Deb Matthews

Matthews has numerous family connections to both Liberals and Progressive Conservatives. Her father, Don Matthews, was once president of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. Her first husband, Robbie Nash, was a well-known Tory developer in the London region, and her second husband Bruce McCaffrey (who died in 2002) was once a provincial Progressive Conservative MPP, and a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller. Matthews is also the sister-in-law of former Ontario Premier David Peterson, who defeated Miller in 1985 and whose brother Tim Peterson is the current MPP for Mississauga South. Matthews herself was previously known as Debbie Nash, using the surname of her first husband.

She has been involved in the Liberal Party since 1975, when she helped run Peterson's campaign in the old riding of London Centre. She co-chaired the Liberal Party's successful campaign in the provincial election of 1987, as well as its less successful campaign in the 1995 election. She has also been involved in numerous community activities in London, including fundraising for the Boys and Girls Club of London in 1995-96.

In the 2003 Ontario election, Matthews defeated Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Dianne Cunningham by almost 7,000 votes. Ironically, her riding includes significant portions of the London Centre riding once represented by her brother-in-law.

On October 23, 2003, she was appointed parliamentary assistant to Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's Minister of Community and Social Services. She shares this position with Ernie Parsons.

Matthews is currently a PhD candidate in social demography at the University of Western Ontario, where she has also worked as an instructor.