Catherine Callbeck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine S. Callbeck
CM OPEI
|
|
|---|---|
| 9th Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island | |
| Assumed office September 29, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Don McDougall |
| 28th Premier of Prince Edward Island | |
| In office January 25, 1993 – October 9, 1996 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor | Marion L. Reid Gilbert Clements |
| Preceded by | Joe Ghiz |
| Succeeded by | Keith Milligan |
| Senator from Prince Edward Island | |
| In office September 22, 1997 – July 25, 2014 |
|
| Nominated by | Jean Chrétien |
| Appointed by | Roméo LeBlanc |
| Leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party | |
| In office January 23, 1993 – October 5, 1996 |
|
| Preceded by | Joe Ghiz |
| Succeeded by | Keith Milligan |
| MLA (Assemblyman) for 4th Prince | |
| In office April 29, 1974 – April 24, 1978 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert Schurman |
| Succeeded by | William MacDougall |
| MLA (Councillor) for 1st Queens | |
| In office March 29, 1993 – November 18, 1996 |
|
| Preceded by | Leone Bagnall |
| Succeeded by | riding abolished |
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Malpeque |
|
| In office December 12, 1988 – January 25, 1993 |
|
| Preceded by | Melbourne Gass |
| Succeeded by | Wayne Easter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 25, 1939 Central Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal (until 2014) Independent Liberal (2014-present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Prince Edward Island Liberal Party |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Businessperson, Teacher |
| Profession | Politician |
| Cabinet | Minister of Health and Social Services (1974–1978) Minister responsible for Native Affairs (1974–1978) Minister responsible for the Disabled (1974–1978) |
| Signature |  |
| Website |
|
Catherine Sophia Callbeck (born July 25, 1939) is a Canadian politician who is now retired. She is the ninth Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI).
She served as the 28th premier of Prince Edward Island from 1993 to 1996. She was the third woman to become a premier in Canada. Catherine Callbeck was also the first female premier to win a general election. Later, she became a member of the Senate of Canada from 1997 until she retired in 2014.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Catherine Callbeck was born in Central Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. Her parents were Ralph R. Callbeck and Ruth Campbell.
She studied at Mount Allison University, earning a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1960. In 1962, she received a Bachelor of Education degree from Dalhousie University. She also took advanced business courses at Syracuse University.
Before entering politics, Callbeck worked as a business teacher. She taught in New Brunswick and Ontario. Later, she returned to Prince Edward Island to work in her family's retail business.
First Steps in Politics
Catherine Callbeck joined the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party. She was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in 1974. This assembly is where laws are made for the province.
She was appointed to the provincial Cabinet. In this role, she served as the Minister of Health and Social Services. She was also the Minister Responsible for Disabled Persons. Callbeck chose not to run for re-election in 1978. She wanted to focus on her family's business.
Serving in the Canadian Parliament
Callbeck returned to politics in 1988. She was elected to the federal House of Commons. This is part of Canada's national government. She became a MP for the Liberal Party of Canada.
She represented the area of Malpeque. During her time in the House of Commons, Callbeck worked on many important committees. She also held different "Critic" roles. A Critic is a member of the opposition party who watches over a specific government department. She was a Critic for areas like Finance and Energy.
Becoming Premier of Prince Edward Island
In January 1993, Catherine Callbeck decided to return to provincial politics. She successfully ran to become the leader of the Prince Edward Island Liberal Party. On January 25, she was appointed Premier. The Premier is the head of the provincial government.
Under her leadership, the Liberals won the provincial election in 1993. This made her the first female leader of a political party in Canada to win a general election. She also won her own seat in the election.
A Time of Female Leadership
During Callbeck's time as Premier, other important roles in Prince Edward Island were also held by women. Elizabeth II was the Queen of Canada and Prince Edward Island. Marion Reid was the Lieutenant Governor. Patricia Mella was the Leader of the Official Opposition.
Also, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Nancy Guptill, and the Deputy Speaker, Elizabeth Hubley, were women. This was a unique time with many women in top leadership positions.
Key Achievements as Premier
Callbeck's time in office saw many positive changes for Prince Edward Island. The economy grew quickly, especially in food processing, manufacturing, and technology. More people found jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped a lot.
Her government also worked to control the province's budget. They managed to turn a large deficit (when the government spends more than it earns) into a surplus (when it earns more than it spends) by 1995–96. This was the first budget surplus in ten years. To achieve this, public service salaries were reduced, but no jobs were cut.
Other achievements included:
- Lower electricity costs due to a new agreement with New Brunswick.
- A new waste management project that made PEI a leader in reducing landfill waste.
- More money invested in health and education programs.
Important Reforms
Callbeck's government also made big changes to how the province was run. They combined smaller towns into larger municipalities to make things more efficient. The number of government departments and agencies was also reduced.
A new electoral system was put in place. It changed how people voted and how representatives were chosen. This was the first major change to the voting system in over a century.
Building the Confederation Bridge
During her time as Premier, construction began on the Confederation Bridge. This bridge connects Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick. When Callbeck became Premier, the project was stuck. She worked with federal officials to solve the problems. This led to a change in the constitution, allowing the largest construction project in the province's history to move forward.
Resignation from Premiership
Catherine Callbeck resigned as Premier in October 1996. She served for about three and a half years. The Liberal party lost the provincial election in November 1996.
Serving as a Senator
On September 22, 1997, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed Catherine Callbeck to the Senate of Canada. Senators are appointed to review laws and represent their regions.
She served on many Senate committees. She also started a study on post-secondary education, which was the first in over 20 years. In January 2014, all Liberal senators, including Callbeck, became independent. She retired from the Senate on her 75th birthday in July 2014.
Chancellor of UPEI
On September 29, 2018, Catherine Callbeck was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university. She is the ninth person to hold this position at UPEI.
Awards and Recognition
Catherine Callbeck has received several important awards for her service.
- In 2015, she was named a member of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
- In 2017, she became a member of the Order of PEI.
- She also holds honorary degrees from Mount Allison University and the University of Prince Edward Island.
See also
- List of female first ministers in Canada
