About Kim Campbell:
Kim Campbell was Prime Minister of Canada for only four months, but she can take credit for a number of Canadian political firsts. Kim Campbell was the first woman Prime Minister of Canada, the first woman Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the first woman Minister of National Defence, and she was the first woman elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
Prime Minister of Canada:
1993
Birth:
March 10, 1947 in Port Alberni, British Columbia
Education:
- BA - University of British Columbia
- LL.B. - University of British Columbia
Profession:
A lawyer, Kim Campbell was a university lecturer in political science before entering politics as a school board trustee in Vancouver, British Columbia. After her election defeat in 1993, Kim Campbell lectured at Harvard University. She served as Canadian Consul General in Los Angeles from 1996 to 2000 and has been active in the Council of Women World Leaders.
Political Affiliation:
- Social Credit Party (B.C. provincial)
- Progressive Conservative Party (federal)
Ridings (Electoral Districts):
- Vancouver - Point Grey (B.C. provincial)
- Vancouver Centre (federal)
Political Career of Kim Campbell:
- Kim Campbell was elected trustee of the Vancouver School Board in 1980.
- She became Chairperson of the Vancouver School Board in 1983.
- She was Vice-Chairperson of the Vancouver School Board in 1984 while she completed her law degree.
- Kim Campbell was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in 1986.
- She was first elected to the House of Commons in 1988.
- Kim Campbell was appointed Minister of State for Indian Affairs and Northern Development in 1989.
- She became Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of Canada in 1990.
- She took on the porfolio of Minister of National Defence and Veterans Affairs in 1993.
- Kim Campbell was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1993 and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada.
- The Progressive Conservative government was defeated and Kim Campbell lost her seat in the general election in October 1993.
