Rita Johnston
Encyclopedia
Rita Margaret Johnston (born April 22, 1935; née Leichert) 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 city of Surrey, British Columbia
.
She first entered politics as a city councillor
in Surrey. In 1983
, she elected to as a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly as part of the Social Credit Party
, representing the provincial riding of Surrey
.
She became a cabinet
minister under Premier William Vander Zalm in 1986, serving in various portfolios. She had previously served under Vander Zalm when she was a councilor and he was the mayor of Surrey.
Vander Zalm appointed Johnston deputy premier in 1990. When Vander Zalm resigned on April 2, 1991, Johnston was named interim leader of the party. As such, she was appointed premier on April 2, 1991; making her Canada's first female premier.
At a Social Credit party convention in July 1991 she was formally elected leader of the Social Credit Party of BC, in an upset, defeating the favoured front-runner Grace McCarthy
. However, she had little time to implement any new programs, since she faced a statutory general election
in October. The party was also bitterly divided due to the leadership contest, and had little time to repair the breach before the writs were dropped
.
Johnston's long association with the scandal-plagued Vander Zalm significantly hampered her prospects of winning election in her own right, and she was soundly defeated by the New Democratic Party
led by Michael Harcourt
. Moreover, many moderate Socreds switched their support to the previously moribund Liberals
. The Socreds lost more than half their popular vote from 1986
and were cut down to seven seats, falling to third place in the Legislative Assembly behind the NDP and Liberals. Johnston also lost her Surrey-Newton seat to the NDP's Penny Priddy
.
She resigned as leader of the Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992, and was replaced by McCarthy. Following her defeat Johnston retired from politics and has had a low public profile.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 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
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
.
Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park
Trailer park
A trailer park is a semi-permanent or permanent area for mobile homes or travel trailers. The main reasons for living in such trailer parks are the often lower cost compared to other housing, and the ability to move to a new area more quickly and easily, for example when changing jobs to another...
in the city of Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
.
She first entered politics as a city councillor
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in Surrey. In 1983
British Columbia general election, 1983
The British Columbia general election of 1983 was the 33rd provincial election for the province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 7, 1983. The election was held on May 5, 1983...
, she elected to as a member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly as part of the Social Credit Party
British Columbia Social Credit Party
The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
, representing the provincial riding of Surrey
Surrey (electoral district)
Surrey was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1966 to 1983. The riding's predecessor was the Delta riding....
.
She became a 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 :...
minister under Premier William Vander Zalm in 1986, serving in various portfolios. She had previously served under Vander Zalm when she was a councilor and he was the mayor of Surrey.
Vander Zalm appointed Johnston deputy premier in 1990. When Vander Zalm resigned on April 2, 1991, Johnston was named interim leader of the party. As such, she was appointed premier on April 2, 1991; making her Canada's first female premier.
At a Social Credit party convention in July 1991 she was formally elected leader of the Social Credit Party of BC, in an upset, defeating the favoured front-runner Grace McCarthy
Grace McCarthy
Grace Mary McCarthy, OC, OBC is a former Canadian politician and florist in British Columbia. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial...
. However, she had little time to implement any new programs, since she faced a statutory general election
British Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
in October. The party was also bitterly divided due to the leadership contest, and had little time to repair the breach before the writs were dropped
Dropping the writ
Dropping the writ is the informal term for a procedure in some parliamentary government systems, where the head of government goes to the head of state and formally advises him or her to dissolve parliament...
.
Johnston's long association with the scandal-plagued Vander Zalm significantly hampered her prospects of winning election in her own right, and she was soundly defeated by the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
led by Michael Harcourt
Michael Harcourt
Michael Franklin Harcourt served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th mayor of BC's major city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986....
. Moreover, many moderate Socreds switched their support to the previously moribund Liberals
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
. The Socreds lost more than half their popular vote from 1986
British Columbia general election, 1986
The British Columbia general election of 1986 was the 34th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 24, 1986...
and were cut down to seven seats, falling to third place in the Legislative Assembly behind the NDP and Liberals. Johnston also lost her Surrey-Newton seat to the NDP's Penny Priddy
Penny Priddy
Penny Priddy is a politician from British Columbia, Canada. Originally a nurse, she moved from Ontario to Surrey in 1981 where she worked as a nursing educator...
.
She resigned as leader of the Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992, and was replaced by McCarthy. Following her defeat Johnston retired from politics and has had a low public profile.