2019, Warren Kinsella told The Globe and Mail that his firm provided strategic advice and media training for the government to MacLeod and her political staff in 2018 when dealing with the cuts.[29]

MacLeod was shuffled from Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport in 2019. The ministry was later renamed the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultural Industries to reflect the significant economic impact the cultural industries such as film, television and the arts have on the province.[30]

An internal review of the overhauled autism program by fellow Progressive Conservative MPP Roman Baber called for an immediate reset to MacLeod's program, as it would leave families "destitute".[31]

In June 2019, at a Rolling Stones concert, MacLeod allegedly publicly said to Eugene Melnyk: "I am your minister and you’re a fucking piece of shit and you're a fucking loser." After a personal complaint by Melnyk to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, she apologized for her "blunt" language but the apology was not accepted. There were calls for her resignation from Ontario Liberals.[32][33]

During the 2022 Ontario election, the NDP revealed that the Conservative riding association of Vanier had paid her $44,000 directly as a housing subsidy. Such payments are highly unusual as MPPs receive $26,000 in a housing allowance above and beyond their salary.[34][35]

Following her re-election during the 2022 Ontario election, MacLeod announced that she would be taking some time off to “address and improve” her health.[36]

Cabinet positions

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Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
Michael Tibollo Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport
June 20, 2019-June 24, 2022 		Neil Lumsden
Harinder Malhi[d] Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
June 29, 2018-June 20, 2019 		Jill Dunlop[e]
Michael Coteau[f] Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
June 29, 2018–June 20, 2019 		Todd Smith

Electoral record

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2022 Ontario general election: Nepean
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 17,123 39.26 −5.87 $56,906
Liberal Tyler Watt 15,029 34.46 +14.85 $68,470
New Democratic Brian Double 8,435 19.34 −9.19 $5,327
Green Kaitlyn Tremblay 1,696 3.89 −1.28 $381
New Blue Kathleen Corriveau 964 2.21   $4,503
Ontario Party Bryan Emmerson 370 0.85   $0
Total valid votes/Expense limit 43,617 99.43 +0.33 $134,511
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots 249 0.57 -0.33
Turnout 43,866 45.89 -12.84
Eligible voters 96,076
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −10.36
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election: Nepean
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 23,899 45.13 +1.90
New Democratic Zaff Ansari 15,110 28.53 +15.04
Liberal Lovina Srivastava 10,383 19.61 -16.69
Green James O'Grady 2,739 5.17 -0.34
Libertarian Mark A. Snow 415 0.78
None of the Above Raphael Louis 351 0.66
Objective Truth Derrick Lionel Matthews 60 0.11
Total valid votes 52,957 100.0  
Turnout 60.3
Eligible voters 90,987
Progressive Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario[37]
2014 Ontario general election: Nepean—Carleton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 30,901 46.77 −7.71
Liberal Jack Uppal 21,974 33.26 +6.29
New Democratic Ric Dagenais 8,628 13.06 −1.71
Green Gordon Kubanek 3,630 5.49 +2.51
Libertarian Coreen Corcoran 940 1.42 +1.01
Total valid votes 66,073 100.0   +20.00
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −7.00
Source(s)
Elections Ontario (2014). "Official result from the records – 052, Nepean—Carleton" (PDF). Retrieved June 27, 2015.
2011 Ontario general election: Nepean—Carleton
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 29,985 54.48 +4.20 $   61,855.47
Liberal Don Dransfield 14,844 26.97 −5.97 20,300.63
New Democratic Ric Dagenais 8,127 14.77 +7.34 18,039.80
Green Gordon Kubanek 1,641 2.98 −5.38 2,855.87
Libertarian Roger Toutant 223 0.41   0.00
Freedom Marco Rossi 217 0.39   0.00
Total valid votes / expense limit 55,037 100.0   +2.23 $ 131,703.25
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots 193 0.35 −0.17
Turnout 55,230 49.91 −4.70
Eligible voters 110,662   +11.69
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +5.09
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 6, 2011 General Election" (PDF).
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2011" ( XLS Spreadsheet). Retrieved May 28, 2014.
"2011 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
2007 Ontario general election: Nepean—Carleton
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 27,070 50.28 −7.29 $   58,239.69
Liberal Jai Aggarwal 17,731 32.94 +1.50 35,359.08
Green Gordon Kubanek 4,500 8.36 +6.25 3,130.46
New Democratic Tristan Maack 4,000 7.43 −0.84 11,543.93
Family Coalition Suzanne Fortin 533 0.99   0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 53,834 100.0   +79.01 $ 107,004.24
Total rejected ballots 277 0.52 +0.20
Turnout 54,111 54.61 +26.09
Eligible voters 99,078   −6.36
Source(s)
"Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate – October 10, 2007 General Election" (PDF).
"Statistical Summary – General Elections 2007" (PDF). Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
"2007 Candidate Campaign Returns (CR-1)". Retrieved May 31, 2014.
Ontario provincial by-election, March 30, 2006: Nepean—Carleton
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 17,312 57.57 +3.51 $  89,547.03
Liberal Brian Ford 9,455 31.44 −4.21 58,560.17
New Democratic Laurel Gibbons 2,487 8.27 +1.73 32,687.68
Green Peter V. Tretter 634 2.11 −1.65 852.94
Independent John Turmel 112 0.37   0.00
Freedom Jurgen Vollrath 73 0.24   0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 30,073 100.0   −48.65 $ 114,226.16
Total rejected ballots 97 0.32 −0.13
Turnout 30,170 28.52 −33.71
Eligible voters 105,802   +11.91
Source(s)
"By-Election 2006 – Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate". Elections Ontario. March 30, 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
"By-Election 2006 – Poll by Poll Results". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
"CR-1 Campaign Returns". Elections Ontario. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

Notes

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  1. ^ Michael Coteau (Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister of Community and Social Services)
  2. ^ Harinder Malhi was Minister of the Status of Women.
  3. ^ Jill Dunlop as Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues.
  4. ^ as Minister of the Status of Women
  5. ^ as Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues
  6. ^ as Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister of Children and Youth Services

References

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  1. ^ "Bell Presents the GOHBA Fall/Winter Political Series: Lisa MacLeod". Ottawa: Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  2. ^ "Search For Contributions". Elections Canada. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "Longtime Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod announces she won't seek re-election". Ottawa. September 13, 2024. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "Lisa MacLeod". Twitter. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  5. ^ Brennan, Richard; Benzie, Robert (July 19, 2006). "Backbencher Raises Ire of Atlantic Canada; Liberal MPP Suggests Region Is an Economic Underperformer". Toronto Star. p. A14.
  6. ^ Denley, Randall (April 1, 2006). "MacLeod Will Deliver for City". Ottawa Citizen. p. E1.
  7. ^ Pearson, Matthew (September 21, 2013). "A Political Paradox; Depending on Who You Talk to, Lisa MacLeod Is Either a Hard-Working MPP Who Cares Deeply About Her Community or a Partisan Attack Dog Whose Loyalty Is First to the Progressive Conservative Party". Ottawa Citizen. p. B1.
  8. ^ a b Reevely, David (September 24, 2003). "Varner Brings out the Big Guns: MacKay, Prentice Help Ottawa Centre Candidate". Ottawa Citizen. p. A8.
  9. ^ Mohammed, Adam (March 2, 2006). "Ex-Police Chief Seeks Liberal Nomination: Byelection Called for Nepean-Carleton". Ottawa Citizen. p. C3.
  10. ^ Paikin, Steve (October 21, 2022). "The long, hard road back to Queen's Park for Lisa MacLeod". TVOntario. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Lackner, Chris; Pilieci, Vito (March 31, 2006). "Tories' MacLeod Posts Easy Victory in Nepean-Carleton Byelection". Ottawa Citizen. p. F1.
  12. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 10, 2007. p. 9 (xviii). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 7, 2009. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  13. ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. October 6, 2011. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  14. ^ "General Election by District: Nepean—Carleton". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on September 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "Conservatives, Including PM, Share Recipes for Cookbook". CTV News. September 11, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  16. ^ "Opposition urges Ford government to release contract with Kinsella's Daisy Group". Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  17. ^ "Catholic Schools' Opposition to Gay Clubs Revives Public-Funding Debate". National Post. May 30, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Kathleen Wynne Sues Tim Hudak, MPP Lisa MacLeod and PC Party". Toronto Star. April 4, 2014.
  19. ^ "Wynne, Hudak, and MacLeod resolve their legal differences". Toronto Star. July 9, 2015.
  20. ^ "Lisa MacLeod to Withdraw from Progressive Conservative Leadership Race". Toronto Star. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  21. ^ "Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod Rules Out Run for John Baird's Federal Seat". Toronto Star. February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  22. ^ "Lisa MacLeod, MPP (Nepean—Carleton)". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  23. ^ "Ontario Progressive Conservatives Shuffle Critic Roles After Patrick Brown Resignation". Global News. The Canadian Press. January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  24. ^ Ferguson, Rob (August 1, 2018). "Ontario Minister Admits She Broke Election Promise When She Axed Basic Income Project". Toronto Star. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  25. ^ Loriggio, Paola (August 1, 2018). "Ontario Government Defends Move to Axe Basic Income Pilot Project". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  26. ^ Jones, Allison (February 13, 2019). "Therapists Say Lisa MacLeod Threatened Them If They Did Not Support New Autism Program". National Post. Toronto. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  27. ^ "Parents of children with autism call for Lisa MacLeod's resignation during emotional telephone town hall". Global News. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  28. ^ Helmer, Aedan (February 14, 2019). "Lisa MacLeod Rebuffs Calls for Resignation Following Blowback over Changes to Province's Autism Program". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  29. ^ "Opposition urges Ford government to release contract with Kinsella's Daisy Group". Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  30. ^ Ford, Doug. "News Release from Premier Doug Ford - Ontario Government - October 21, 2019". Newsroom Ontario. Ontario Government. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  31. ^ "Ontario government apologizes for autism program changes; needs-based model won't launch until next April". The Globe and Mail. July 29, 2019.
  32. ^ "Calls grow for Ontario sport minister to resign over alleged 'vulgar and profane' attack". CTV News. July 5, 2019.
  33. ^ "Melnyk dismisses 'flippant' apology from Lisa MacLeod for profane tirade". Ottawa Citizen. July 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "Nepean riding association gave Lisa MacLeod over $44K in 'allowance,' public filings show | Globalnews.ca".
  35. ^ "NDP call out PC incumbent MacLeod for taking MPP allowance from riding association". May 9, 2022.
  36. ^ "Long-time Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod to take time off to 'address and improve' health | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  37. ^ "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 7. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
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