List of female political party leaders in Canada

Last updated

The following women have served as leaders of political parties represented in the House of Commons or a provincial legislature.

Contents

Federal

PortraitNamePolitical partyDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationHighest position
AudreyMcLaughlin2012 1.png Audrey McLaughlin New Democratic 5 December 198914 October 19955 years, 313 days
KimCampbell.jpg Kim Campbell Progressive Conservative 13 June 199314 December 1993184 daysPrime Minister (1993)
Alexa McDonough cropped.jpg Alexa McDonough [1] New Democratic 14 October 199525 January 20037 years, 103 days
Elsie Wayne (interim) Progressive Conservative 2 April 199814 November 1998226 days
Deborah Grey.jpg Deborah Grey (interim) Canadian Alliance 27 March 20008 July 2000103 days
Elizabeth May in July 2014.jpg Elizabeth May Green 26 August 20064 November 201913 years, 70 days
19 November 2022incumbent3 years, 60 days
Vivian Barbot (interim) Bloc Québécois 11 May 201111 December 2011214 days
Nycole Turmel 2011.jpg Nycole Turmel (interim) New Democratic 22 August 201124 March 2012215 daysLeader of the Opposition (2011–2012)
Rona Ambrose at the 67th World Health Assembly - 2014 (cropped).jpg Rona Ambrose (interim) Conservative 5 November 201527 May 20171 year, 203 daysLeader of the Opposition (2015–2017)
Martine Ouellet 2016-06-30 B.jpg Martine Ouellet Bloc Québécois 14 March 201711 June 20181 year, 89 days
Jo-AnnRoberts.jpg Jo-Ann Roberts (interim) Green 4 November 20193 October 2020334 days
Annamie Paul in Toronto Regent Park (cropped).jpg Annamie Paul Green 3 October 202014 November 20211 year, 42 days
Candice Bergen - 2017 (cropped).jpg Candice Bergen (interim) Conservative 2 February 202210 September 2022220 daysLeader of the Opposition (2022)

Alberta

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Bettie Hewes (interim)19941994 Liberal
Pam Barrett 8 September 19962 February 20003 years, 178 days New Democratic
Nancy MacBeth 18 April 199815 March 20012 years, 331 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (1998–2001)
Eleanor Maroes (interim)20052005 Alberta Alliance
Danielle Smith 17 October 200917 December 20145 years, 61 days Wildrose Leader of the Opposition (2012–2014)
Alison Redford 1 October 201123 March 20142 years, 173 days Progressive Conservative Premier (2011–2014)
Rachel Notley 18 October 201422 June 20249 years, 248 days New Democratic Premier (2015–2019)
MLA Heather Forsyth.jpg Heather Forsyth (interim)22 December 201428 March 201596 days Wildrose Leader of the Opposition (2014–2015)
Danielle Smith 2014.jpg Danielle Smith 6 October 2022incumbent3 years, 104 days United Conservative Premier (2022–)

British Columbia

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Rita Johnston 2 April 19917 March 1992340 days Social Credit Premier (1991)
Grace McCarthy (interim)6 November 1993May 1994176 days Social Credit None [a]
Joy MacPhail, 1994.jpg Joy MacPhail (interim)16 May 200123 November 20032 years, 191 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2001–2005) [b]
Carole James 2 (32732133464).jpg Carole James 23 November 200320 January 20117 years, 58 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2005–2011) [c]
Jane Sterk.JPG Jane Sterk 20072013? Green None
DawnBlack2011.PNG Dawn Black (interim)20 January 201117 April 201187 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2011)
Christy Clark 26 February 20114 August 20176 years, 159 days Liberal Premier (2011–2017)
SoniaFurstenauCampaignOffice2024 (cropped).jpg Sonia Furstenau 14 September 202028 January 20254 years, 167 days Green None
Shirley Bond (interim)23 November 20205 February 20221 year, 74 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (2020–2022) [d]
Dallas Brodie (interim)9 June 2025incumbent223 days OneBC None
Emily Lowan [2] 24 September 2025incumbent116 days Green None

Manitoba

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Sharon Carstairs 4 March 19845 June 19939 years, 93 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (1998–1990)
Ginny Hasselfield 19 October 199617 October 19981 year, 363 days Liberal
Canadianbokhari.png Rana Bokhari 26 October 201324 September 20162 years, 334 days Liberal
Flor Marcelino (interim) [3] 7 May 201616 September 20171 year, 132 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2016–2017)
Judy Klassen (interim)21 October 201613 June 2017235 days Liberal
Heather Stefanson 30 October 202115 January 20242 years, 77 days Progressive Conservative Premier (2021–2023)
Cindy Lamoureux (interim)17 October 2023incumbent2 years, 93 days Liberal

New Brunswick

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Shirley Dysart (interim)19854 May 1985 Liberal Leader of the Opposition (1985)
Elizabeth Weir 19912003 New Democratic
Susan Holt.jpg Susan Holt [4] 6 August 2022incumbent3 years, 165 days Liberal Premier (2024–)

Newfoundland and Labrador

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Lynn Verge (interim)29 April 19951996 Progressive Conservative
Lorraine Michael NL NDP.jpg Lorraine Michael [5] 28 May 20067 March 2015283 days New Democratic
Yvonne Jones 13 November 200714 August 20113 years, 274 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (2007–2012)
Kathy Dunderdale [5] 3 December 201024 January 20143 years, 52 days Progressive Conservative Premier (2010–2014)
Alison Coffin 5 March 201919 October 20212 years, 228 days New Democratic

Nova Scotia

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Alexa McDonough cropped.jpg Alexa McDonough 16 November 198019 November 199414 years, 3 days New Democratic
Helen MacDonald 17 July 200024 April 2001281 days New Democratic
Karen Casey (interim)20092010 Progressive Conservative
Maureen MacDonald (interim)23 November 201327 February 20162 years, 96 days New Democratic
Karla MacFarlane (interim)24 January 201827 October 2018276 days Progressive Conservative Leader of the Opposition (2018)
Claudia Chender [6] 25 June 2022incumbent3 years, 207 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2024–)

Ontario

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Lyn McLeod 19921996 Liberal Leader of the Opposition (1992–1996)
Andrea Horwath September 2022 portrait (cropped).jpg Andrea Horwath 7 March 200928 June 202213 years, 113 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2018–2022)
Kathleen Wynne 26 January 20137 June 20185 years, 132 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (2013–2018)
Marit Stiles - May 18, 2023 (cropped).jpg Marit Stiles 4 February 2023incumbent2 years, 348 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2023–)
Bonnie Crombie [7] 2 December 202314 January 20262 years, 43 days Liberal

Prince Edward Island

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Catherine Callbeck 23 January 19935 October 19963 years, 256 days Liberal Premier (1993–1996)
Sharon Cameron 19 November 20226 April 2023138 days Liberal
Karla Bernard (interim)21 July 20237 June 20251 year, 321 days Green

Quebec

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay (interim)2 March 199830 April 199859 days Liberal
Louise Harel (interim)6 June 200515 November 2005162 days Parti Québécois
Françoise David 4 February 200619 January 201710 years, 350 days Québec solidaire
Photographie officielle de Pauline Marois.png Pauline Marois 27 June 20077 June 20146 years, 345 days Parti Québécois Premier (2012–2014)
Manon Massé 19 January 201726 November 20236 years, 311 days Québec solidaire
Dominique Anglade [8] 11 May 202010 November 20222 years, 183 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (2020–2022)
Émilise Lessard-Therrien 26 November 202329 April 2024155 days Québec solidaire
Christine Labrie (interim)2 May 202416 November 2024198 days Québec solidaire
Ruba Ghazal 16 November 2024incumbent1 year, 63 days Québec solidaire

Saskatchewan

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Lynda Haverstock 2 April 198912 November 19956 years, 224 days Liberal Leader of the Opposition (1995)
Nicole Sarauer (interim)20 June 20173 March 2018256 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2017–2018)
Carla Beck at rally.jpg [9] Carla Beck 26 June 2022incumbent3 years, 206 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2022–)

Yukon

PortraitNameDate assumed officeDate departed officeDurationPolitical partyHighest position
Hilda Watson 19781979 Progressive Conservative
Pat Duncan 19982005 Liberal Premier (2000–2002)
Liz Hanson.jpg Elizabeth Hanson 26 September 20095 May 20199 years, 221 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2011–2016)
Stacey Hassard (interim)17 November 201623 May 20203 years, 188 days Yukon Party Leader of the Opposition (2016–2021)
Kate White [10] 4 May 2019incumbent6 years, 259 days New Democratic Leader of the Opposition (2025–)

Notes

  1. ↑ Grace McCarthy served as deputy premier in the Bill Bennett and Vander Zalm ministries prior to becoming leader of the party.
  2. ↑ Joy MacPhail served as deputy premier in the Dosanjh ministry prior to becoming leader of the party.
  3. ↑ Carole James served as deputy premier in the Horgan ministry after her tenure as leader of the party.
  4. ↑ Shirley Bond served as deputy premier in the Campbell ministry prior to becoming leader of the party.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trailblazing former NDP leader Alexa McDonough dies at 77" . The Globe and Mail . 15 January 2022. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Emily Lowan Elected Leader of the BC Green Party". BC Greens. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Flor Marcelino, interim Manitoba NDP leader, says she's 'really not a debater'". CBC News . 9 May 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Susan Holt elected as New Brunswick Liberal leader". CBC News . 6 August 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  5. 1 2 Tsicos, Stephanie; Garrett, Crystal (1 June 2025). "From Catholic nun to NDP Leader: New documentary puts spotlight on Newfoundland's Lorraine Michael". CTV News . Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Speaker of House of Assembly Chosen". Nova Scotia . 10 December 2024. Archived from the original on 11 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Jones, Allison (14 September 2025). "Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie says she'll resign once successor is chosen". CP24. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Marc Tanguay named interim leader of Quebec Liberals following Rodriguez resignation". iPolitics. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Mihalik, Halyna (10 November 2024). "Sask. NDP wins all but 1 seat in Regina and Saskatoon after final votes counted". CBC News . Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Hatherly, Dana (24 November 2025). "Opposition NDP shadow cabinet set to criticize Yukon Party government". Yukon News . Retrieved 17 January 2026.
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