Minister tapped for triple duty
Coteau adds community and social services to anti-racism, youth duties
At Queen’s Park, he’s the busiest MPP — times three.
Michael Coteau, already minister of children and youth services and responsible for antiracism, is now in charge of a third big portfolio — community and social services.
Premier Kathleen Wynne announced the cabinet shuffle last Monday after the abrupt departure of health minister Eric Hoskins, who left to lead national pharmacare efforts.
“I was obviously surprised,” Coteau told the Star. “I went to go see the premier, and an hour later, I was being sworn in. For me, that was an honour.”
Later that day, he was still on pickup duty for his youngest daughter, getting her from her older sister’s volleyball practice and bringing her home in time for bed. “My wife told them and my daughter said ‘does this mean you are going to have to run in the election?’ ” Yes, he told the 8-year-old.
Then she said, “You are doing three things now, but Justin Trudeau is only doing one thing, right?”
Laughing, Coteau explained “I’m doing three — but Justin Trudeau is looking after the country.”
For Coteau, 45, it’s going to be a hectic couple of months before he’ll have to switch into election mode in his Don Valley East riding. Critics wonder if he has too much on his plate given all the issues his trio of ministries face.
But he has the confidence of Premier Kathleen Wynne — who, like Coteau, is a former Toronto school trustee. Since becoming an MPP, “Michael has made his presence felt across government,” she said.
“He’s a hard-working representative of his constituents — I know that first-hand because our ridings are neighbours and we often handle similar concerns and, occasionally, events.” She promoted the former community organizer to cabinet in 2013 “and he has worked even harder since. Throughout his political career, he’s tackled important issues like student nutrition, increased supports for mental health and combating systemic racism.”
She said his work on anti-racism involved him “taking tough questions at heated meetings and pushing all of us in government to do more” and led to groundbreaking anti-racism legislation and strategies.
“He is a fierce and tireless advocate — qualities that make him perfect for those jobs and will make Ontario a fairer, better place to live.”
NDP health critic France Gelinas wonders if children’s services are not a priority given Coteau’s huge workload.
“There are some big issues and I don’t see the time or effort or the energy put in by the previous minister,” she said.
But Coteau said his social services predecessor, Helena Jaczek — now health minister — “was able to accomplish a lot. So I think at this point, considering there are two months left before we go into the writ period, I will be able to take on the responsibilities.
“And I think most importantly, there is a lot of overlap between the two ministries. The logic behind it is that there are so many comparable things.”
He said overseeing youth and social services gives him a “good window to look at those transition points … how we can make those processes smoother” as responsibility for children with developmental delays passes from one ministry to the other when they turn 18.
“These types of ministries mean a lot to me. Community and social services is one of those ministries that often affects the most vulnerable Ontarians.”
He knows there is a lot still to accomplish — “there’s always a lot of work,” he said.
“We don’t stop. The premier always says we’re not going to stop developing policy because an election’s coming forward.”
Coteau, who was previous minister of citizenship and immigration, tourism and the Pan-Am Games, said that experience has given him an understanding of “the big picture” and able to “make decisions based on what’s necessary with the allocated resources.”
The father of two — his older daughter is 11 — grew up in Toronto’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood, where he says he can think of more people he knew who died from violent crime than went on to post-secondary education.
Coteau was the first in his family to go to university, which he has called a “game changer” in his life, only applying after a neighbour paid the $50 application fee.
“He is a fierce and tireless advocate — qualities that make him perfect for those jobs and will make Ontario a fairer, better place to live.” KATHLEEN WYNNE ON MICHAEL COTEAU