Canada’s women have a long—if still uneven—history in federal politics. Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons in 1921, representing the Progressive Party. Since then, many women have stepped forward to serve as Members of Parliament, ministers, and national leaders. This post highlights a sample of those who’ve shaped national decisions—as Prime Minister, Deputy PM, Cabinet Ministers, Governor Generals, or Critics. It is by no means a complete list. Canada currently ranks around 50th globally for women’s representation in politics, far from gender parity. Still, that places us well ahead of the United States, which ranks around 75th. There’s much to celebrate—and much to improve.
🟩 PRIME MINISTER
 |
| Kim Campbell First Female PM of Canada |
Kim Campbell (Progressive Conservative)
PM of Canada: June – November 1993
MP 1988–1993
Justice, Defence Minister
First and only female PM of Canada
🟦 DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Anne McLellan (Liberal)
 |
| Anne McLellan Wikipedia |
Deputy PM: 2003–2006
MP 1993–2006
Held multiple Cabinet posts
Chrystia Freeland (Liberal)
 |
| Chrystia Freeland Wikipedia |
Deputy PM: Since 2019
MP since 2013
Also Finance, Foreign Affairs, and Trade Minister
🟨 RAN FOR PRIME MINISTER (3)
Kim Campbell — 1993, as PC Leader
Chrystia Freeland — 2025 Liberal leadership race
Karina Gould (Liberal)
 |
| Karina Gould Wikipedia |
MP since 2015
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development (2021–2023)
Ran for Liberal leadership in 2025
🟧 CABINET MINISTERS
Kim Campbell — Defence, Justice
Anne McLellan — Justice, Health, Public Safety
Chrystia Freeland — Foreign Affairs, Finance
Anita Anand — Public Services & Procurement, Defence, Foreign Affairs (current)
 |
| Anita Anand Yahoo.images.search |
Jody Wilson-Raybould (Liberal, later Independent)
 |
| Jody Wilson-Raybould Wikipedia |
MP 2015–2021
Minister of Justice and Attorney General: 2015–2019
First Indigenous woman in that role
Marci Ien (Liberal)
 |
| Marci Ien The Honest Talk.ca |
MP since 2020
Minister for Women, Gender Equality and Youth: 2021–2024
Karina Gould (Liberal)
Multiple Cabinet roles including Democratic Institutions and Families, Children & Social Development
🟪 SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Jeanne Sauvé (Liberal)
 |
| Jeanne Sauve= Wikipedia |
Speaker: 1980–1984
First woman to serve as Speaker
(As of mid-2025, no additional women have served as Speaker since Sauvé)
🟥 OPPOSITION LEADERS / CRITICS
Pauline Jewett (NDP, later Liberal)
MP 1963–1968, 1973
Opposition critic 1984-1988 (NDP)
 |
| Pauline Jewett ca.images.search.com |
Elizabeth May (Green Party)
 |
| Elizabeth May ca.images.search.yahoo.com |
MP since 2011
Leader of the Green Party 2006–2019, interim 2022–present
First Green MP elected in Canada
De facto opposition leader for the Green Party
Known for challenging policy and holding the government accountable
⚪️ GOVERNORS GENERAL
Jeanne Sauvé — 1984–1990
Adrienne Clarkson — 1999–2005
 |
| Adrienne Clarkson Wikipedia |
First racialized woman and second woman overall in the role of Governor-General
Michaëlle Jean — 2005–2010
 |
| Michelle Jean Wikipedia |
First Black woman Governor-General
Julie Payette — 2017–2021
 |
| Julie Payette, Wikipedia |
Mary Simon — 2021–present
 |
| Mary Simon ca.images.search.yahoo.com |
First Indigenous Governor General
🗂️ Summary Table- A Sample of the Amazing Canadian Women Politicians
Name Role(s) Years Party
Kim Campbell PM, Justice & Defence Minister 1988–1993 PC
Anne McLellan Deputy PM, multiple Cabinet posts 1993–2006 Liberal
Chrystia Freeland Deputy PM, Finance, ran for PM 2013–present Liberal
Anita Anand Defence, Foreign Affairs 2019–present Liberal
Jody Wilson-Raybould Justice & Attorney General 2015–2019 Liberal/Ind.
Karina Gould Families Minister, ran for PM 2015–present Liberal
Marci Ien Minister for Women, Youth 2020–2024 Liberal
Elizabeth May Green Party Leader & MP 2011–present Green
Pauline Jewett Opposition Critic 1963–68, 1973–79 NDP/Liberal
Jeanne Sauvé Speaker, GG 1972–1984 (MP), GG 1984–1990 Liberal
Adrienne Clarkson Governor General 1999–2005 Appointed
Michaëlle Jean Governor General 2005–2010 Appointed
Julie Payette Governor General 2017–2021 Appointed
Mary Simon Governor General 2021–present Appointed
📚3 Books by These Leaders
Kim Campbell – Time and Chance (2000)
👉 Memoir by Canada’s first and only female PM, chronicling her rise and challenges in office.
Jody Wilson-Raybould – "Indian" in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power (2021)
👉 A powerful and candid reflection on integrity, governance, and Indigenous identity in Ottawa.
Amazon affiliate link suggestion: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1443465367
Adrienne Clarkson – Heart Matters: A Memoir (2006)
👉 A deeply personal account of her journey from refugee to Governor General of Canada.
The women featured here prove that leadership in Canada has many voices and faces. Whether appointed or elected, historic or current, their impact resonates beyond their term of service. As we celebrate these examples, we also look forward to seeing more women rise to serve—and shape—the future of Canadian democracy.
===================================================
Disclosure: As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn a commission from purchases made through some of the product links mentioned above. This helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
AI was used to edit this article.
Comments