Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

With the UCP gaining power in Alberta’s recent provincial election, Jason Kenney became premier of Alberta and for the first time since 2008, no women preside over a Canadian provincial or territorial legislature. And that’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Until 1991, when Rita Johnston became British Columbia premier, because of a scandal involving then Premier Bill Vander Zalm, Canadian provinces had been ruled by male premiers. Since then, 11 women has held that position, but not one of those premiers, even those who led their government to a majority mandate, has had the support required to stay in office for more than a full term after being elected. Instead, some women were forced to resign within 2 years of leading their parties to majority government re-election victories. This presentation examines the context in which women are selected to lead political parties – a key step to becoming a premier or prime minister – to determine if women are selected to lead parties that were in crisis or declin