Rita Johnston facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rita Margaret Johnston
29th Premier of British Columbia
In office April 2, 1991 – November 5, 1991
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	David Lam
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Succeeded by	Mike Harcourt
Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party
In office April 2, 1991 – March 7, 1992
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Succeeded by	Jack Weisgerber
Minister of Municipal Affairs of British Columbia
In office August 14, 1986 – November 1, 1989
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Jack Heinrich
Succeeded by	Lyall Hanson
Minister of State, Kootenay of British Columbia
In office October 22, 1987 – July 6, 1988
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Minister of Transportation and Highways of British Columbia
In office November 1, 1989 – April 2, 1991
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Neil Vant
Succeeded by	Art Charbonneau
3rd Deputy Premier of British Columbia
In office August 10, 1990 – April 2, 1991
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Grace McCarthy
Succeeded by	Anita Hagen
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Newton Surrey (1983-1986)
In office May 5, 1983 – October 17, 1991 Serving with William Earl Reid (1983-1986)
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm Ernest Hall
Succeeded by	Penny Priddy
Personal details
Born	Rita Margaret Leichert (1935-04-22) April 22, 1935 (age 90) Melville, Saskatchewan
Political party	Social Credit Party (1983-?) BC Conservative (c. 2009-present)
Spouse	George Johnston ​ (m. 1951)​
Signature

Rita Margaret Johnston
29th Premier of British Columbia
In office April 2, 1991 – November 5, 1991
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	David Lam
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Succeeded by	Mike Harcourt
Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party
In office April 2, 1991 – March 7, 1992
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm
Succeeded by	Jack Weisgerber
Minister of Municipal Affairs of British Columbia
In office August 14, 1986 – November 1, 1989
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Jack Heinrich
Succeeded by	Lyall Hanson
Minister of State, Kootenay of British Columbia
In office October 22, 1987 – July 6, 1988
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Minister of Transportation and Highways of British Columbia
In office November 1, 1989 – April 2, 1991
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Neil Vant
Succeeded by	Art Charbonneau
3rd Deputy Premier of British Columbia
In office August 10, 1990 – April 2, 1991
Premier	Bill Vander Zalm
Preceded by	Grace McCarthy
Succeeded by	Anita Hagen
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Newton Surrey (1983-1986)
In office May 5, 1983 – October 17, 1991 Serving with William Earl Reid (1983-1986)
Preceded by	Bill Vander Zalm Ernest Hall
Succeeded by	Penny Priddy
Personal details
Born	Rita Margaret Leichert (1935-04-22) April 22, 1935 (age 90) Melville, Saskatchewan
Political party	Social Credit Party (1983-?) BC Conservative (c. 2009-present)
Spouse	George Johnston ​ (m. 1951)​
Signature

Rita Margaret Johnston (born April 22, 1935) is a Canadian politician. She made history by becoming the first female premier in Canada. A premier is like the leader of a province's government. She served as the 29th Premier of British Columbia for seven months in 1991.

Rita Johnston was born Rita Margaret Leichert in Melville, Saskatchewan. She grew up and went to school in Vancouver. In 1951, she married George Johnston. Before entering politics, she spent many years running a trailer park in the city of Surrey, British Columbia.

Rita Johnston's Political Journey

Rita Johnston started her political career as a city councillor in Surrey. This means she helped make decisions for the city.

Becoming a Member of the Legislative Assembly

In 1983, Rita Johnston was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. This is where laws are made for the province. She represented the area of Surrey as part of the British Columbia Social Credit Party.

She was re-elected in 1986 for a new area called Surrey-Newton. After this, she became a cabinet minister under Premier Bill Vander Zalm. A cabinet minister is in charge of a specific part of the government, like transportation or municipal affairs. She had worked with Bill Vander Zalm before when he was the mayor of Surrey.

Rising to Deputy Premier

In 1990, Premier Vander Zalm chose Rita Johnston to be his deputy premier. This role is like a second-in-command.

On April 2, 1991, Bill Vander Zalm resigned. The members of his party then chose Rita Johnston to be their temporary leader. Because of this, she was appointed Premier on the same day. This made her the very first female leader of a province in Canadian history!

Leading the Social Credit Party

In July 1991, the Social Credit Party held a meeting to choose their permanent leader. Rita Johnston was formally elected as the leader. It was a close race, and she won against Grace McCarthy.

However, she didn't have much time to start new projects. She had to call a provincial election later that year.

The 1991 Provincial Election

Rita Johnston called the election for October 1991. Her connection to the previous premier, Bill Vander Zalm, who had faced some challenges, made it harder for her to win. Also, her party was divided after the leadership contest.

Her party, the Social Credit Party, lost the election by a lot. The New Democratic Party, led by Mike Harcourt, won. Many voters who used to support the Social Credit Party switched to the BC Liberals. The Social Credit Party ended up with only seven seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Rita Johnston herself lost her own seat to Penny Priddy from the New Democratic Party. Most of her cabinet ministers also lost their seats.

After the Premiership

Rita Johnston resigned as the leader of the Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992. Grace McCarthy took over as leader. After her defeat, Rita Johnston stepped away from politics for a while.

She returned to public life in 2009. She became an advisor for the British Columbia Conservative Party.