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Women as heads of government in Canada

by Maurice Y. Michaud (he/him)

Rita Margaret Johnston (1935– )
© Photo Legislative Assembly, British Columbia — Fair use

In 1991, Rita Johnston became Canada’s first head of government. Her tenure as Social Credit premier of British Columbia was short, just six and a half months. She is also notable for being the last SoCred to hold that position anywhere in the country.

Gradually, more women have held the highest office in government, but Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have yet to have a female premier. On the other hand, the Northwest Territories and British Columbia have had two each while Alberta has had three so far. All are still alive today.

Remember that in our parliamentary system, the head of state is King Charles III, represented by the governor general federally and the lieutenant governors in the provinces and territories. The prime minister and the premiers are the heads of government.

So far, of the 321 persons who have reached this position, 16 were women, and 2 are in office right now.

The first ones, by jurisdiction

Who	Details
Kim Campbell (1947– )		Canada Party Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Rank 19th Age at start of mandate 46 years 3 months Dates 25 June — 3 November 1993
Rita Johnston (1935– )		British Columbia Party British Columbia Social Credit Party Rank 28th (1st woman of 2) Age at start of mandate 55 years 11 months Dates 2 April — 16 October 1991
Alison Redford (1965– )		Alberta Party Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta Rank 14th (1st woman of 3) Age at start of mandate 46 years 7 months Dates 7 October 2011 — 22 March 2014
None		Saskatchewan
Heather Stefanson (1970– )		Manitoba Party Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba Rank 24th Age at start of mandate 51 years 5 months Dates 2 November 2021 — 2 October 2023
Kathleen Wynne (1953– )		Ontario Party Ontario Liberals Rank 25th Age at start of mandate 59 years 8 months Dates 11 February 2013 — 4 June 2018
Pauline Marois (1949– )		Québec Party Parti Québécois Rank 30th Age at start of mandate 63 years 5 months Dates 4 September 2012 — 6 April 2014
Susan Holt (1977– )		New Brunswick Party New Brunswick Liberal Party Rank 35th Age at start of mandate 47 years 5 months Dates 21 October 2024 — present
None		Nova Scotia
Catherine Callbeck (1939– )		Prince Edward Island Party Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island Rank 28th Age at start of mandate 53 years 6 months Dates 25 January 1993 — 8 October 1996
Kathy Dunderdale (1952– )		Newfoundland and Labrador Party Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador Rank 10th Age at start of mandate 58 years Dates 3 December 2010 — 23 January 2014
Pat Duncan (1960– )		Yukon Party Yukon Liberal Party Rank 6th Age at start of mandate 40 years Dates 17 April 2000 — 3 November 2002
Nellie Cournoyea (1940– )		Northwest Territories Party Independent Rank 5th (1st woman of 2) Age at start of mandate 51 years 8 months Dates 14 November 1991 — 21 November 1995
Eva Aariak (1955– )		Nunavut Party Independent Rank 2nd Age at start of mandate 53 years 10 months Dates 19 November 2008 — 18 November 2013

All the women, in chronological order

Who	Details
1 Rita Johnston (1935– )		British Columbia (1st of 2) Party British Columbia Social Credit Party Rank 28th (British Columbia) Age at start of mandate 55 years 11 months Dates 2 April — 16 October 1991
2 Nellie Cournoyea (1940– )		Northwest Territories (1st of 2) Party Independent Rank 5th (Northwest Territories) Age at start of mandate 51 years 8 months Dates 14 November 1991 — 21 November 1995
3 Catherine Callbeck (1939– )		Prince Edward Island Party Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island Rank 28th (Prince Edward Island) Age at start of mandate 53 years 6 months Dates 25 January 1993 — 8 October 1996
4 Kim Campbell (1947– )		Canada Party Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Rank 19th (Canada) Age at start of mandate 46 years 3 months Dates 25 June — 3 November 1993
5 Pat Duncan (1960– )		Yukon Party Yukon Liberal Party Rank 6th (Yukon) Age at start of mandate 40 years Dates 17 April 2000 — 3 November 2002
6 Eva Aariak (1955– )		Nunavut Party Independent Rank 2nd (Nunavut) Age at start of mandate 53 years 10 months Dates 19 November 2008 — 18 November 2013
7 Kathy Dunderdale (1952– )		Newfoundland and Labrador Party Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador Rank 10th (Newfoundland and Labrador) Age at start of mandate 58 years Dates 3 December 2010 — 23 January 2014
8 Christy Clark (1965– )		British Columbia (2nd of 2) Party BC Liberals Rank 34th (British Columbia) Age at start of mandate 45 years 4 months Dates 14 March 2011 — 17 July 2017
9 Alison Redford (1965– )		Alberta (1st of 3) Party Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta Rank 14th (Alberta) Age at start of mandate 46 years 7 months Dates 7 October 2011 — 22 March 2014
10 Pauline Marois (1949– )		Québec Party Parti Québécois Rank 30th (Québec) Age at start of mandate 63 years 5 months Dates 4 September 2012 — 6 April 2014
11 Kathleen Wynne (1953– )		Ontario Party Ontario Liberals Rank 25th (Ontario) Age at start of mandate 59 years 8 months Dates 11 February 2013 — 4 June 2018
12 Rachel Notley (1964– )		Alberta (2nd of 3) Party Alberta New Democrats Rank 17th (Alberta) Age at start of mandate 51 years 1 month Dates 24 May 2015 — 29 April 2019
13 Caroline Cochrane (1960– )		Northwest Territories (2nd of 2) Party Independent Rank 13th (Northwest Territories) Age at start of mandate 58 years 10 months Dates 24 October 2019 — 6 December 2023
14 Heather Stefanson (1970– )		Manitoba Party Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba Rank 24th (Manitoba) Age at start of mandate 51 years 5 months Dates 2 November 2021 — 2 October 2023
15 Danielle Smith (1971– )		Alberta (3rd of 3) Party United Conservative Party Rank 19th (Alberta) Age at start of mandate 51 years 6 months Dates 11 October 2022 — present
16 Susan Holt (1977– )		New Brunswick Party New Brunswick Liberal Party Rank 35th (New Brunswick) Age at start of mandate 47 years 5 months Dates 21 October 2024 — present