The Ontario Government: A Snapshot Engage Your Government
As of September 2014 1 The Ontario Government: A Snapshot As of September 2014 The Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Cabinet The Ontario Public Service aka the Ontario Government, the House or Queen’s Park aka the Executive Council aka OPS or the bureaucracy
Each seat is aligned with an electoral 107 Seats district or riding. Members of Provincial 27 Ministers 23 Ministries Engage Your Parliament (MPPs) are elected to a seat. from the governing party make up the Cabinet. Current number of ministries. Ministry Staff Ministry
MINISTER DIVISION Leads Ministry BRANCH ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR MINISTER Leads Leads Branch DEPUTY MINISTER Division Leads policy development and implementation MANAGER 1 Premier that supports the work of The Premier can change the number of government Ministers and ministries, as well as the MPPs who serve as Ministers. This can STAFF take place mid-term and virtually always Reports to happens when a party is elected or re-elected to form government. 3 Parties MPPs belong to one of three parties in the House. Independent MPPs do not belong to a political party. Minister’s Office Liberals Conservatives New Democrats 3 Ministries have government-wide responsibilities: 58 seats 28 seats 21 seats CHIEF OF STAFF Engage Your Leads Minister’s o ce Ministry of Government Services Minister’s Staff Ministry of Finance Engage See PAGE 3 for more about Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Renewal Your Parties engaging your government 5 Special-purpose Secretariats POLICY STAFF COMMUNICATIONS STAFF SCHEDULING STAFF Reports to do cross-government work impacting several ministries: 4 Years Francophone A airs Pan/Parapan American Games Secretariat Time between elections when the governing party has Seniors’ Secretariat a majority. In a minority government situation, elections Treasury Board Secretariat can happen anytime. Women’s Directorate
2 The Ontario Government: Who Does What The Legislative Assembly of Ontario The Cabinet The Ontario Public Service
MINISTRY DIVISION MINISTER BRANCH Leads Ministry ASSISTANT DEPUTY DIRECTOR MINISTER Leads Leads Branch Division DEPUTY MINISTER Leads policy development and MANAGER implementation that supports the work of government STAFF
Debate and vote on legislation and regulation brought Each Minister leads a ministry, or department of Non-partisan sta develop policy for Cabinet and forward by the government or by private members government and is accountable to the Legislative implement Cabinet decisions and direction along from all parties. Assembly and the public. with program design, implementation and evaluation.
Represent their constituency and Cabinet members introduce legislation for consideration The Secretary of Cabinet, Ontario’s chief public support residents in their ridings in the House. servant, supports the work of the Premier and Cabinet to access provincial government and is responsible for leading the implementation of supports and information. Engage Your MPPs The Cabinet makes the major decisions about government direction and initiatives. government policies and priorities, including Vote on the provincial budget. provincial budgets.
Attend question period where the opposition The decisions made in Cabinet provide direction for members hold the government to account by asking policy development and implementation in the Ontario questions of the Premier and Cabinet members on Public Service. government business or issues.
May be on standing or special purpose legislative committees.
Engage Your Government
What to Share successes Share future direction of Share unique approaches Connect About and impact your organization or sector and innovations
Ways to Meet to talk about local issues, Send publications, Invite to Connect to each party’s Connect policy ideas, opportunities newsletters or press releases events stakeholder relations team
3 Ontario Ministries: A Snapshot Here’s a snapshot of Government ministries which often work with nonpro ts and charities, and some of the programs and services that relate to the nonpro t sector. For a full listing of all 23 ministries, go to ontario.ca.
Ministry of the Attorney General MAG Ministry of Community and Ministry of Municipal Affairs Court Services O ce of the Children’s Lawyer Social Services MCSS and Housing MMAH Criminal law Public Guardian and Trustee Community and developmental services A ordable rental and ownership housing Family Law Victims of Crime Social assistance (OW, ODSP) Supportive housing Human Rights Wills and Estates The Family Responsibility O ce Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative Family Justice Land Use planning Greenbelt Protection Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Ministry of Economic Development, Local/Municipal Government Rural Affairs OMAFRA Employment and Infrastructure MEDEI Accessibility Directorate Agriculture Ministry of Tourism, Culture Communities in Transition Program Building stronger rural communities O ce of Social Enterprise and Sport MTCS Capacity building resources for organizations Open for Business Culture Economic development programs and resources Programs, services, tools to help business Sport, Recreation & Community Programs Tourism Local Food innovate and compete Tourism Planning and Operations Rural Summer Jobs Service Young Entrepreneurs Program Tourism, Policy and Development
Ministry of Children and Youth Services MCYS Ministry of Education MEDU Ministry of Training, Colleges Aboriginal Children and Youth Child Care Children’s Aid and Universities MTCU Elementary and Secondary Education Early Childhood policy and programs Adult Learning Full-day Kindergarten Ontario Child Bene t Apprenticeship Parent and Family Literacy Centres School Nutrition Employment Ontario Special needs Post Secondary Education (including OSAP) Youth and the Law Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care MOHLTC Second Career Youth Opportunities programs Youth Employment Fund Assistive Devices OHIP Cancer Screening Public health Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and Emergency Health Services Seniors’ care Healthy Kids International Trade MCI-IT Healthy Smiles Ontario Please note: this is a snapshot of Challenge the World: Youth Volunteer Challenge HIV and Aids those ministries that often work with English and French Adult Language Classes Hospitals and community health centres nonpro ts and is not intended as a Language Interpretation Services Mental Health and Addictions complete list. We encourage you to Newcomer Settlement Program Midwifery check out the resources below. Partnership Project Provincial Honours and Awards
Resources
infogo.gov.on.ca ontario.ca ontario.ca/notforpro ts ontla.on.ca twitter.com Directory of Government of Ontario All about the Government of Ontario, ServiceOntario’s new central source of Website for the Legislative Assembly of Ontario Get updates and connect to Employees and Organizations including Premier’s O ce and Ministries information for nonpro ts and charities to learn about bills, debates and legislation Ministers and Ministry sta 4