Minister of Culture announced
October 23, 2003
Dalton McGuinty was sworn in today as the 24th Premier of Ontario, along with a 22-member Cabinet including Madeleine Meilleur, the new Minister of Culture. Jennifer Mossop, MPP Stoney Creek, is the Ministry's Parliamentary Assistant.
Madeleine Meilleur, MPP Ottawa-Vanier
Madeleine Meilleur was elected in 2003 after more than a decade in municipal politics. Since 1991 she has held office in the City of Vanier and the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton and as councillor in the new City of Ottawa.
According to The Arts Advocate, she is well known to the cultural community in the Ottawa region. She was active in the development of significant cultural initiatives like La Nouvelle Scene, a focal point for the francophone cultural community and home to four French-language theatre groups in the city. Just last June, La Nouvelle Scene staged a benefit, Merci Madeleine, in honour of her. Among other positions, Ms. Meilleur was also a member of the board of directors of Opera Lyra Ottawa.
The Arts Advocate spoke with Peter Honeywell of Ottawa’s Council for the Arts, who has worked with the new Minister over the years. He said, "Overall, her record on the arts (in Ottawa) has been good." He adds that she was an important advocate for large organizations, like Opera Lyra Ottawa, at a pivotal point in their development.
She was chair of Ottawa's Transportation and Transit Committee and of the Rideau Street Redevelopment Working Group. She also served on the Ottawa-Carleton Regional District Health Council, the Champlain District Health Council, the Ottawa-Carleton Children's Aid Society and the Vanier Housing Corporation.
A leader committed to building bridges between linguistic communities, Ms. Meilleur represented council on the French-Language Services Advisory Committee. She was also a member of the board of directors of La Cité collégiale, the Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority, the Centre d'Accueil Champlain and Opera Lyra Ottawa.
Ms. Meilleur received the United Way's 2001 Community Builder's Award and in 2002 was the recipient of le prix d'Excellence, awarded by the Réseau socioactif des femmes francophones, for dedication to the community. She served as a member of the Canadian delegation to the Francophone Games in Cameroon in 1996, as deputy mayor in July 2001 and as honorary president of the Tulip Festival in May 2002.
Ms. Meilleur was involved in the implementation of the Success By 6 Vanier, aiding the development of young children. A founding member of Learn to Earn, aimed at helping youth learn a trade, she has also chaired the fundraising effort for Maison d'amitié, a facility assisting female victims of violence.
The Minister will sit on the Health and Social Services and Legislation and Regulations Committees of Cabinet.
Jennifer Mossop, MPP Stoney Creek
Parliamentary Assistant Jennifer Mossop, was a broadcaster with CBC Television and Hamilton’s CH tv station.
The Arts Advocate notes that, typically, Parliamentary Assistants take on a couple of key assignments from the Minister, as well as standing in for them in the Legislature when they are away. The Heritage Act amendments tabled at the end of the last session were the result of work undertaken by the previous PA to the Minister of Culture.
Ms. Mossop will sit on the Education Committee of Cabinet.
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