Honourable Margaret MacDiarmid

Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government

Margaret MacDiarmid was elected MLA for Vancouver-Fairview in the 2009 general provincial election. She was appointed Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government on Sept. 26, 2011. Previously she was Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health. She also serves as Vice Chair on the Cabinet Committee for Families First.Margaret has previously served as Minister of Tourism, Trade and Investment and Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Relations, and Minister of Education and Minister Responsible for Early Learning and Literacy.Margaret has been a family physician for 23 years. She served on the board of the BC Medical Association for 12 years and was president in 2006-2007. The BCMA is a voluntary association of 11,000 members comprised of British Columbia’s physicians, medical residents, and medical students. During her time with the BCMA, Margaret met with key leaders from government and other organizations.Margaret experienced the health care system as a patient after an early diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007. She received treatment and has fully recovered.Originally from Saskatchewan, Margaret and her husband Robert moved to Rossland, BC in 1989. Since the mid-1990s, both Robert’s and Margaret’s work brought them more frequently to Vancouver, where ultimately they decided to settle. Margaret enjoys golf, bridge, playing piano, kayaking and treasures the time she spends with family and friends.