Browse "Premiers"

"THINGS ARE GOING TO BE very different in the legislature," promised newly minted Opposition Leader Carole James last Tuesday, in what was more of a resurrection speech than an election-night concession.

Caroline Cochrane, Métis politician, social worker, premier of the Northwest Territories (born 5 December 1960 in Flin Flon, MB). Cochrane became the MLA for Range Lake, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (NWT) in 2015. In October 2019, she became the second female premier of the NWT. As of 2019, she is Canada’s only female premier.

In 1988 she returned to politics, this time at the federal level, winning the PEI riding of Malpeque for the Liberals. Following the resignation of PEI premier Joe Ghiz, Callbeck announced she wished to succeed him.

Ryan Craig loves to Rollerblade. He listens to the Smashing Pumpkins, surfs the Net and likes Seinfeld almost as much as beach Frisbee. Ask him about politics, though, and Craig, a 21-year-old personnel officer for the Manitoba Lotteries Corp. in Winnipeg, becomes deadly earnest.

From the front porch of his home above the lakeside retreat of North Hatley, Que., Jean Charest could watch the spring breakup on Lake Massawippi last week while considering the thaw he, himself, had just ushered in to Canada's own icebound political landscape.

IT COST HIM five years of pressing flesh in the boonies, away from home and the cameras, but Jean CHAREST was finally able to convince a majority of Quebec voters that he belongs - and is ready to govern the province.

Charles Augustus Semlin, schoolteacher, prospector, rancher, premier of BC 1898-1900 (b at Barrie, UC Oct 1836; d at Ashcroft, BC 3 Nov 1927). After teaching in Barrie, Semlin came to BC in 1862, buying the Dominion Ranch in 1869. Elected Conservative MLA for Yale in 1871, he was defeated in 1875.

Dunning, Charles Avery, businessman, politician, premier of Saskatchewan (b at Croft, Eng 31 July 1885; d at Montréal 1 Oct 1958). General manager of the Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Company, Dunning entered provincial politics in 1916 when opposition to both national parties was spreading.

Charles Dow Richards, lawyer, politician, premier of NB 1931-33 (b at Southampton, York County, NB 12 June 1879; d at Fredericton 15 Sept 1956). Initially a schoolteacher, Richards was admitted to the bar at age 33.

Charles James Fox Bennett, merchant, politician, premier of Newfoundland 1870-74 (b at Shaftesbury, Eng 11 June 1793; d at St John's 5 Dec 1883). Bennett was one of the wealthiest merchants in mid-19th-century Newfoundland.

Charles Stewart, farmer, politician, premier of Alberta 1917-21 (b at Strabane, Ont 26 Aug 1868; d at Ottawa 6 Dec 1946). Stewart brought his family to the Killam area of central Alberta in 1906.

Christina Joan “Christy” Clark, 35th premier of British Columbia (2011–2017), radio broadcaster, political staffer (born 29 October 1965 in Burnaby, BC). Clark was a fiscal conservative with a populist flourish, often compared to legendary premier W.A.C. Bennett. She was the first female premier to be re-elected in Canadian history.

Well, perhaps. In fact, the contrasts displayed on election night last week in British Columbia were, for the most part, more apparent than real - as was Clark's claim to be leading the province of 3.8 million down a radically new road.

This time there will be no push. No false non-aggression pact like the one Brian MULRONEY made with him in the early 1980s while all the while scheming against him.

In the spring of 1996, Glen CLARK was British Columbia's golden boy, a 38-year-old street-smart politician from Vancouver's scrappy east end who led the New Democratic Party to a stunning victory. He cast himself as a feisty populist and promised jobs and megaprojects.

There is not much Canadians don’t know about Joe Clark by now. He is an eternal optimist to some, a punching bag for others, and that combination has set him up for some of the more humiliating political defeats of his generation.

On Monday of last week, Glen Clark, ex-New Democrat premier of B.C., was hanging off the side of an office tower 28 floors above downtown Vancouver. He didn't have a noose around his neck, as some in the business community might wish. Far from it.

Clifford William Robinson, lawyer, businessman, premier of NB 1907-08 (b at Moncton, NB 1 Sept 1866; d at Montréal 27 July 1944). In 1897 Robinson was elected mayor of Moncton and a member of the provincial Assembly.

In 1977 he was Newfoundland representative on a Canadian Bar Association committee on the Constitution and in 1981 he argued the government's case in the Newfoundland Supreme Court against the federal government's claim that it could unilaterally patriate the constitution.

Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, lawyer, politician, 24th premier of Ontario 2003-13 (born 19 July 1955 in Ottawa, ON).