Honourable Lisa MacLeod
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
” Ontario’s Dirty Secret: Stopping Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women “
October 25th, 2018
The links between violence against women and human trafficking are undeniable. We all have a role to play. Educating our youth to recognize signs of abuse and trafficking is vital to a successful preventative strategy, just as partnering with the business community is key to raising awareness. Minister Lisa MacLeod (Children, Community and Social Services and Women’s Issues) discusses next steps to safeguard women and children from predatory and criminal behavior.
Biography
Lisa MacLeod is the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services with responsibilities for Women’s Issues, Immigration and Poverty Reduction.A native of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Lisa attended St. Francis Xavier University where she obtained a BA Honours degree and completed Masters level course work in Strategic Intelligence at American Military University in Virginia.
Lisa was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2018. In her terms in Opposition Lisa served as Vice Chair of the Legislative Assembly Committee, the Government Agencies Committee and the Public Accounts Committees. She held senior critic portfolios in Finance, Treasury Board, Energy and Education, among others. She also served as Vice-Chair of the Quebec- Ontario Parliamentary Committee and the Steering Committee for the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary Association. As an opposition member, Lisa was able to receive all party support on numerous occasions for important initiatives such as making Queen’s Park Family Friendly, protecting Ontario horseracing, including the Rideau Carleton Raceway, Rowan’s Law (Canada’s first concussion legislation), Lebanese Heritage Month and Trans Remembrance.
As supporter of Equal Voice for many years Lisa was instrumental in the ground breaking Daughters of the Vote initiative which brought 338 young women to Parliament Hill during Canada’s 150th. For that work she was awarded the 2018 EVE Award for the advancement of women in politics. Lisa was also the recipient of the Royal Canadian Legion Friendship Medal and the St. John’s Ambulance Commendation. For her work in Ottawa she was named Top 25 in the Capital, Top 50 in the Capital
and Faces Magazine’s Favourite MPP.
In Nepean, Lisa was a co-founder of the South Nepean Autism Centre (SNAP), is a member of the Barrhaven Legion, an avid supporter of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard and a former parent volunteer at Manordale Public School and the Nepean Hotspurs. A hockey Mom, Lisa was a trainer with the Nepean Wildcats hockey team. Lisa is also the author of a cookbook “I’d Rather Be Baking Cookies, A Collection of Recipes from Lisa MacLeod and Friends. Lisa and her husband Professor Joe Varner live in Nepean with their daughter Victoria and their dog Bonnie Brae and cat Puddymac III.
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