Lisa MacLeod

Last updated

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

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 general election, MacLeod announced that she would be taking some time off to “address and improve” her health. [36]

In January 2025, she apologized for alleged Islamophobic social media remarks about Husien Abu-Rayash, a PC nomination candidate for her riding of Nepean. [37]

Cabinet positions

Lisa MacLeod
Lisa MacLeod Headshot 2024.jpg
MacLeod in 2024
Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries
In office
June 20, 2019 June 24, 2022
Ontario provincial government of Doug Ford
Cabinet posts (3)
PredecessorOfficeSuccessor
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

2022 Ontario general election : Nepean
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 17,12339.265.87$56,906
Liberal Tyler Watt 15,02934.46+14.85$68,470
New Democratic Brian Double8,43519.349.19$5,327
Green Kaitlyn Tremblay1,6963.891.28$381
New Blue Kathleen Corriveau9642.21 $4,503
Ontario Party Bryan Emmerson3700.85 $0
Total valid votes/expense limit43,61799.43+0.33$134,511
Total rejected, unmarked, and declined ballots2490.57-0.33
Turnout43,86645.89-12.84
Eligible voters96,076
Progressive Conservative hold Swing 10.36
Source(s)
  • "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 18, 2023.
  • "Statistical Summary by Electoral District" (PDF). Elections Ontario. 2022. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023.
2018 Ontario general election : Nepean
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 23,89945.13+2.61
New Democratic Zaff Ansari15,11028.53+15.49
Liberal Lovina Srivastava10,38319.61-16.38
Green James O'Grady2,7395.17-0.26
Libertarian Mark A. Snow4150.78N/A
None of the Above Raphael Louis3510.66N/A
Objective Truth Derrick Lionel Matthews600.11N/A
Total valid votes52,957
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots
Turnout60.3
Eligible voters90,987
Progressive Conservative notional hold Swing –6.44
Source: Elections Ontario [38]
2014 Ontario general election : Nepean—Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 30,90146.77−7.71
Liberal Jack Uppal21,97433.26+6.29
New Democratic Ric Dagenais8,62813.06−1.71
Green Gordon Kubanek3,6305.49+2.51
Libertarian Coreen Corcoran9401.42+1.01
Total valid votes66,073100.0  +20.00
Progressive Conservative hold Swing −7.00
2011 Ontario general election : Nepean—Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 29,98554.48+4.20$  61,855.47
Liberal Don Dransfield14,84426.97−5.9720,300.63
New Democratic Ric Dagenais8,12714.77+7.3418,039.80
Green Gordon Kubanek1,6412.98−5.382,855.87
Libertarian Roger Toutant2230.41 0.00
Freedom Marco Rossi2170.39 0.00
Total valid votes / expense limit55,037100.0  +2.23$ 131,703.25
Total rejected, unmarked and declined ballots1930.35−0.17
Turnout55,23049.91−4.70
Eligible voters110,662 +11.69
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +5.09
2007 Ontario general election : Nepean—Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 27,07050.28−7.29$  58,239.69
Liberal Jai Aggarwal17,73132.94+1.5035,359.08
Green Gordon Kubanek4,5008.36+6.253,130.46
New Democratic Tristan Maack4,0007.43−0.8411,543.93
Family Coalition Suzanne Fortin5330.99 0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit53,834100.0  +79.01$ 107,004.24
Total rejected ballots2770.52+0.20
Turnout54,11154.61+26.09
Eligible voters99,078 −6.36
Ontario provincial by-election, March 30, 2006: Nepean—Carleton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%Expenditures
Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod 17,31257.57+3.51$  89,547.03
Liberal Brian Ford 9,45531.44−4.2158,560.17
New Democratic Laurel Gibbons2,4878.27+1.7332,687.68
Green Peter V. Tretter6342.11−1.65852.94
Independent John Turmel 1120.37 0.00
Freedom Jurgen Vollrath730.24 0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit30,073100.0  −48.65$ 114,226.16
Total rejected ballots970.32−0.13
Turnout30,17028.52−33.71
Eligible voters105,802 +11.91

Notes

  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

  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". CTV News . 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. 1 2 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. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. 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. Jackson, Hannah (June 24, 2022). "Long-time Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod to take time off to 'address and improve' health". Global News . Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  37. Glass, Marlo (January 9, 2025). "Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod apologizes for 'hateful and Islamophobic' social media post". Ottawa Citizen .
  38. "Summary of Valid Votes Cast for Each Candidate" (PDF). Elections Ontario. p. 7. Retrieved January 20, 2019.