Leal worked as executive assistant to members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) John Eakins and Larry South in the 1980s.
[8] In February 2013, Premier Kathleen Wynne named Leal to Ontario's Cabinet, serving in the role as Minister of Rural Affairs.
[9] Leal has helped secure over $400 million in funding for Peterborough, creating and preserving over 3,700 jobs with investments in infrastructure, transportation, businesses and health care.
[10][11] Leal has championed a number of issues through private member's bills, including retirement and income security measures.
He introduced a private member's bill in 2008 to provide creditor protection for Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs).