guide2womenleaderscom
Female Canada Local Leaders
There are 10 provinces and three territories

Also see Canada Ministers

Lieutenant-Governors

1974-80 Lieutenant-Governor Pauline M. Gibbon, Ontario
She lived (1910-2001)

1979 Commissioner Ione Christensen, the Yukon Territory
Later federal Senator

1981-86 Lieutenant-Governor Peal McGonigal, Manitoba
(b. 1929-)

1985-91 Lieutenant-Governor Helen Hunley, Alberta
She lived (1920-2010)

1988-94 Lieutenant-Governor Dr. Sylvia Fedoruk, Saskatchewan
(b. 1927-)

1990-95 Lieutenant-Governor Marion L. Reed, Prince Edward Island
(b. 1929-)

1994-97 Lieutenant-Governor Margaret Norrie McCain, New Brunswick
(b. 1934-)

1994-99 Commissioner Helen Mamayaok Maksagak, North West Territories
1999-2000 Commissioner of Nunavut
2005-09 Deputy Commissioner of Nunavut
She had been deputy Commissioner 1992-95 and was the first Inuit Commissioner. She lived (1931-2009).

1995-2000 Commissioner  Judy Gingell, Yukon Territory
She was the first Canadian Indian Commissioner. 1989-95 she was chairperson of the First Nation's Council (Today Grand Chief) 

1996-2007 Lieutenant-Governor Lise Thibault, Quebec
(b. 1939-)

1997-2002 Lieutenant-Governor Hilary Frayne Weston, Ontario
(b. 1942-)

1997-2003 Lieutenant-Governor Dr. Marilyn Trenholme Councell, New Brunswick
(b. 1934-)

1999-2005 (†) Lieutenant-Governor Lois E. Hole, Alberta
She lived (1933-2005)

2000-06 Lieutenant-Governor Lynda Haverstock, Saskatchewan
(b. 1942-)

2000-06 Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman; Nova Scotia
(b. 1949-)

2000-05 Commissioner Glenna F. Hansen, North West Territories
(b. 1956-)

2001-07  Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnlo, British Columbia
(b. 1932-)  

2005-10 Commissioner Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Nunavut

2005-10 Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber, the Yukon
Administrator of the Yukon Territory 2001-05.

2006- Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis, Nova Scotia

2006-11 Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Hagerman, Prince Edward Island

2010 Acting Commissioner Nellie Kusugak, Nunavut
Appointed Deputy Commissioner in February and Acted from April to March.

2010- Commissioner Edna Elias, Nunavut

Premiers and Government Leaders

1972 Interim Premier Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, Québec 
She was the lawyer. She was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec (1961-73). She was also the first woman appointed as a Cabinet Minister in Quebec.1962 - 64 Minister without portfolio, 1964- 66 Minister of Transportation and Communications, 1970-72 Minister of Tourism, Game and Fishing, 1972-73 Minister of Cultural Affairs. She was also the first woman ever appointed as interim Premier of a provincial government during the absence of its representative. (b. 1924 - )

1977 Interim Leader of the Territorial Council (Government)  Hilda Watson, Yukon 
As Interim Leader of Progressive Conservatives, which held the majority in the Assembly, she technically was head of the government. She lived (1922-97)

1991  Rita M. Johnston, British Columbia
She was Premier and President of the Executive Council.

1991-95 Nellie Cournoyea, North West Territories
She was Member of the Legislative Assembly 1979-95 and held various Ministerial post since 1984 before becoming the first aboriginal Government Leader. From 1996 Director General-President of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. (b. 1940-)

1993-96 Catherine Callbeck, Prince Edwards Islands
Also President of the Executive Council.

2000-02 Pat Duncan, Yukon 
Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1996, Leader of Liberal Party 1998-05 and its only member of the Legislature 2002-05.

2008- Eva Aariak, Nunavut
Journalist and community worker, Language Commissioner 1999-2004 and 2007, the only female Member of the Legislative Assembly from 2008.

2010 Acting Premier Kathy Dunderdale Newfoundland and Labrador  (01.02.-15.03)
2010- Premier (03.12-)
Member of the Legislature from 2003 and Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development till 2006 when she was given the portfolios for the Minister of Natural Resources, Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. Deputy Premier from 2008. Assumed the duties of Premier, while current Premier took a leave of absence to undergo heart surgery in the Florida, and became his successor after his resignation later in the year.

2011- Christy Clark, British Columbia
Liberal Member of the Legislature 1996-2005, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Children and Family Development 2001-04. A few months after her appointment in 2001, she was the first member of the BC-cabinet to give birth. (b. 1965-).

2011- Premier Alison Redford, Alberta
MLA and Minister of Justice 2008-11. Leader of the provincial Progressive Conservative party and Premier and President of the Executive Council from 2011 . (b. 1965-)

Deputy Premiers

1975-83 and 1986-88 Grace McCarthy, British Columbia
Also Provincial Secretary, Minister of Recreation and Travel Industry and later Minister of Human Resources etc. (b. 1927-).

1985-88 Muriel A. Smith, Manitoba
Also Minister of Community Services, Status of Women, Labour and Housing. (b. 1930-).

1986-91 Rita M. Johnston, British Columbia
Also Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture. And Premier in 1991. (b. 1935-).

1987-91 Adele Landry, New Brunswick
She was President of the Executive Council.

1985-89 Lise Bacon, Quebec
Minister of Culture, Environment, Industry and Natural Resources. (b. 1934-).

1989-90 Pat Smith, Saskatchewan
Also Minister of Energy and Mines.

1985 Bette Stephenson, Ontario
She was also Minister of Finance and Treasurer. She had been member of the Cabinet since 1975. (b. 1924-).

1989-90 Lynn Verge, Newfoundland and Labrador
Minister of Education and later Energy and National Resources, Leader of the Opposition and the Ontario Liberal Party 1992-96.

1991-93 Anita Hagen, British Columbia
Also Minister of Education.

1993-96 Elizabeth Cull, British Columbia
Also Minister of Finance.

1994 Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, Québec
1998 Leader of the Official Opposition
2003-05 Vice-Premier
Minister-Delegate for Women's Affairs 1985-89,  Minister of Cultural Communities and Immigration and Vice-President of the Council of the Treasury 1989-94,
Minister of Finance 1993-94, Minister of Administration and Civil Service 1994, President of the Liberal Caucus 1994-96, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition 1999-2003 and Minister of International Relations, the Francophonie since 2003. (b. 1940-).

1994-95 Marcelle Mersereau, New Brunswick
Various Ministerial Portfolios 1991-99

1999-2003 Jean Myfanwy Friesen, Manitoba
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

1999-2000 Lois Boone, British Columbia
Minister since 1991, latest in charge of Children and Families.

2000-01 Joy K. MacPhail, British Columbia 
Also Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, B.C. Ferries, and the Workers' Compensation Board. Interim Leader of New Democratic Party's 2000-03 and Leader of the Opposition 2001-05, of which she is one of the only two members of the legislature since 2001, and she was succeeded by Carole James, as Party and Opposition Leader.

2000-02 Janice MacKinnon, Saskatchewan
Minister of Economic Development.

2000-02 Jane Ostler Groenewegen, North West Territories
Minister of Health and Social Services. Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 2003-11, the only woman in any government postition in the NWT after the elections. From 2011 there were none except for 2 Assembly Members.

2000-03 Patricia J. Mella, Prince Edward Island
Second in the Cabinet and Provincial Treasurer since 1996.

2001-04 Christy Clark, British Columbia
Minister of Education 2001-2004 and from 2004 Minister of Children and Family Development. A few months after her appointment in 2001, she was the first member of the BC-cabinet to give birth. Premier from 2011. (b. 1965-).

2001-07 Shirley McClellan, Alberta
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development until 2004 and then Minister of Finance.

2001-03 Pauline Marois, Québec
Various ministerial portfolios, the first time in 1981. Latest among other Minister of Finances, Economy and Research and Minister Responsible for the Montérégie Region. Finished second in the elections for the post of Leader of Parti Québécois in 1985 and 2005. Became leader in 2007 and Opposition Leader in 2008 when the party finished second in the elections. (b. 1949-).

2002-03 Elizabeth Withmer, Ontario
Minister of Education.

2003- Rosann Wowchuk, Manitoba

Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs 1999-2003 and Minister of Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives 2003-09 and of Finance from 2009.

2004-08 Levinia Brown, Nunavut
Also Minister of Health & Social Services. She and the Minister of Finance and Government House Leader, Leona Aglukkaq, are the two first female ministers since the self-governing province was established in 1999.

2004- Shirley Bond, British Columbia
Also Advanced Education Minister and later Minister of Transportation.

2005- Elaine Taylor, the Yukon
Also Minister of Tourism and Culture, Public Service Commission and the Women's Directorate from 2002. (b. 1967-).

2007- Natalie Normandeau, Québec
Minister-Delegate of of Regional Development 2003-05 and Minister of Municipal Affairs since 2005. From 2007 the cabinet has got 9 female and 10 male ministers, with Monique Jérôme-Forget as Minister of Finance. (b. 1968-).

2008- Kathy Dunderdale Newfoundland and Labrador
2010 Acting Premier (01.02.-15.03)
2010- Acting Premier (03.12-)
Member of the Legislature from 2003 and Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development till 2006 when she was given the portfolios for the Minister of Natural Resources, Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. Assumed the duties of Premier, while current Premier took a leave of absence to undergo heart surgery in the Florida and later in the year when he resigned.

Speakers of Legislatures

1928 Acting Speaker Mary Ellen Spear Smith, British Columbia
MLA 1918-28, Minister Without Portfolio in 1921. She lived (1861-1933)

1949-52 Speaker Nancy Hodges, British Columbia
Senator 1953-65. She lived (1888-1969)

1963-66 Thelma Forbes, Manitoba

1982-86 Marion L. Reid, Prince Edwards Islands
Deputy Speaker 1979-82, and Lt. Governor 1990-95.

1986-88 Myrna Phillips, New Brunswick

1991-94 Joan Sawicki, British Columbia

1992-94 Shirley Dysart, New Brunswick

1993-94 Jeannie Marie-Jewell, North West Territories
Various Ministerial Posts 1987-91.

1993-96 Nancy Guptill, Prince Edwards Islands

1993-96 Rebecca Mike, North West Territories

1995-99 Louise Dacquay, Manitoba
Deputy Speaker 1990-95

1998-2000 Gretchen Mann Brewin, British Columbia

2000-03 Mildred Dover, Prince Edward Island
Minister of Health and Social Services 1996-2000 and Minister of Education from 2003.

2002-03 Louise Harel, Quebec
Former High-ranking minister on various occations since 1984. Interim Leader of the Parti Québécois in 2005 and Opposition Leader 2005-06 and Candidate for Mayor of Montreal in 2009.

2007- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Kathleen Casey, Prince Edward Island

Local Party Leaders

This list is the curtsey of  Alex E.H. Ng, B.A. (Hon's), LL.B 

1951-57 Leader of Co-opeartive Commonwealth Federation Party Marie Thérèse Forget-Casgrain, Quebec
1948-ca. 80 Federal Vice-Chairperson of the Party which later evolved into New Democratic Party. Senator 1970-71. Lived (1896-1981)

1977  Progressive Conservative Interim Leader Hilda Watson, Yukon 
 (since the PCs had a majority at the time, this technically made her the first
female head of government in Canadian history)

1981-95 New Democratic Party Leader Alexa McDonough, Nova Scotia
Currently the federal leader

1987-1993 (?) Liberal Leader Sharon Carstairs, Manitoba 

1988-? New Democratic Party Leader  Elizabeth Weir, New Brunswick 
2000-03 Leader
During the second period, she was her party's only MLA.

1989-96 Liberal Leader Lynda Haverstock, Saskatchewan

1990s Progressive Conservative Leader Barbara Baird Filliter, New Brunswick  

1990-96 Progressive Conservative Leader Pat Mella, Prince Edwards Island

1991-92 Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party Rita Johnston, British Columbia
For the first few months she was also Premier.  

1992-94 Leader of B.C. Social Credit Leader by Grace McCarthy, British Columbia

1992-96 Liberal Leader Lyn McLeod, Ontario 

1993-96 Liberal Leader Catherine Callbeck, Prince Edward Island 
Concurrently Premier of PEI

Ca. 1995-96 Leder of the Opposition and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party Vera Lynn Verge, Newfoundland and Labrador 
Deputy Premier in 1989

1996-2000 New Democrat Leader Pam Barrett, Alberta 

1997-1998 Liberal Leader Ginny Hasselfield, Manitoba

1997-2002 Leader of Liberal Party Pat Duncan, Yukon
Former Premier 2000-02 and from 2002 the only member of the legislature.

1998-2001  Liberal Leader Nancy MacBeth, Alberta

2000-01 Leader of the New Democratic Party Helen MacDonald, Nova Scotia

2000-03 Interim Leader of New Democrat Party Joy MacPhail, British Columbia 
2001-05 Oppostition Leader
Former Minister of Social Affairs,  Finance and Deputy Premier

2000- Leader of the Green Party Adriane Carr, British Columbia
Not represented in the legislature.

2003- Leader of of New Democratic Party Carole James, British Columbia
2005- Oppostition Leader

2005 Interim Leader of the Parti Québécois Louise Harel, Quebec
2005-06 Opposition Leader in the National Assembly
Former President of the National Assembly (Local Assembly), she took over as acting leader after her predecessor resigned. After a new leader was elected, she constinued as Leader of the Official Oppostition until he became a member of the legislature. (b. 1946-).

2007- Leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ) Pauline Marois, Quebec
2008- Opposition Leader in the National Assembly of Quebec
Deputy Prime Minister 2001-03.

Last update 29.11.11