Sheila Copps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheila Copps
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Copps in 2022
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| 6th Deputy Prime Minister of Canada | |
| In office November 4, 1993 – June 11, 1997 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Jean Charest |
| Succeeded by | Herb Gray |
| Minister of Canadian Heritage | |
| In office July 12, 1996 – December 11, 2003 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hélène Scherrer |
| Minister of the Environment | |
| In office November 4, 1993 – January 24, 1996 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Pierre H. Vincent |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Marchi |
| Member of Parliament for Hamilton East |
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| In office September 4, 1984 – May 23, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | John Munro |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Centre |
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| In office March 19, 1981 – August 6, 1984 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Davison |
| Succeeded by | Lily Oddie Munro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sheila Maureen Copps
November 27, 1952 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouses | Austin Thorne (?–present) Ric Marrero (1985–1990, div.) Bill Miller (?–?, div.) |
| Children | Danelle (March, 1987) |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater | King's University College (BA) |
| Profession |
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Sheila Maureen Copps (born November 27, 1952) is a Canadian politician who served as the sixth Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. She held this important role from November 1993 to June 1997. Her father, Victor Copps, was also a well-known mayor of Hamilton, Ontario.
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Early Life and Education
Sheila Copps was born in Hamilton, Ontario. Her family was very involved in politics. Her mother, Geraldine Florence Guthro Copps, was a city councillor in Hamilton. Her father, Victor Copps, was a very influential mayor of Hamilton.
As a child, Copps participated in Girl Guides of Canada programs. She later earned a degree in French and English from King's University College at the University of Western Ontario. She also studied at McMaster University in Hamilton and the University of Rouen in France. Before becoming a politician, she worked as a newspaper journalist for the Hamilton Spectator and the Ottawa Citizen.
Sheila Copps is married and has one daughter, Danelle. In 1987, she became the first sitting Member of Parliament in Canadian history to give birth.
Political Journey
Sheila Copps started her political journey in provincial politics. Provincial politics deals with laws and issues within a province, like Ontario.
Entering Provincial Politics
In 1977, Copps ran for the Ontario Liberal Party in Hamilton Centre. She lost by a very small number of votes. Four years later, in 1981, she ran again for the same area and won. She became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
In 1982, she tried to become the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. Even though she was new to politics, she finished second in the leadership race.
Moving to Federal Politics
In 1984, Copps decided to enter national politics. National politics deals with laws and issues for the whole country. She ran for the federal Liberals in Hamilton East. She won her seat, even though her party lost the election badly.
Copps became a strong voice for the Liberal opposition in the House of Commons. She was part of a group of young Liberal politicians known as the "Rat Pack." They were known for challenging the government. Copps was fluent in both English and French. She was known for her energetic debates.
In 1986, she published her autobiography, Nobody's Baby. The title came from a famous moment when a minister told her to "quieten down, baby," and she replied, "I am nobody's baby." In 1988, Copps was easily re-elected in the federal election.
In 1990, Copps ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada. She finished third in the race.
Becoming a Federal Minister
In the 1993 election, the Liberals won, and Jean Chrétien became Prime Minister. He chose Sheila Copps to be the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment. This was a historic moment, as she was the first woman to be named Deputy Prime Minister in Canada.
In 1996, she changed roles and became the Minister of Canadian Heritage. This role involves promoting Canadian culture and identity.
The GST Promise and By-election
During the 1993 election, Copps had promised to get rid of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) if her party won. When the government decided not to abolish the tax, Copps kept her promise and resigned from her seat in 1996. She then ran again in a special election called a by-election.
During the by-election, other parties tried to use her promise against her. However, Copps won the by-election and was reinstated to her cabinet roles.
After the 1997 federal election, Copps was no longer the Deputy Prime Minister. This role was given to Herb Gray. Copps continued to serve as Minister of Canadian Heritage until 2003.
Nomination Battle and Retirement
Before the 2004 federal election, there was a change in electoral districts. This meant Copps had to compete against another Liberal MP, Tony Valeri, for the nomination in the new riding of Hamilton East—Stoney Creek. A nomination battle is when two or more members of the same party compete to be the official candidate for an election.
Valeri won the nomination in March 2004. Copps raised concerns about the process, but later dropped her appeal. In May 2004, Sheila Copps announced that she would not run for re-election.
In 2012, Copps ran to be the president of the Liberal Party of Canada but lost. After this, she announced her retirement from politics. On December 30, 2012, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors.
Life After Politics
After leaving politics, Sheila Copps continued to be active. She wrote regular articles for newspapers like the National Post and the Toronto Sun. She also hosted a weekly radio talk show called Weekends with Sheila Copps.
She published her second autobiography, Worth Fighting For, in 2004.
Copps has often been asked if she would follow in her father's footsteps and run for mayor of Hamilton. She has said that if she were to return to politics, it would be in her hometown.
In 2022, Copps supported Andrea Horwath for mayor of Hamilton. She also endorsed Karina Gould in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election.
Writings and Publications
- Nobody's Baby: A Survival Guide to Politics (1986).
- Worth fighting for (2004).
- La batailleuse (2004).
- Articles
- "Canada's Historic Places Initiative", Heritage/Patrimoine, 6:26, Spring 2003.
- "Canadian Cultural Policy in a Global Economy", Canadian Business Economics, 7(3):40-3, Oct. 1999.
- "Celine Dion: Made in Canada", NPQ: New Perspectives Quarterly. 15(5):17, Fall 1998.
Images for kids
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Copps in 2022
