The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community and Social Services
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Madeleine Meilleur has been the Minister of Community and Social Services since 2006 and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs since 2003. Thanks to her leadership, Ontario passed two new laws in 2008. The first law promotes the social inclusion of persons with developmental disabilities; the second law gives Ontarians access to open adoption records. Madeleine Meilleur plays an active role to ensure that the Ministry offers help to the people who need it most, including: women fleeing violence, people with disabilities, or those who are in financial need. In her previous role as Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2006, Minister Meilleur spearheaded efforts to introduce a new and strengthened Ontario Heritage Act, concluding thirty years of efforts to provide better heritage protection. As Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, she has been committed to building stronger French communities through critical investments in education and health services, including the expansion of the Montfort Hospital. The independence of the French TV channel TFO and the creation of the office of the French-language services Commissioner are some of her many accomplishments that have benefited Franco-Ontarians.
A registered nurse and lawyer specializing in labour and employment law, Minister Meilleur was elected to the provincial legislature in 2003 after more than a decade in municipal politics in Ottawa.