Rita Johnston

Rita Johnston was the first woman provincial premier in Canada, although she had the job of premier of British Columbia for only a few months. Known as a hard worker and a team player, Rita Johnston spent most of her political career in municipal politics in Surrey, British Columbia. She followed Premier Bill Vander Zalm's footsteps into provincial politics and it was her strong association with his government that ultimately led to her own political defeat.

July to October 1991

April 22, 1935 in Melville, Saskatchewan

• Stenographer at Household Finance and Bank of Montreal

• Manager at Bell Financial Ltd.

• Owner-operator of mobile home park

Social Credit Party

• Surrey 1983-86
• Surrey-Newton 1986-91

• Rita Johnston was elected as a municipal councillor in Surrey, British Columbia in 1969 and remained an alderman until 1983. From 1970 to 1975 the Surrey Council was led by Mayor William Vander Zalm.

• When Bill Vander Zalm moved to provincial politics, Rita Johnston ran for Mayor of Surrey, losing by only 100 votes.

• Rita Johnston was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in the 1983 general election.

• She was appointed parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in 1985 and parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Municipal Affairs in 1986.

• When British Columbia Premier Bill Bennett retired in 1986, Rita Johnston supported Bill Vander Zalm's bid for the leadership.

• When Bill Vander Zalm became premier, Rita Johnston was appointed to cabinet as the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

• Rita Johnston was re-elected in 1986 and filled a number of cabinet spots in the rather chaotic Vander Zalm government.

• She was Minister of Municipal Affairs and Transit from 1986 to 1988.

• Rita Johnston was Minister of State for the Kootenay Region from 1987 to 1988.

• She served as Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture from 1988 to 1989.

• She was Minister of Transportation and Highways from 1989 to 1991.

• In 1990, Rita Johnston was appointed Deputy Premier.

• With the resignation of Premier Bill Vander Zalm in 1991, Rita Johnston became interim leader of the Social Credit Party, and Acting Premier. Several months later Rita Johnston was elected leader of the Social Credit Party and became Premier of British Columbia. She was the first woman to be a provincial premier in Canada.

• Rita Johnston's Social Credit government was defeated by the NDP in the 1991 British Columbia general election, and Rita Johnston lost her own seat.

• Rita Johnston resigned as leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party in 1992.