Catherine Callbeck
Encyclopedia
Catherine Sophia Callbeck (born July 25, 1939) is a Canadian politician and a current member of the Senate of Canada.
She was the 28th Premier
of Prince Edward Island
from 1993 to 1996, the second female provincial premier in Canadian history, and the first to win a general election (the first female premier, Rita Johnston
of British Columbia
, became premier after winning the party leadership but lost the subsequent election).
, the daughter of Ralph R. Callbeck and Ruth Campbell, she received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mount Allison University
in 1960 and a Bachelor of Education degree from Dalhousie University
in 1962. She took post-graduate courses in business administration from Syracuse University.
Callbeck was a business teacher in New Brunswick
and Ontario
before returning to the island to enter the family retail business.
, she was first elected to Prince Edward Island
's provincial legislature
in 1974. She was appointed to Cabinet
as Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Disabled Persons. She decided not to seek re-election in 1978 in order to work in the family business.
Callbeck returned to politics in 1988 when she was elected to the federal House of Commons
as an MP
for the Liberal Party of Canada
.
and was appointed Premier on 25 January. Under her leadership the Liberals won the provincial election on 29 March 1993, making her the first female leader of a political party in Canada to lead her party to victory in a general election. She was the first woman to win a premiership in Canada through a partisan general election, the second being Kathy Dunderdale
winning the Newfoundland and Labrador general election
in 2011.
Callbeck was premier at the same time as the other three most important public offices in the province were also held by women: Elizabeth II
being Sovereign
, Marion Reid being the Lieutenant Governor
, and Patricia Mella
being the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Her government proved to be unpopular, however, mainly because of her breaking of a signed legal contract to implement a 7.5% rollback on public sector employees salaries, as well as implementing controversial municipal amalgamation policies, staining her party's image for years to come. Callbeck's administration had been faced with rapidly increasing health care costs at the same time as federal equalization and transfer payments were decreased.
as well as the next two general elections, only returning to power in the 2007 election
.
In September 1997 she was appointed on the recommendation of Jean Chrétien
to the Senate
. She can serve in the Senate until 25 July 2014, when she reaches the Senate's mandatory retirement age.
She was the 28th Premier
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
of Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
from 1993 to 1996, the second female provincial premier in Canadian history, and the first to win a general election (the first female premier, Rita Johnston
Rita Johnston
Rita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, became premier after winning the party leadership but lost the subsequent election).
Biography
Born in Central Bedeque, Prince Edward IslandCentral Bedeque, Prince Edward Island
Central Bedeque is a village in Lot 26, Prince County, Prince Edward Island. The village is north of Borden-Carleton. Its primary industry is agriculture.-History:...
, the daughter of Ralph R. Callbeck and Ruth Campbell, she received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
in 1960 and a Bachelor of Education degree from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in 1962. She took post-graduate courses in business administration from Syracuse University.
Callbeck was a business teacher in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
before returning to the island to enter the family retail business.
Early political career
A LiberalPrince Edward Island Liberal Party
The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party is a major political party in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The PEI Liberals are aligned with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The party is led by Robert Ghiz, a former member of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister...
, she was first elected to Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
's provincial legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
in 1974. She was appointed to Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Disabled Persons. She decided not to seek re-election in 1978 in order to work in the family business.
Callbeck returned to politics in 1988 when she was elected to the federal House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
Premier of Prince Edward Island
In January 1993 she returned to provincial politics to successfully run for the leadership of the Prince Edward Island Liberal PartyPrince Edward Island Liberal Party
The Prince Edward Island Liberal Party is a major political party in the province of Prince Edward Island, Canada. The PEI Liberals are aligned with the federal Liberal Party of Canada. The party is led by Robert Ghiz, a former member of the staff of the Prime Minister's Office under Prime Minister...
and was appointed Premier on 25 January. Under her leadership the Liberals won the provincial election on 29 March 1993, making her the first female leader of a political party in Canada to lead her party to victory in a general election. She was the first woman to win a premiership in Canada through a partisan general election, the second being Kathy Dunderdale
Kathy Dunderdale
Kathleen Mary Margaret "Kathy" Dunderdale MHA is a Canadian politician and the tenth and current Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, having served in this capacity since December 3, 2010...
winning the Newfoundland and Labrador general election
Newfoundland and Labrador general election, 2011
The 48th Newfoundland and Labrador general election occurred on October 11, 2011, to elect members of the 47th General Assembly of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 19th election for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
in 2011.
Callbeck was premier at the same time as the other three most important public offices in the province were also held by women: Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
being Sovereign
Monarchy in Canada
The monarchy of Canada is the core of both Canada's federalism and its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Canadian government and each provincial government...
, Marion Reid being the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island
The Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island is the viceregal representative in Prince Edward Island of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her...
, and Patricia Mella
Pat Mella
Patricia Janet Mella was Prince Edward Island PC party leader from 1990 to 1996.She was born Patricia MacDougall in Port Hill, Prince Edward Island and was educated at Saint Dunstan's University and the University of Prince Edward Island. A teacher and lecturer, she married Angelo Mella while...
being the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Her government proved to be unpopular, however, mainly because of her breaking of a signed legal contract to implement a 7.5% rollback on public sector employees salaries, as well as implementing controversial municipal amalgamation policies, staining her party's image for years to come. Callbeck's administration had been faced with rapidly increasing health care costs at the same time as federal equalization and transfer payments were decreased.
Resigned
Callbeck resigned in October 1996 after only three and a half years as PEI's premier. The Liberal party lost the provincial election in November 1996Prince Edward Island general election, 1996
thumb|Map of PEI's ridings showing winning parties and their popular vote.The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island conducted a general election on November 18, 1996 to elect the 27 members of the Island legislature...
as well as the next two general elections, only returning to power in the 2007 election
Prince Edward Island general election, 2007
The 63rd Prince Edward Island general election was held on May 28, 2007. It elected members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island, Canada...
.
In September 1997 she was appointed on the recommendation of Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
to the Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. She can serve in the Senate until 25 July 2014, when she reaches the Senate's mandatory retirement age.