:Lisa MacLeod

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Lisa MacLeod

| image = File:Lisa MacLeod Headshot 2024.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption =

| honorific-suffix =

| office = Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries

| term_start = June 20, 2019

| term_end = June 24, 2022

| premier = Doug Ford

| predecessor = Michael Tibollo

| successor = Neil Lumsden

| office1 = Minister of Children, Community and Social Services

| term_start1 = June 29, 2018

| term_end1 = June 20, 2019

| premier1 = Doug Ford

| predecessor1 = Michael Coteau{{efn|Michael Coteau (Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister of Community and Social Services)}}

| successor1 = Todd Smith

| office2 = Minister Responsible for Women's Issues

| term_start2 = June 29, 2018

| term_end2 = June 20, 2019

| premier2 = Doug Ford

| predecessor2 = Harinder Malhi{{efn|Harinder Malhi was Minister of the Status of Women.}}

| successor2 = Jill Dunlop{{efn|Jill Dunlop as Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues.}}

| parliament3 = Ontario Provincial

| term_start3 = March 30, 2006

| term_end3 = May 9, 2018

| predecessor3 = John Baird

| successor3 = Riding dissolved

| riding3 = Nepean—Carleton

| parliament4 = Ontario Provincial

| term_start4 = June 7, 2018

| term_end4 = January 28, 2025

| predecessor4 = Riding established

| successor4 = Tyler Watt

| riding4 = Nepean

| party = Progressive Conservative

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|10|29}}

| birth_place = New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada

| residence = Leslie Park,{{cite web|title=Search For Contributions|url=https://www.elections.ca/WPAPPS/WPF/EN/CCS/ContributionReport?returnStatus=1&reportOption=5&queryId=632426c3e961405595b69cbd3f34ffc3&sortDirection=asc&sortOrder=0%2C1%2C2&totalRecordFound=8¤t200Page=1&total200Pages=1&reportExists=True&displaySorting=True|publisher=Elections Canada|access-date=2021-06-22}} Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

| spouse = Joseph Varner ({{abbr|m.|married}} {{circa|2002}}){{cite web |title=Bell Presents the GOHBA Fall/Winter Political Series: Lisa MacLeod |url=https://www.gohba.ca/events/breakfast-featuring-lisa-mcleod-mpp-for-nepean-carelton/ |location=Ottawa |publisher=Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association |access-date=March 7, 2019}}

| occupation = Political aide

| alma_mater = St. Francis Xavier University

| website = {{official URL}}

}}

Lisa Anne MacLeod (born 1974) is a Canadian politician who represented 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 2025 election.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-13 |title=Longtime Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod announces she won't seek re-election |url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/longtime-ottawa-mpp-lisa-macleod-announces-she-won-t-seek-re-election-1.7037666 |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Ottawa |language=en}}

Background

MacLeod was born on October 29, 1974,{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MacLeodLisa?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor |title=Lisa MacLeod |website=Twitter |access-date=January 24, 2021}} in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.{{cite news |title=Backbencher Raises Ire of Atlantic Canada; Liberal MPP Suggests Region Is an Economic Underperformer |first1=Richard |last1=Brennan |first2=Robert |last2=Benzie |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=July 19, 2006 |page=A14}} She went to St. Francis Xavier University, where she obtained a degree in political science.{{cite news |title=MacLeod Will Deliver for City |last=Denley |first=Randall |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=April 1, 2006 |page=E1}} In 1998, she moved to Ottawa with a goal of becoming involved in politics.{{cite news |title=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 |last=Pearson |first=Matthew |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=September 21, 2013 |page=B1}} She worked as an assistant to Ottawa City Councillor Jan Harder and as a riding assistant to federal Member of Parliament (MP) Pierre Poilievre.{{cite news |title=Varner Brings out the Big Guns: MacKay, Prentice Help Ottawa Centre Candidate |last=Reevely |first=David |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=September 24, 2003 |page=A8}}{{cite news |title=Ex-Police Chief Seeks Liberal Nomination: Byelection Called for Nepean-Carleton |last=Mohammed |first=Adam |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 2, 2006 |page=C3}}

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.

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".{{cite web|url=https://www.tvo.org/article/the-long-hard-road-back-to-queens-park-for-lisa-macleod |title=The long, hard road back to Queen's Park for Lisa MacLeod|date=October 21, 2022|first=Steve |last=Paikin |author-link=Steve Paikin |publisher=TVOntario |access-date=April 14, 2023}}

Political career

= Opposition MPP =

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.{{cite news |title=Tories' MacLeod Posts Easy Victory in Nepean-Carleton Byelection |first1=Chris |last1=Lackner |first2=Vito |last2=Pilieci |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 31, 2006 |page=F1}} She was re-elected in 2007, 2011, and 2014.{{cite web |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=9 (xviii) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007160233/http://www.elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/AB409CCD-84F3-46FA-B3BD-39AB659EFC2D/0/SummaryofValidBallotsCastforEachCandidate.pdf |archive-date=October 7, 2009 }}{{cite web |url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-date=March 30, 2013 }}{{cite web|title=General Election by District: Nepean—Carleton |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=052 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923153953/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=052 |archive-date=September 23, 2014 }}

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.{{cite news|title=Conservatives, Including PM, Share Recipes for Cookbook|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/conservatives-including-pm-share-recipes-for-cookbook-1.551834|access-date=4 June 2018|newspaper=CTV News|date=11 September 2010}} In 2019, Kinsella told Globe and Mail described her as the sister he never had.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-opposition-urges-ford-government-to-release-contract-with-kinsellas/|title=Opposition urges Ford government to release contract with Kinsella's Daisy Group|access-date=2019-11-11}}

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".{{cite news| url=https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/catholic-schools-opposition-to-gay-clubs-revives-public-funding-debate | work=National Post | title=Catholic Schools' Opposition to Gay Clubs Revives Public-Funding Debate | date=30 May 2012 |access-date=4 June 2018}}

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."{{cite news| url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/04/04/mpps_must_wait_to_hear_from_computer_expert_peter_faist.html | work=Toronto Star | title=Kathleen Wynne Sues Tim Hudak, MPP Lisa MacLeod and PC Party | date=4 April 2014}} In July 2015, Wynne, MacLeod, and Hudak reached an agreement whereby the lawsuit was dropped. They said in a joint statement,

{{blockquote|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.{{cite news |title=Wynne, Hudak, and MacLeod resolve their legal differences |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/07/09/wynne-hudak-and-macleod-resolve-their-legal-differences.html |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=July 9, 2015}}

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.{{cite news|title=Lisa MacLeod to Withdraw from Progressive Conservative Leadership Race|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/02/05/lisa-macleod-to-withdraw-progressive-conservative-leadership-race.html|access-date=February 5, 2015|work=Toronto Star|date=February 5, 2015}} MacLeod decided not to seek Baird's seat in the House of Commons and remained at Queen's Park.{{cite news|title=Tory MPP Lisa MacLeod Rules Out Run for John Baird's Federal Seat|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2015/02/17/tory-mpp-lisa-macleod-rules-out-run-for-john-bairds-federal-seat.html|access-date=February 17, 2015|work=Toronto Star|date=February 17, 2015}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_detail.do?locale=en&ID=7042&detailPage=members_detail_career|title=Lisa MacLeod, MPP (Nepean—Carleton)|publisher=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|access-date=January 30, 2018}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3995267/ontario-progressive-conservative-shuffle/|title=Ontario Progressive Conservatives Shuffle Critic Roles After Patrick Brown Resignation|date=January 30, 2018|work=Global News|access-date=January 30, 2018|agency=The Canadian Press}}

= 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.{{cite news |last1=Ferguson |first1=Rob |title=Ontario Minister Admits She Broke Election Promise When She Axed Basic Income Project |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/08/01/ontario-minister-admits-she-broke-election-promise-when-she-axed-basic-income-project.html |access-date=August 1, 2018 |work=Toronto Star |date=August 1, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Loriggio |first1=Paola |title=Ontario Government Defends Move to Axe Basic Income Pilot Project |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-government-defends-move-to-axe-basic-income-pilot-project-2/ |access-date=August 1, 2018 |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |date=August 1, 2018}}

On February 13, 2019, the National Post reported that [https://www.ontaba.org 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 [https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-autism-program 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".{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Allison |title=Therapists Say Lisa MacLeod Threatened Them If They Did Not Support New Autism Program |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/minister-pressed-group-for-positive-quote-on-new-autism-program-they-say |access-date=February 17, 2019 |work=National Post |location=Toronto |date=February 13, 2019}} Immediate calls from parents of children with autism{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5289235/lisa-macleod-ontario-autism-consultations/|title=Parents of children with autism call for Lisa MacLeod's resignation during emotional telephone town hall|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-11}} for MacLeod's resignation were rebuffed by the minister.{{cite news |last1=Helmer |first1=Aedan |title=Lisa MacLeod Rebuffs Calls for Resignation Following Blowback over Changes to Province's Autism Program |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/calls-for-ontario-social-services-minister-lisa-macleods-resignation-mount-on-social-media |access-date=February 17, 2019 |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=February 14, 2019}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-opposition-urges-ford-government-to-release-contract-with-kinsellas/|title=Opposition urges Ford government to release contract with Kinsella's Daisy Group|access-date=2019-11-05}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Ford |first1=Doug |title=News Release from Premier Doug Ford - Ontario Government - October 21, 2019 |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/statement/54233/statement-from-premier-doug-ford-5 |website=Newsroom Ontario |publisher=Ontario Government |access-date=24 January 2021}}

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".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-government-apologizes-for-autism-program-changes-needs-based/|title=Ontario government apologizes for autism program changes; needs-based model won't launch until next April|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=July 29, 2019}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/calls-grow-for-ontario-sport-minister-to-resign-over-alleged-vulgar-and-profane-attack-1.4495515|title=Calls grow for Ontario sport minister to resign over alleged 'vulgar and profane' attack|publisher=CTV News|date=July 5, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/melnyk-dismisses-flippant-apology-from-lisa-macleod-for-profane-tirade|title=Melnyk dismisses 'flippant' apology from Lisa MacLeod for profane tirade|publisher=Ottawa Citizen|date=July 6, 2019}}

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.{{cite web | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8821116/lisa-macleod-allowance-nepean-riding-association/ | title=Nepean riding association gave Lisa MacLeod over $44K in 'allowance,' public filings show | Globalnews.ca }}{{cite web | url=https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ndp-call-out-pc-incumbent-macleod-for-taking-mpp-allowance-from-riding-association-1.5895344 | title=NDP call out PC incumbent MacLeod for taking MPP allowance from riding association | date=May 9, 2022 }}

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.{{Cite web |title=Long-time Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod to take time off to 'address and improve' health {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8945287/lisa-macleod-mental-health/ |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}

In January 2025, she apologized for alleged Islamophobic social media remarks about Husien Abu-Rayash, a PC nomination candidate for her riding of Nepean.{{cite web | url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-mpp-lisa-macleod-post | title=Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod apologizes for 'hateful and Islamophobic' social media post | work=ottawacitizen }}