Minister Laurel Broten
Laurel Broten was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 2003 and was re-elected in 2007 and 2011. She was appointed Minister of Education in October 2011, and she continues to serve as Minister Responsible for Women's Issues.
Broten has served as Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of the Environment, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and to the Premier. She also had responsibility for Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy.
A tireless advocate for women and children, Broten conducted province-wide consultations that led to the government’s Domestic Violence Action Plan and introduced legislation that requires all Ontarians to report images of child abuse. This bill became law under the Child Pornography Reporting Act.
Broten again took bold and progressive steps when she authored a report detailing a five-point action plan to create more opportunities and reduce barriers for internationally trained doctors in Ontario. Her report formed the basis for legislation introduced in 2008 that helps to improve access to health care for Ontario families.
As Minister of the Environment, Broten developed policies under one of Canada’s most comprehensive climate change plans that supports business, creates jobs and sets aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. She also introduced the Clean Water Act designed to better safeguard Ontario’s drinking water, ban diversions from the Great Lakes and, for the first time, charge commercial and industrial users for the water they take and use.
Broten’s work in the area of corporate social responsibility and better protection of investors led to a review of Ontario’s reporting standards after receiving unanimous support by the legislature.
Broten has always been an active member of her community. Prior to running for office, she built a successful career practicing equity, commercial and human rights law. She earned her law degree from the University of Western Ontario with distinction, and articled at the Supreme Court of Canada for one of Canada’s most preeminent jurists.
Broten, who is fluently bilingual, lives in Etobicoke with her husband Paul, twin sons Zachary and Ryan, and their dog, Howard.
