Deputy Minister Richardson

Deborah Richardson became Deputy Minister of Health in March 2024. 

Deborah, LL.B, BA, is a proud Mi’gmaq woman from the Pabineau First Nation in New Brunswick and is the first Indigenous woman to serve as a Deputy Minister within the Ontario public service.

Over the past nine years, she has held diverse Deputy Minister positions across the OPS, including Deputy Minister of Treasury Board Secretariat, Deputy Solicitor General, Correctional Services, and Deputy Minister of Indigenous Affairs. 

Deborah is a seasoned executive, business-savvy lawyer, and a change-maker with almost three decades of private, not-for-profit and public experience. She is known for her caring, collaborative style, and ability to nurture relationships, which has contributed to her reputation as an authentic leader and humanitarian. 

As a forward-thinking and fiscally responsible leader, making a difference is extremely important to Deborah. In all her roles – including as Regional Director General for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Assistant Deputy Minister for the Aboriginal Relationships and Ministry Partnerships division, Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ring of Fire Secretariat at the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Deputy Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Business Banking Account Manager at the Royal Bank of Canada and Executive Director of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto –  she has worked tirelessly to champion meaningful change through improving service delivery and implementing strategic initiatives to help combat social justice issues. 

Deborah is also a breast cancer survivor and she and her husband, Bob, are the proud parents of five children. Her lived experiences bring an important perspective to her leadership. 

  • Company:Ontario public service
  • Short Bio:Deputy Minister of Health
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