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 O. Fedoruk, Saskatchewan
She lived (1927-2012)

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.

2006-12 Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis, Nova Scotia

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

2010 Acting Commissioner Nellie Kusugak, Nunavut
2015- Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner 2010-15.

2010- Commissioner Edna Elias, Nunavut

2012- Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon, British Columbia
(b. 1947-)

2014- Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Ontariao
Former Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth in Saskatchewan and Canadian Federal

2014- Lieutenant-Governor Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, New Brunswick
Former provincial Assistant Deputy Minister of Education and Executive Officer of the Bathurst campus of the New Brunswick Community College system

2015-  Lieutenant-Governor Janice Filmon, Manitoba
Former chair on the CancerCare Foundation board of directors and is a noted healthcare fundraiser in Manitoba.

2015- Lieutenant-Governor Lois Mitchell, Alberta
Former business woman.

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

1991-95 Government Leader 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 Premier Catherine Callbeck, Prince Edwards Islands
Also President of the Executive Council.

2000-02 Premier 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.

2008-13 Premier Eva Aariak, Nunavut
Journalist and community worker, Language Commissioner 1999-2004 and 2007, the only female Member of the Legislative Assembly 2008-13.

2010 Acting Premier Kathy Dunderdale Newfoundland and Labrador (01.02.-15.03)
2010-14 Premier
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- Premier 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-).

2011-14 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-)

2012-14 Premier 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 and Deputy Premier 2001-03 Leader of Parti Québécois 2007-14 and Opposition Leader 2008-12. (b. 1949-).

2012-16 President of the Executive Council Sarah Leo, the Nunatsiavut Autonomous Area in Newfoundland and Labrador
Former AngajukKak for the Nain Inuit Community Government and Vice-President (North) on the Combined Councils of Labrador.

2013- Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ontario
Minister of Education 2006-10, of Transportation, 2010-11 and of Municipal Affairs, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs 2011-12. Defeated Sandra Pupatello, who was considered the frontrunner, to become Leader of the Liberal Party and Premier. Wnnne lives with her partner Jane Routhwaite (b. 1953-)

2014- First Minister Kate Mitchell, the Nunatsiavut Autonomous Area in Newfoundland and Labrador
Member of the Nunatsiavut Assembly from 2014.

2015- Premier Rachel Notley, Alberta
MLA from 2003 and Leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party from 2014.

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. Premier from 2012. (b. 1949-).

2002-03 Elizabeth Withmer, Ontario
Minister of Education.

2003-11 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.

2004-09 Shirley Bond, British Columbia
Also Advanced Education Minister and later Minister of Transportation. Other ministerial posts until 2012.

2005-16 Elaine Taylor, the Yukon
Held a large number of different ministerial posts since 2002. (b. 1967-).

2007-11 Natalie Normandeau, Québec
Minister-Delegate of of Regional Development 2003-05 and Minister of Municipal Affairs since 2005. From 2007 the cabinet had 9 female and 10 male ministers, with Monique Jérôme-Forget as Minister of Finance. (b. 1968-).

2008-10 Kathy Dunderdale Newfoundland and Labrador
2010 Acting Premier
2010-14 Premier
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 twice in 2010, while current Premier took a leave of absence to undergo heart surgery in the Florida and later in the year when he resigned.

2013- Diana Whalen, Nova Scotia
Deputy Premier and Deputy President of the Executive Council, Minister of Finance and the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Credit Union Act, the Insurance Act, the Liquor Control Act, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and the Securities Act

2013- Deborah Drake Matthews, Ontario
Deb Matthews is Minister of Education in the government of Kathleen Wynne.

2014- Lise Thériault, Quebec
Held different ministerial posts since 2005.

2015- Monica Inunak Ell-Kanayuk, Nunavut
Also Minister of Economic Development, Mines, Energy, Status of Women, Nunavut Business Credit Corporation, Nunavut Development Corporation

2016- Heather Stefanson, Manitoba
Also Justice Minister. She is Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party.

2016- Sarah Hoffman, Alberta
Also Minister of Health in the government of Rachel Notley.

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
Federal Senator 1953-65. She lived (1888-1969)

1963-66 Thelma Forbes, Manitoba
 Minister of Urban Development and Municipal 1966-68 Minister of Public Works 1968-69 election. She lived (1910-2012)

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 appointed Minister of Education in 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.

2007-11 Kathleen Casey, Prince Edward Island

2010-14 Patricia Ford, Nunatsiavut Autonomous Area in Newfoundland and Labrador

2011-15 Carolyn Bertram, Prince Edward Island

2011-15 Jackie Jacobsen, North West Territories

2013- Linda Reid, British Columbia

2014- Jocelyne Roy-Vienneau, New Brunswick

2016-  Myrna Driedger, Manitoba

2016- Patti McLeod, Yukon

Local Party Leaders (Until 2007)

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-circa 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

Circa 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

2000-2001 Leader of the New Democratic Party Helen MacDonald, Nova Scotia

2000-2003 Interim Leader of New Democrat Party Joy MacPhail, British Columbia 
2001-2005 Opposition Leader
Former Minister of Social Affairs,  Finance and Deputy Premier

2000-2006 Leader of the Green Party Adriane Carr, British Columbia
Not represented in the legislature. Became Deputy Leader in 2006.

2003-2011 Leader of of New Democratic Party Carole James, British Columbia
2005-2011 Opposition Leader

2005 Interim Leader of the Parti Québécois Louise Harel, Quebec
2005-2006 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-).

2007-2014 Leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ) Pauline Marois, Quebec
2008-2012 Opposition Leader in the National Assembly of Quebec
Deputy Prime Minister 2001-03 and Premier 2012-14.

Last update 21.11.16