Deb Matthews was elected to the Ontario Legislature by the people of London North Centre in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. She was appointed Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in October 2009. Before that, she served as the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services.

As chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, she led the development of Breaking the Cycle, an ambitious strategy to improve opportunities for all children and reduce the number of children living in poverty by 25% in 5 years. Deb introduced The Poverty Reduction Act which legislates an ongoing government commitment to poverty reduction. Deb is proud of the key role she played in the establishment of the Ontario Child Benefit, a cornerstone of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

For her outstanding work for social justice, Deb was awarded the 2007 Political Award of Merit by the Social Work Doctors’ Colloquium. She was also nominated by A.B. Lucas Secondary School and acknowledged by the Thames Valley District School Board as an Individual who Inspires Excellence. She was honoured twice by The University of Western Ontario Students’ Council with a place on the Teaching Honour Roll. In March 2010, she was recognised as an Outstanding Woman of the Year by the Hamilton Road area Ealing Girls Club.

Deb has been actively involved in the London community. Her very successful Annual Children’s Book Drive has collected tens of thousands of books destined for the eager eyes of young readers across the province. She is an Honourary Member of the Kiwanis Club of Forest-City London, a past president of the Big Sisters of London and has volunteered with Orchestra London, the Thames Valley Children’s Centre, the Canadian Institute for the Blind and the Salvation Army. Deb also coordinated the capital campaign for the Boys and Girls Club of London.

Her previous political experience includes co-chairing the provincial Liberal campaigns in 1987 and 1985 and serving as President of the Ontario Liberal Party from 2003 to 2006. She co-chaired the Candidate Search Committee in 2007 and is serving again in this role for the 2011 campaign.

Deb was born in London North Centre and graduated from St. George’s Public School and A.B. Lucas Secondary School. She studied at The University of Western Ontario, where she completed her PhD in social demography. She has three children and a grandson.