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For the American military pilot, see Kim Campbell (pilot). For the fictional British television character, see Kim Campbell (Waterloo Road).
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The Right Honourable
Kim Campbell
PC CC OBC KC
Kim Campbell.jpg
Campbell in 2012
19th Prime Minister of Canada
In office
June 25 – November 4, 1993
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn
Deputy Jean Charest
Preceded by Brian Mulroney
Succeeded by Jean Chrétien
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
In office
June 13 – December 14, 1993
Preceded by Brian Mulroney
Succeeded by Jean Charest
Minister of National Defence
In office
January 4 – June 25, 1993
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Preceded by Marcel Masse
Succeeded by Tom Siddon
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
January 4 – June 25, 1993
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Preceded by Gerald Merrithew
Succeeded by Peter McCreath
Minister of Justice and Attorney General
In office
February 23, 1990 – January 3, 1993
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Preceded by Doug Lewis
Succeeded by Pierre Blais
Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development)
In office
January 30, 1989 – February 22, 1990
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Minister Pierre Cadieux
Preceded by Bernard Valcourt
Succeeded by Shirley Martin
Personal details
Born
Avril Phaedra Douglas Campbell

(1947-03-10) March 10, 1947 (age 78)
Port Alberni, British Columbia, Canada
Political party Independent (since 2003)
Other political
affiliations
  • NPA (1980–1986)
  • BC Social Credit
    (1983–1988)
  • Progressive Conservative (1988–2003)
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1983)​
Howard Eddy
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 1993)​
Hershey Felder
​
(m. 1997)​
Alma mater
Signature

Avril Phaedra Douglas "Kim" Campbell (born March 10, 1947) is a Canadian politician, lawyer, and writer. She made history as the 19th prime minister of Canada. She served from June to November 1993. Kim Campbell is the first and only female prime minister of Canada.

Before becoming prime minister, she was also the first woman to be Minister of Justice. She was also the first woman to become Minister of Defence in a NATO country. Campbell was first elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in 1986. She then became a Member of Parliament in 1988.

Under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, she held several important roles. These included Minister of Justice, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and Minister of National Defence. She became prime minister in June 1993 after Mulroney stepped down. In the 1993 Canadian federal election that October, her party lost many seats. Campbell herself lost her seat. Her time as prime minister, 132 days, is the third-shortest in Canadian history.

Campbell was the first prime minister born in British Columbia. She was also the first baby boomer to hold the job. Today, she chairs the advisory board for the Canadian Supreme Court.

Early Life and Education

Kim Campbell was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, on March 10, 1947. Her parents were Phyllis and George Campbell. Her father was a lawyer.

When she was young, her family moved to Vancouver. At 12, her mother left, and her father raised Kim and her sister. Kim gave herself the nickname "Kim" as a teenager. She went to Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver. She was a top student and the first female student president. She graduated in 1964.

University Studies

Campbell studied political science at the University of British Columbia. She earned her degree in 1969. She was very active in student government. She was the first female president of her freshman class.

She then studied at the London School of Economics in 1970. She planned to get a doctorate in Soviet government. She even toured the Soviet Union for three months. She had studied the Russian language for years. However, she left her studies and returned to Vancouver. She married Nathan Divinsky in 1972. She later earned a law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1983. In 1984, she became a lawyer in British Columbia. She practiced law until 1986.

Early Political Career

While married to Divinsky, Campbell taught political science part-time. She taught at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Community College. She started her political career as a trustee on the Vancouver School Board. She served there from 1980 to 1984. In 1983, she became the chair of the board. She was vice-chair in 1984.

Campbell and Divinsky divorced in 1983. She married Howard Eddy in 1986. This marriage ended shortly before she became prime minister. Campbell was the second Canadian prime minister to be divorced. The first was Pierre Trudeau. She is now married to Hershey Felder, who is an actor and composer.

Entering Provincial Politics

Campbell first ran for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1983. She ran for the British Columbia Social Credit Party in Vancouver Centre but did not win. She then worked briefly for Premier Bill Bennett.

In 1986, she ran for the leadership of the Social Credit party. She placed last. However, in October 1986, she was elected to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. She represented Vancouver-Point Grey. After some time, Campbell decided to leave provincial politics. She wanted to enter federal politics instead.

Federal Politics and Cabinet Roles

Campbell was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1988 Canadian federal election. She became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Vancouver Centre. In 1989, she joined the cabinet. She was appointed Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development). This was a junior role.

From 1990 to 1993, she served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General. During this time, she worked on important changes to Canada's criminal laws. These changes included new laws on gun control and assault. She also helped create the Court Challenges Program. This program helped people challenge laws that might violate their rights.

In 1993, Campbell became Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs. During her time, there were discussions about replacing helicopters for the navy. There was also a controversial issue involving the Canadian Airborne Regiment, known as the Somalia Affair. This incident led to a public inquiry later on.

The David Milgaard Case

As Justice Minister, Campbell received a request for a new trial for David Milgaard. He had been wrongly convicted of murder in 1970. He spent decades trying to clear his name. Campbell faced a lot of public and media pressure on this case. She wrote in her book that her decision was delayed. This was because Milgaard's legal team kept adding new information to the appeal. In January 1991, she said there wasn't enough evidence to grant the request. Milgaard was later cleared in 1993.

Becoming Prime Minister (June–November 1993)

In 1993, Prime Minister Mulroney was not very popular. Polls showed his party would likely lose the next election. In February 1993, Mulroney announced he would retire. Campbell decided to run for the leadership of the party. She had already held four cabinet positions. More than half of her party's MPs supported her.

Kim Campbell Signature
Kim Campbell's signature

She won the leadership race in June against Jean Charest. On June 25, Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn appointed her prime minister. She made Jean Charest her Deputy Prime Minister.

As prime minister, Campbell reorganized the cabinet. She cut the number of ministers from 35 to 23. She also combined some ministries. For example, she created new ministries for Health, Canadian Heritage, and Public Security. Later governments kept these new ministries.

Campbell spent the summer campaigning across the country. She attended many events. In August 1993, a poll showed she had a 51% approval rating. This made her Canada's most popular prime minister in 30 years. Her personal popularity was higher than Liberal Party leader Jean Chrétien. Support for her party also grew.

Campbell was the first prime minister not to live at 24 Sussex Drive. This is the official home of the prime minister. Mulroney stayed there while his new home was being renovated. Campbell lived at Harrington Lake, the prime minister's summer retreat.

Her time as prime minister was unique. She never faced Parliament because her term was during the summer break and the election campaign. It was also the first time in Canadian history that both the head of state (Queen Elizabeth II) and the head of government (Kim Campbell) were women.

The 1993 Election and Defeat

Campbell called an election for October 25, 1993. This was the latest date allowed by law. Her party was hopeful they would stay in power.

The Election Campaign

Campbell's popularity dropped during the campaign. Her honest way of speaking, which was once an asset, sometimes caused problems. She said that big issues like the deficit could not be fixed quickly. She also said that a full discussion of Canada's social policies couldn't happen in just 47 days. This was shortened by others to "an election is no time to discuss important issues."

As the campaign continued, her party's support fell. The Liberals, Reform Party, and Bloc Québécois gained support. The PC campaign team released ads criticizing the Liberal leader. One ad caused a lot of controversy and was seen as mocking. Campbell said she ordered the ad to be pulled.

Election Results

On October 25, the Liberals won by a large margin. Campbell lost her own seat in Vancouver Centre to Hedy Fry. She famously said, "Gee, I'm glad I didn't sell my car."

It was only the third time a prime minister lost their own riding while their party lost an election. Only two members of Campbell's party won seats. This was the worst defeat in the party's history. Some people believe gender inequality played a role in her loss. Others point to Brian Mulroney's unpopularity. He left office as one of the most unpopular prime ministers.

On December 13, 1993, Campbell resigned as party leader. Jean Charest took over. Because her time as prime minister and MP was short, Campbell did not qualify for a government pension.

Life After Politics

Even after her big election loss, Chatelaine magazine named Campbell its Woman of the Year for 1993. She wrote her autobiography, Time and Chance, in 1996. The book became a bestseller in Canada.

In 1996, she was appointed consul general to Los Angeles. She held this job until 2000. While there, she worked with her husband, Hershey Felder, on a musical.

From 1999 to 2003, she led the Council of Women World Leaders. This group connects women who are or have been presidents or prime ministers. From 2003 to 2005, she was president of the International Women's Forum. This is a global group for women who have achieved great things. From 2001 to 2004, she was a lecturer at Harvard University. She has also served on the boards of several companies.

Campbell chaired the steering committee of the World Movement for Democracy from 2008 to 2015. She has also served on the boards of other international organizations. These include the International Crisis Group and the Forum of Federations. She is also a founding member of the Club de Madrid. This group works to strengthen democracy worldwide. Its members are former heads of state and government.

In 2014, Campbell was appointed the founding principal of the Peter Lougheed Leadership College at the University of Alberta. She has appeared on TV shows about leadership and current events. In 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked her to chair a committee. This committee helped choose a new judge for the Supreme Court of Canada.

In 2019, Campbell made a controversial tweet about Hurricane Dorian and a U.S. president's property. She later deleted the tweet and apologized. She has also shared her views on the Conservative Party of Canada. She stated she could not be a member because she finds it "too intolerant" and "too right-wing."

In September 2022, Campbell attended Elizabeth II's state funeral. In March 2024, she said she could not support the current Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre. She believes he is a "liar and a hate-monger."

Legacy and Impact

Campbell's time as prime minister was short. She could not introduce new laws because Parliament did not meet. However, she made big changes to the government's structure. She cut the federal cabinet from over 35 ministers to 23. She also combined or removed 15 ministries. Later governments kept these changes. She was also the first prime minister to hold a meeting with provincial leaders before attending the G7 Summit.

Because of her brief time in office, Campbell did not appoint any members to the Senate. She has criticized Brian Mulroney for not letting her take over sooner. She felt she had little time to gain support before the election. Some believe the 1993 election loss was a vote against Mulroney. Others think Campbell's campaign was the main reason for the defeat.

The Progressive Conservative party never fully recovered after 1993. In 2003, the party merged with the Canadian Alliance. They formed the Conservative Party of Canada. This meant the Progressive Conservative party stopped existing.

Campbell remains one of the youngest women to become prime minister in any country. She is also one of the youngest to leave the office. Historians have ranked her among Canada's prime ministers. In several surveys, she has been ranked last. However, in 2004, the National Geographic Society included her in a list of 50 important political leaders. This was because she was the only female head of government in North America.

On November 30, 2004, Campbell's official portrait was revealed. It hangs in the prime minister's gallery in Parliament. She said she was honored to be the only woman pictured there. She hopes to see many more female faces in the future.

Honours and Awards

Order of Canada (CC) ribbon bar.svg Order British Columbia ribbon bar.svg
Canada125 ribbon.png QEII Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.png QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.png

Honours
Ribbon Description Notes
Order of Canada (CC) ribbon bar.svg Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.)
  • Awarded on April 10, 2008; and
  • Invested on September 3, 2010
Order British Columbia ribbon bar.svg Member of the Order of British Columbia (O.B.C.)
  • 2012
Canada125 ribbon.png 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
QEII Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.png Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal for Canada
QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.png Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Canada

As a former Prime Minister, she is called "The Right Honourable" for life.

  • Appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada on Canada Day 2008.
  • Member of the Board, Forum of Federations.

Scholastic Achievements

Chancellor, visitor, governor, and fellowships

Location Date School Position
 Massachusetts 2001 – Center for Public Leadership John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Honorary Fellow
 England  – London School of Economics Honorary Fellow
 Ontario  – Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto Distinguished Senior Fellow


Honorary Degrees

Location Date School Degree
 Ontario 1992 Law Society of Upper Canada Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Ontario June 13, 1998 Brock University Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Massachusetts June 19, 1999 Northeastern University Doctor of Public Service (DPS)
 British Columbia November 23, 2000 University of British Columbia Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Massachusetts 2004 Mount Holyoke College Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Pennsylvania 2005 Chatham College Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Arizona December 15, 2005 Arizona State University Doctor of Humane Letters (DHL)
 Alberta Fall 2010 University of Alberta Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Ontario 2011 Trent University Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 British Columbia June 11, 2014 Simon Fraser University Doctor of Laws (LL.D)
 Nova Scotia May 13, 2018 Acadia University Doctor of Civil Law (DCL)


Appointments and Roles

Location Date Institution Position
 Canada January 30, 1989 – Queen's Privy Council for Canada Member (PC)
 Canada  – Government of Canada Queen's Counsel (QC)
 Canada 1996–2000 Government of Canada Consul General to Los Angeles


Memberships and Fellowships

Location Date Organisation Position
 Spain 2001– Club of Madrid Member
 Spain 2003–2004 Club of Madrid vice President
 Spain 2004–2006 Club of Madrid Secretary General
 District of Columbia 2003–2005 Council of Women World Leaders President


See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kim Campbell para niños

  • Time and Chance (Kim Campbell)
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