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Prime Minister Kim Campbell

Broadcast Date: June 13, 1993

In a historic vote, Kim Campbell is elected the Progressive Conservative Party leader - she will become Canada's first woman prime minister. The crowd stands and chants, "Campbell! Campbell!" as the newly crowned leader faces her party. In this CBC Television clip, Campbell delivers her victory speech. She speaks of seeking a third consecutive majority government and earning the support of all Canadians. "This is a party with a past and a present but above all this is a party and a country with a future," she tells the cheering crowd.

Prime Minister Kim Campbell

• Campbell ran against Jean Charest, Jim Edwards, Garth Turner and Patrick Boyer – all of them but Charest dropped out after the first round of voting.

• Campbell enjoyed a brief courtship with the media as the PC leadership race heated up. Some members of the press likened Campbell to former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau who inspired a frenzy on the campaign trail. "Get ready for Campbellmania. Not since Pierre Trudeau exploded on the national scene in 1968 has a rookie politician aroused so much excitement, publicity and, yes, 'hope for change' as the fast-talking blonde from Lotusland." (Ottawa Citizen, March 6, 1993.)

• Campbell was widely regarded as a charismatic and well-respected candidate but her opponents charged that she was outspoken and had very little political experience. She stumbled when she called those who opposed the Tories' economic policy "the enemies of Canada." That criticism contradicted her platform based on "politics of inclusion," appealing to all Canadians.

• In the first ballot, Campbell received a total of 1,664 votes, 71 votes shy of a victory. Jean Charest won 1,369 votes. In the second and final round of voting, Campbell secured 52.7 per cent of the vote with 1,817 delegates to Charest's 1,630.

• "I can't help but underline the fact that Kim Campbell becomes the first woman prime minister in Canada's 126 years," Brian Mulroney told reporters after the convention. "She's a remarkable person. She's a person of great leadership skills and great integrity." (Toronto Star, June 14, 1993.)

• Campbell said she was moved and overjoyed when she was voted leader of the Progressive Conservative party in June 1993. "Women of all ages were jubilant, many of them crying at this historic moment. A woman was going to be prime minister of Canada, and I was that woman. I put aside all my fears about what was to come, and just savoured it." – Kim Campbell, Time and Chance

• Kim Campbell officially became Canada's 19th prime minister on June 25, 1993. Aside from being Canada's first woman PM, she was also the first Canada's first prime minister born and raised in British Columbia.

Prime Minister Kim Campbell

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Television News Special

Broadcast Date: June 13, 1993

Guest(s): Kim Campbell

Host: Peter Mansbridge

Duration: 11:08

Photo: Denise Grant/Library and Archives Canada/PA-198574

Last updated:
March 19, 2008