Department of Families (Manitoba)

Department of Families

Ministère des Familles
Agency overview
Jurisdiction	Government of Manitoba
Minister responsible	Nahanni Fontaine, Minister of Families Minister responsible for Gender Equity
Deputy Minister responsible	Kathryn Gerrard, Deputy Minister of Families (2020)
Website	www.gov.mb.ca/fs/index.html

The Department of Families (French: Ministère des Familles; also known as Manitoba Families) is the Manitoba Government agency responsible for family-related programs and services in the province of Manitoba.

The department was created on 3 May 2016 by the newly elected government of Brian Pallister, combining the responsibilities of the former Departments of Family Services and of Housing and Community Development into a single unit.[1][2]

In 2021, Rochelle Squires became the Minister of Families (French: Ministre des Familles), replacing Minister Heather Stefanson.[3] The department also includes the Minister responsible for the Status of Women.

Department history

The two-year process of preparing a new Child Welfare Act for Manitoba begun in 1922, partly in response to the Manitoba Social Service Council's call to the provincial government:

that the Government of Manitoba take early steps to establish and adequately support a Child Welfare Department for the province, shaped on modern lines and provided with facilities which will make possible proper classification of the children cared for, efficient supervision of them all, and a comprehensive survey of the needs of the province in this most important of all fields.

— D. B. Harkness (March, 1920), "General Report of the Executive of the Social Service Council of Manitoba," Social Welfare Journal 2[4]

The Government created the new Department of Public Welfare in 1924 and added it to the existing responsibilities of the Minister of Education.[4] Between 1928 and 1961, it was known as the Department of Health and Public Welfare,[5] followed by the Department of Welfare in 1961. In 1990, it was renamed to the Department of Family Services,[5] and in 1999, the Department of Family Services and Housing.[5] In 2009, the name was changed to Family Services and Consumer Affairs.[5] In 2012, the department became Family Services and Labour.[5] In 2013, the department returned to the name Family Services.[5]

In 2016, the department name was changed to the Department of Families.[1]

Minister of Families

Minister of Families
Ministre des Familles
Incumbent Nahanni Fontaine since October 18, 2023 Gender Equity Manitoba Secretariat
Department of Families
Member of	Executive Council of Manitoba

The Department of Families in Manitoba is overseen by the Minister of Families (French: Ministre des Familles),[3] which was assigned to Nahanni Fontaine in 2023, replacing former Minister Rochelle Squires.[3]

In 1990, the Minister of Family Services is a cabinet position in the Government of Manitoba.[6] In 1999, the responsibilities of this portfolio were assigned to the new Minister of Family Services and Housing.[6]

The position of the Minister of Family Services and Housing was created in 1999, incorporating the responsibilities of the former Minister of Family Services and Minister of Housing. In 2009, the responsibilities of the portfolio were split into Family Services and Consumer Affairs and Housing and Community Development following the announcement of Premier Greg Selinger's new cabinet in 2009.[7]

The Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs, which was created in 2009, would have its portfolio's functions redistributed in 2012 between the Minister of Family Services and Labour and the Minister of Healthy Living, Seniors and Consumer Affairs.[8]

In 2013, the Minister of Family Services position was reinstated;[6] however, in 2016, the responsibilities of this portfolio would be assigned to the new Minister of Families.[9][10]

List of Ministers

Name	Party	Took office	Left office
Minister of Family Services[6]
Harold Gilleshammer	Progressive Conservative	September 11, 1990	September 10, 1993
Bonnie Mitchelson	Progressive Conservative	September 10, 1993	October 5, 1999
Minister of Family Services and Housing
Tim Sale	New Democratic Party	October 5, 1999	September 25, 2002
Drew Caldwell	New Democratic Party	September 25, 2002	November 4, 2003
Christine Melnick	New Democratic Party	November 4, 2003	September 21, 2006
Gord Mackintosh	New Democratic Party	September 21, 2006	November 3, 2009
Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs[8]
Gord Mackintosh	New Democratic Party	November 3, 2009	January 13, 2012
Minister of Family Services[6]
Kerri Irvin-Ross	New Democratic Party	October 18, 2013	May 3, 2016
Minister of Families
Scott Fielding	Progressive Conservative	May 3, 2016	August 1, 2018
Heather Stefanson	Progressive Conservative	August 1, 2018	January 5, 2021
Rochelle Squires[3]	Progressive Conservative	January 5, 2021	October 18, 2023
Nahanni Fontaine	New Democratic Party	October 18, 2023

Related legislation

Family Services

Acts[11]	Note
The Accessibility for Manitobans Act
The Adoption Act
The Adult Abuse Registry Act
The Child and Family Services Act
The Child and Family Services Authorities Act
The Community Child Care Standards Act
The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act
The Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council Act
The Parents' Maintenance Act [Section 10]
The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act
The Social Services Administration Act	Under this Act, responsibility for "The Residential Care Facilities Licensing Regulation," M.R. 484/88 R and the whole Act except as it relates to employment and income supports
The Social Services Appeal Board Act
The Social Work Profession Act
The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act

Housing and Community Development

Acts[12]	Note
The Community Renewal Act
The Co-operative Associations Loans and Loans Guarantee Act
The Cooperative Housing Strategy Act
The Cooperative Promotion Trust Act
The Elderly and Infirm Persons’ Housing Act	with respect to elderly persons’ housing units as defined in the Act
The Housing and Renewal Corporation Act	except Clause 44(k) and The RentAid Regulation (MR. 148/2006)
The Income Tax Act, sections 7.13 to 7.16 and 10.6

See also

• List of Manitoba government departments and agencies

References

1. "A breakdown of provincial cabinet changes". Winnipeg Free Press. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
2. Lambert, Steve (3 May 2016). "Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, leaner cabinet sworn in". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
3. "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Protecting Vulnerable Manitobans and Creating Job Opportunities Focus of New Cabinet and Departments".
4. Hurl, Lorna. "Manitoba History: The Politics of Child Welfare in Manitoba, 1922-1924". Manitoba History, Number 7, Spring 1984. Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
5. "MLA Biographies - Living". The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
6. "MLA Biographies - Living". The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
7. "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Changes to Manitoba Cabinet Move Province Forward: Selinger". Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
8. "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Changes to Manitoba Cabinet Move Province Forward: Selinger". www.gov.mb.ca. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
9. "A breakdown of provincial cabinet changes". Winnipeg Free Press. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
10. Lambert, Steve (3 May 2016). "Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister, leaner cabinet sworn in". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
11. "Annual Report 2015-2016 Family Services". Families. Government of Manitoba. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
12. "Annual Report 2015-2016 Housing and Community Development" (PDF). Housing and Community Development. Government of Manitoba. Retrieved 18 July 2017.

External links

• Government of Manitoba - Families