# Department of Families (Manitoba)

The Department of Families (French: Ministère des Familles; also known as Manitoba Families) is the Manitoba Government agency responsible for family-related programs and services in the province of Manitoba.
The department was created on 3 May 2016 by the newly elected government of Brian Pallister, combining the responsibilities of the former Departments of Family Services and of Housing and Community Development into a single unit.
In 2021, Rochelle Squires became the Minister of Families (French: Ministre des Familles), replacing Minister Heather Stefanson. 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:
   that the Government of Manitoba take early steps to establish and adequately support a Child Welfare Department for the province, shaped on modern lines and provided with facilities which will make possible proper classification of the children cared for, efficient supervision of them all, and a comprehensive survey of the needs of the province in this most important of all fields.
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 (French: Ministre des Familles), which was assigned to Nahanni Fontaine in 2023, replacing former Minister Rochelle Squires.
In 1990, the Minister of Family Services is a cabinet position in the Government of Manitoba. 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'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.
List of Ministers :
| Name | Party | Took office | Left office |
| Minister of Family Services ||||
| Harold Gilleshammer | Progressive Conservative | September 11, 1990 | September 10, 1993 |
| Bonnie Mitchelson | Progressive Conservative | September 10, 1993 | October 5, 1999 |
| Minister of Family Services and Housing ||||
| Tim Sale | New Democratic Party | October 5, 1999 | September 25, 2002 |
| Drew Caldwell | New Democratic Party | September 25, 2002 | November 4, 2003 |
| Christine Melnick | New Democratic Party | November 4, 2003 | September 21, 2006 |
| Gord Mackintosh | New Democratic Party | September 21, 2006 | November 3, 2009 |
| Minister of Family Services and Consumer Affairs ||||
| Gord Mackintosh | New Democratic Party | November 3, 2009 | January 13, 2012 |
| Minister of Family Services ||||
| Kerri Irvin-Ross | New Democratic Party | October 18, 2013 | May 3, 2016 |
| Minister of Families ||||
| Scott Fielding | Progressive Conservative | May 3, 2016 | August 1, 2018 |
| Heather Stefanson | Progressive Conservative | August 1, 2018 | January 5, 2021 |
| Rochelle Squires | Progressive Conservative | January 5, 2021 | October 18, 2023 |
| Nahanni Fontaine | New Democratic Party | October 18, 2023 | |

## Related legislation
### Family Services

| Acts | Note |
| The Accessibility for Manitobans Act | |
| The Adoption Act | |
| The Adult Abuse Registry Act | |
| The Child and Family Services Act | |
| The Child and Family Services Authorities Act | |
| The Community Child Care Standards Act | |
| The Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) Act | |
| The Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council Act | |
| The Parents' Maintenance Act [Section 10] | |
| The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act | |
| The Social Services Administration Act | Under this Act, responsibility for "The Residential Care Facilities Licensing Regulation," M.R. 484/88 R and the whole Act except as it relates to employment and income supports |
| The Social Services Appeal Board Act | |
| The Social Work Profession Act | |
| The Vulnerable Persons Living with a Mental Disability Act | |

### Housing and Community Development

| Acts | Note |
| The Community Renewal Act | |
| The Co-operative Associations Loans and Loans Guarantee Act | |
| The Cooperative Housing Strategy Act | |
| The Cooperative Promotion Trust Act | |
| The Elderly and Infirm Persons’ Housing Act | with respect to elderly persons’ housing units as defined in the Act |
| The Housing and Renewal Corporation Act | except Clause 44(k) and The RentAid Regulation (MR. 148/2006) |
| The Income Tax Act, sections 7.13 to 7.16 and 10.6 | |