Elizabeth Witmer is the first female MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo and Region of Waterloo, former Deputy Premier and currently serves as Official Opposition Critic for Health and Long-Term Care as well as Chair of the PC Caucus. As a Cabinet Minister she managed some of the toughest files at Queen’s Park between 1995-2003.

Elizabeth was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1990. In June 1995, she was appointed Minister of Labour where she moved quickly to restore balance to provincial
labour relations to again make Ontario the best province in Canada for attracting new investment and jobs. She also strengthened workplace safety and insurance legislation.

In October 1997, she was appointed Minister of Health, where she undertook the daunting task of implementing the long overdue restructuring of Ontario’s health system to improve access to health care for Ontarians.

In June 1999, Elizabeth was re-appointed Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and forged a collaborative approach with health stakeholders to move forward decisively
with primary care and mental health reform, the modernization of Ontario’s hospitals, telehealth and the expansion of community services and 20,000 new long-term care
beds.

Elizabeth was appointed Minister of the Environment on February 8, 2001, ignaling that the future sustainability and protection of Ontario’s air, water and natural environment were of the highest priority to the Ontario Government.

She was appointed Deputy Premier of Ontario and Minister of Education in April 2002. After committing record levels of funding and the implementation of recommendations in the Rozanski Report, students saw unprecedented improvements to the education system in areas of early literacy and numeracy and students at risk.

AWARDS

Active in her community, Elizabeth was recognized in 1987 as Kitchener-Waterloo’s Woman of the Year. In 1996, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association awarded her the Dr. Harry Paikin Award of Merit for her exceptional contribution in the field of education. She was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club in 1997 “for service above self.”

In July 2001, in Italy, she was presented with the International Philippe Pinel Award in recognition of her contribution to mental health reform. In May, 2002, Elizabeth was awarded Honorary membership with the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. In May, 2005, Elizabeth was awarded the SmogBuster Award by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance for her work as Minister of the Environment when she signed the regulation to close the first coal plant in Ontario, Lakeview Generating Station. In 2007, Equal Voice, an organization committed to electing more women at every level of government in Canada, invited Ontarians to nominate the woman they felt would make Ontario’s Greatest Female Premier. When the votes were in, Ontarians voted Elizabeth Witmer as the woman who would make the province’s Greatest Female Premier.

In 2010, she was given the Social Work Doctors Colloquium Award of Merit in recognition of her significant commitments to the values of a caring and just society.

She was also presented with the Lifetime Impact Award by the Isaac Foundation in 2010 for creating positive change in the life of Isaac and advocating for those affected by rare diseases.

In 2011 she received the Zonta Women of Achievement Award as a political trailblazer for 30 years.

A former secondary school teacher, Elizabeth served as trustee for the Waterloo Board of Education from 1980 to 1990, including an unprecedented five years as chairperson. Born in the Netherlands, she was raised in Exeter, Ontario, and graduated from the University of Western Ontario. She and husband, Cameron, have two children: Scott and Sarah.

In her leisure time and as a former sports coach, Elizabeth enjoys sports, hiking, golfing and gym workouts. Gardening at home and at the cottage, cooking, reading and travelling are also favourite pastimes.