Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (Ontario)

The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is the department of the Government of Ontario that is responsible for the delivery and management of government operations, and consumer protection in the Canadian province of Ontario.

Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Ministère des Services gouvernementaux et des Services aux consommateurs  (French)
Ministry overview
Formed2005
Preceding agencies
  • Management Board Secretariat
  • Ministry of Consumer and Business Services
JurisdictionGovernment of Ontario
Ministers responsible
  • Lisa Thompson, Minister of Government and Consumer Services
  • Bob Bailey, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services

It is responsible for ServiceOntario, the retail service delivery operation of the government, and Archives of Ontario. It also oversees numerous boards and administrative authorities charged with consumer protection in specific sectors and industries, such as condominium and travel.

The current minister is Lisa Thompson.[1]

History

Prior to 1972, the Department of Public Works was responsible for the function of providing and maintaining the buildings and facilities that house the operations of the provincial government.

In November 1966, the Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs was established and acquired the responsibility for the regulation of insurance companies, loan and trust companies, and the trading of securities in Ontario. In 1967, a Consumer Protection Division was established to be responsible for a newly created Consumer Protection Bureau. In 1968, it acquired further responsibility over the regulation of credit unions, cemeteries, upholstered and stuffed articles, and the sale of goods and services. In 1970, it further acquired responsibility over the incorporation of companies and the regulation of lotteries.

In 1972, the Government of Ontario was considerably re-organized as the various Departments were restructured and renamed as Ministries.

In 1972, the Ministry of Government Services was created, assuming most the functions of the former Department of Public Works. Over the years in its various forms, the Ministry assumed various responsibility in support of the operations of the provincial government, including maintenance of government buildings; centralized services for government employees; central mail and translation services; information technology and services, etc.

Also in 1972, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations and assumed all responsibilities of the Department of Financial and Commercial Affairs. The new Ministry also acquired the functions associated with the promotion of public safety for boilers, elevators, building standards and fuels, the regulation of theatres, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Liquor License Board of Ontario. In 1986, a standalone Ministry of Financial Institutions and assumed the responsibility over the Ontario Securities Commission and the Pension Commission of Ontario.

In 1993, the Management Board Secretariat absorbed the existing Ministry of Government Services, assuming its function in providing internal corporate services to the provincial government.

In February 2001, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations was renamed the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.

In 2005, the Ministry of Government Services was re-created from the merger of Management Board Secretariat and the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services. The Ministry was headed by a Minister, who was also chair of the Management Board of Cabinet. When the ministry was created, Premier Dalton McGuinty described it as the "chief operating officer of government." The position combined responsibility for consumer protection, business regulation, management of the civil service, labour negotiations and the central plumbing of government: IT, procurement, and shared services. In 2007, the Ministry was renamed Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.

One of the main projects of the ministry was the creation of ServiceOntario. When it was completed in 2011, ServiceOntario was the one-stop shop for all government retail operations. Any and all routine transactions between the government and the public are performed through ServiceOntario offices, websites, call centres or kiosks. Alongside ServiceOntario, the ministry offers access to its public records through three of its licensed service providers, one of which is ESC Corporate Services.

Responsibilities

The ministry is responsible for several key area, including:

  • consumer protection and public safety
  • business law
  • provide Ontario government ministries and employees with corporate services including procurement, finance, HR, pay and benefits
  • collect, manage and preserve historical records of the Ontario Government
  • policy leadership in record-keeping, freedom of information, privacy protection, and information management

The ministry oversees a number of boards and administrative authorities, including[2]:

Former Ministers
Name Term of office Name Term of office Political party
(Ministry)		 Note
Minister of Financial and Commercial Affairs
Leslie RowntreeNovember 24, 1966February 5, 1970 PC
(Robarts)
Bert LawrenceFebruary 5, 1970March 1, 1971
Arthur WishartMarch 1, 1971December 8, 1971 PC
(Davis)
Gordon CartonFebruary 8, 1971February 2, 1972
Eric WinklerFebruary 2, 1972April 10, 1972
Minister of Government ServicesMinister of Consumer and Commercial Relations
James SnowFebruary 2, 1972October 7, 1975Eric WinklerApril 10, 1972September 28, 1972Snow was named Minister of Government Services on February 2, 1972. Ministry was formally renamed from Public Works to Government Services on April 7, 1972
John ClementSeptember 28, 1972June 18, 1975
Sid HandlemanJune 18, 1975September 21, 1977
Margaret ScrivenerOctober 7, 1975February 3, 1977
John SmithFebruary 3, 1977June 23, 1977
James AuldJune 23, 1977September 21, 1977
George McCagueSeptember 21, 1977January 21, 1978 Larry GrossmanSeptember 21, 1977October 18, 1978
Lorne HendersonJanuary 21, 1978August 30, 1979
Frank DreaOctober 18, 1978April 10, 1981
Douglas WisemanAugust 30, 1979July 6, 1983
Gordon WalkerApril 10, 1981February 13, 1982
Robert ElgieFebruary 13, 1982February 8, 1985
George AsheJuly 6, 1983February 8, 1985
Bob RuncimanFebruary 8, 1985May 17, 1985Gordon WalkerFebruary 8, 1985May 17, 1985 PC
(Miller)
Jim GordonMay 17, 1985June 26, 1985Bob RuncimanMay 17, 1985June 26, 1985
Elinor CaplanJune 26, 1985June 16, 1986Monte KwinterJune 26, 1985September 29, 1987 Liberal
(Peterson)
Sean ConwayJune 17, 1986September 9, 1987
Richard PattenSeptember 29, 1987August 2, 1989Bill WryeSeptember 29, 1987August 2, 1989
Chris WardAugust 2, 1989October 1, 1990Greg SorbaraAugust 2, 1989October 1, 1990
Frances LankinOctober 1, 1990April 22, 1991Peter KormosOctober 1, 1990March 18, 1991 NDP
(Rae)
Marilyn ChurleyMarch 18, 1991June 26, 1995
Fred WilsonApril 22, 1991February 3, 1993
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet In 1993, most of the functions performed by the Ministry of Government Services were transferred to the Secretariat of the Management Board of Cabinet.
Brian CharltonFebruary 3, 1993June 26, 1995
David JohnsonJune 26, 1995October 10, 1997 Norm SterlingJune 26, 1995August 16, 1996 PC
(Harris)
David TsubouchiAugust 16, 1996June 17, 1999
Chris HodgsonOctober 10, 1997February 8, 2001
Bob RuncimanJune 17, 1999February 7, 2001
David TsubouchiFebruary 8, 2001April 15, 2002 Minister of Consumer and Business Services
Norm SterlingFebruary 8, 2001April 14, 2002
April 15, 2002October 22, 2003Tim HudakApril 15, 2002October 22, 2003 PC
(Eves)
Gerry PhillipsOctober 22, 2003June 29, 2005Jim WatsonOctober 23, 2003June 29, 2005 Liberal
(McGuinty)
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
Gerry PhillipsJune 29, 2005October 30, 2007
Ted McMeekinOctober 30, 2007July 8, 2008
Minister of Government ServicesMinister of Small Business and Consumer Services
Ted McMeekinJuly 8, 2008June 24, 2009Harinder TakharJuly 8, 2008June 24, 2009
Harinder TakharJune 24, 2009November 27, 2012 Minister of Consumer Services
Ted McMeekinJune 24, 2009January 18, 2010
Sophia AggelonitisJanuary 18, 2010August 18, 2010
John GerretsenAugust 18, 2010October 20, 2011
Margarett BestOctober 20, 2011February 11, 2013
Dwight DuncanNovember 27, 2012February 11, 2013Duncan appointed as interim minister upon Takhar's resignation.
Harinder TakharFebruary 11, 2013May 8, 2013Tracy MacCharlesFebruary 11, 2013June 24, 2014 Liberal
(Wynne)
John MilloyMay 8, 2013June 24, 2014
Minister of Government and Consumer Services
David OraziettiJune 24, 2014June 13, 2016
Marie-France LalondeJune 13, 2016January 12, 2017
Tracy MacCharlesJanuary 12, 2017June 29, 2018
Todd SmithJune 29, 2018November 5, 2018 PC
(Ford)
Bill WalkerNovember 5, 2018June 20, 2019
Lisa ThompsonJune 20, 2019incumbent
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References
  2. https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/Agencies-list?SelectedMinistryId=14&q=
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