The Department of Families (; also known as Manitoba Families) is the Manitoba Government agency responsible for family-related programs and

services Service may refer to: Activities * Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty * Civil service, the body of employees of a government * Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a p ...

in the

province of Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Winn ...

. The Department was created on 3 May 2016 by the newly-elected government of

Brian Pallister Brian William Pallister (born July 6, 1954) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd premier of Manitoba from 2016 until 2021. He served as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 2012 to 2021. He was previously a cab ...

, combining the responsibilities of the former Departments of Family Services and of Housing and Community Development into a single unit. In 2021,

Rochelle Squires Rochelle Squires is a Canadian provincial politician who has served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of Riel since 2016. A member of the Progressive Conservative party, she was first elected in the 2016 Manit ...

became the Minister of Families (), replacing Minister

Heather Stefanson Heather Dorothy Stefanson (born May 11, 1970) is a Canadian politician who has served as the 24th premier of Manitoba since November 2, 2021. She is the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba and sits as a member of the Legi ...

. 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: The Government created the new Department of Public Welfare in 1924 and added it to the existing responsibilities of the Minister of Education. Between 1928 and 1961, it was known as the Department of Health and Public Welfare, followed by the Department of Welfare in 1961. In 1990, it was renamed to the Department of Family Services, and in 1999, the Department of Family Services and Housing. In 2009, the name was changed to Family Services and Consumer Affairs. In 2012, the department became Family Services and Labour. In 2013, the department returned to the name Family Services. In 2016, the department name was changed to the Department of Families.

Minister of Families

The Department of Families in Manitoba is overseen by the Minister of Families (), which was assigned to

in 2021, replacing former Minister

. In 1990, the Minister of Family Services is a cabinet position in the

Government of Manitoba The powers and structure of the provincial Government of Manitoba (french: Gouvernement du Manitoba) are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867. In modern Canadian use, the term "government" referred broadly to the cabinet of the day (formally ...

. In 1999, the responsibilities of this portfolio were assigned to the new Minister of Family Services and Housing. 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 Gregory Francis Selinger (born February 16, 1951) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 21st premier of Manitoba from 2009 until 2016, leading an NDP government. From 1999 to 2009 he was the Minister of Finance in the government of ...

's new cabinet in 2009. 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. In 2013, the Minister of Family Services position was reinstated; however, in 2016, the responsibilities of this portfolio would be assigned to the new Minister of Families.

Related legislation

Family Services

Housing and Community Development

References

{{reflist

External links

Government of Manitoba - Families
Manitoba government departments and agencies Government agencies established in 1924 1924 establishments in Manitoba