Kim Campbell

Early Life and Education

Kim Campbell was born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, the daughter of Phyllis Margaret Cook and George Thomas Campbell, a barrister who had served with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in Italy during the Second World War. Her father was born in Montreal to Scottish parents from Glasgow. When she was in her preteens, her family moved to Vancouver. Her mother left the family when Campbell was 12 years old, leaving Kim and her sister Alix to be raised by their father. As a teenager, she chose the nickname Kim for herself. She attended Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver, where she was a top student and became the school's first female student president, graduating in 1964. Her early foray into media occurred in 1957 when she was one of five co-hosts and reporters on the CBC children's program Junior Television Club, which aired during May and June of that year. Campbell earned an honours bachelor's degree in political science from the University of British Columbia in 1969, where she was active in student government and served as the school's first female president of the freshman class. She completed a year of graduate study at UBC to qualify for doctoral level studies before entering the London School of Economics in 1970 to work towards a doctorate in Soviet government. She spent three months touring the Soviet Union from April to June 1972, having studied the Russian language for several years. She ultimately left her doctoral studies, returning to Vancouver after marrying Nathan Divinsky in 1972. She later earned an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia in 1983 and was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1984.

Early Career and Entry into Politics

During her marriage to Nathan Divinsky, Campbell worked as a part time lecturer in political science at the University of British Columbia and at Vancouver Community College. Her political career began at the municipal level when she was elected as a trustee on the Vancouver School Board in 1980. She served as chair of the board in 1983 and as its vice chair in 1984, with her tenure as a trustee lasting until 1984. While on the board, she was known for a direct manner, once reportedly telling the board to back off, though others alleged she used stronger language. She practised law in Vancouver from her call to the bar in 1984 until 1986. Campbell made her first bid for provincial office in the 1983 British Columbia election, running as a Social Credit candidate in the dual member riding of Vancouver Centre alongside future Vancouver mayor Philip Owen. They lost badly, each receiving less than about 12,500 votes against the roughly 19,000 votes each for the incumbent NDP candidates, Gary Lauk and Emery Barnes. In 1985, she joined the office of Premier Bill Bennett as an executive assistant and policy adviser, gaining valuable experience in the machinery of government.

Provincial Political Career

In the summer of 1986, Campbell made an audacious bid for the leadership of the Social Credit party. Despite campaigning on a shoestring budget, her substantive convention speech at Whistler earned her positive notice from the press and the political class. In her remarks, she presented a frank perspective on leadership, warning that charisma without substance was dangerous. Veteran journalist Jim Hume called her the star of the show and her speech the jewel of the convention. She placed last in a field of twelve on the first ballot with just 14 votes, subsequently throwing her support behind Grace McCarthy. Later that year, she successfully ran for the British Columbia Legislative Assembly in the neighbouring, more affluent riding of Vancouver Point Grey. She took the place of retiring minister Garde Gardom and was on the ballot with another veteran minister, Pat McGreer. Campbell topped the poll with close to 20,000 votes, while McGreer was narrowly defeated by NDP candidate Darlene Marzari. This resulted in the dual member district returning one Social Credit and one NDP member, the only time in British Columbia electoral history a multi member district returned only women. Consigned to the backbenches under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, Campbell became disenchanted with his leadership. She broke with him and the Social Credit party over the issue of abortion, which Vander Zalm opposed. This disagreement was a key factor in her decision to leave provincial politics and seek a federal seat.

Federal Cabinet Minister

Campbell was elected as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre in the 1988 federal election, winning the nomination after the incumbent, Pat Carney, declined to stand. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney appointed her to cabinet in 1989 as minister of state for Indian affairs and northern development, a junior role supporting the minister. From 1990 to 1993, she served as minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. In this role, she oversaw significant amendments to the Criminal Code concerning firearms control and sexual assault laws. Following the Supreme Court's 1988 Morgentaler decision that invalidated the country's abortion law, Campbell was responsible for introducing Bill C 43 to create a new regulatory framework. The bill passed the House of Commons but was defeated in the Senate on a tie vote, leaving Canada without a federal law governing abortion. Upon assuming the Justice portfolio, she was immediately handed the petition for a new trial in the case of David Milgaard, who had been wrongfully convicted of murder. In her autobiography, she wrote she was under considerable public and media pressure regarding the case. She ultimately ruled the evidence insufficient to grant the petition in January 1991, a decision that later became entangled in perceptions of political interference after Prime Minister Mulroney met with Milgaard's mother. In January 1993, Campbell was transferred to the posts of minister of national defence and minister of veterans affairs. Notable events during her tenure included managing the controversial procurement to replace the military's shipborne helicopters. The first reports of misconduct by the Canadian Airborne Regiment, which later erupted into the Somalia Affair scandal, also emerged while she was minister, though the subsequent public inquiry placed significant blame on military leadership rather than the government.

Rise to Prime Minister

By early 1993, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's popularity had severely declined, and polls suggested the Tories would be heavily defeated if he led them into that year's election. In February, Mulroney announced his retirement from politics. Campbell entered the Progressive Conservative leadership race with the support of more than half of the PC caucus, having served in four cabinet portfolios. She defeated Jean Charest at the party's leadership convention in June 1993. Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn appointed her as prime minister on June 25, 1993. As a concession to Charest, she appointed him to the posts of deputy prime minister and minister of industry, science, and technology. Upon taking office, Campbell reorganized the cabinet, cutting it from 35 to 23 ministers. She consolidated ministries by creating three new entities: Health, Canadian Heritage, and Public Security. She did not reside at the official prime ministerial residence, 24 Sussex Drive, as the Mulroney family was completing renovations on their new home in Montreal. Instead, Campbell lived at Harrington Lake, the prime minister's summer and weekend retreat in rural Quebec, making her the first prime minister not to live at 24 Sussex since it became the official residence in 1951. During the summer, she campaigned extensively across the country, and by August 1993, a Gallup poll showed her with a 51 percent approval rating, making her Canada's most popular prime minister in 30 years.

The 1993 Federal Election Campaign

Prime Minister Campbell waited as long as possible before asking the Governor General to dissolve Parliament on September 8, 1993, setting the election for October 25. The Progressive Conservatives began the campaign optimistic, buoyed by Campbell's high personal popularity which far surpassed that of Liberal leader Jean Chrétien. However, her initial popularity declined rapidly after the election was called. Her frank speaking style, which had been an asset in the leadership race, began to backfire. At a Rideau Hall event, she told reporters that the deficit or unemployment was unlikely to be much reduced before the end of the century. Later, she stated that an election campaign of 47 days was not sufficient to discuss a complete overhaul of Canada's complex social policies, a remark that was quickly reduced by opponents and the media to her having said an election was no time to discuss important issues. As PC support tailed off, the campaign team produced a series of attack ads against Jean Chrétien. The second ad appeared to mock Chrétien's facial paralysis from Bell's palsy, generating a severe backlash. Campbell disavowed direct responsibility, claimed she ordered it off the air over her staff's objections, and some PC candidates publicly called for it to be pulled. During the campaign, PC support plummeted into the teens in polls, while the Liberals, the Reform Party, and the Bloc Québécois gained, assuring a Liberal majority government.

Historic Election Defeat

On election night, October 25, 1993, the Progressive Conservatives were swept from power in a Liberal landslide. Campbell herself was defeated in Vancouver Centre by rookie Liberal candidate Hedy Fry. She conceded defeat with the remark, Gee, I'm glad I didn't sell my car. It was only the third time in Canadian history a prime minister lost their own riding while their party lost the election, a fate that had previously befallen Arthur Meighen twice. The PC caucus was reduced from a majority to just two seats, compared to Reform's 52 and the Bloc Québécois's 54. Every PC MP running for re election lost their seat except for Jean Charest, who was also the only surviving member of Campbell's cabinet. He was joined by newly elected MP Elsie Wayne. The party still finished with over two million votes, taking third place in the popular vote and falling only two percentage points short of Reform for second. However, due to the first past the post system, this support was not concentrated enough to win individual ridings, resulting in the worst defeat ever suffered by a governing party at the federal level and the worst showing in the party's history. Analysis of the defeat cites the profound unpopularity of the outgoing Mulroney government, a fragmenting political landscape, and campaign missteps. Some scholars, such as professor Joanna Everitt, have also pointed to gender inequality in media coverage as a factor, noting that Campbell's actions were often interpreted as having a motive, while reporting on male rivals was more straightforward.

Post-Political Career and International Work

After leaving politics, Campbell remained active in public life through writing, lecturing, and international diplomacy. She has been a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics and has lectured widely on leadership, democratic institutions, and women in power. Campbell has served as the chairperson of the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, a role that oversees a non partisan process for recommending candidates to the bench. She continues to be a sought after keynote speaker on the global stage, addressing topics related to political leadership and gender equality. Her post political work reinforces her ongoing commitment to public service and strengthening democratic norms.

Personal Life and Historical Significance

In her personal life, Campbell has been married three times. Her first marriage was to mathematics professor Nathan Divinsky from 1972 to 1983. She married lawyer Howard Eddy in 1986, divorcing shortly before becoming prime minister, making her the second Canadian prime minister to have been divorced after Pierre Trudeau. She briefly dated inventor Gregory Lekhtman during her term as prime minister but kept the relationship private. As of 2022, she resided outside Florence, Italy. Kim Campbell's tenure as prime minister, though the third shortest in Canadian history at 132 days, cemented her place as a groundbreaking figure. She remains the only woman to have held the office, a fact that continues to define her legacy over three decades later. Her career prior to becoming prime minister was itself pioneering, breaking barriers as the first female justice minister and defence minister in a NATO country. As the first baby boomer and the only prime minister born in British Columbia, she also represented demographic and regional shifts in Canadian politics. Her experience continues to inform discussions about the challenges and opportunities for women in the highest levels of political leadership.

Questions about Kim Campbell

How long was Kim Campbell prime minister?

Kim Campbell served as prime minister for 132 days, from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993. This makes her tenure the third shortest in Canadian history, following only Charles Tupper and John Turner. Her entire term occurred during the summer parliamentary break and the subsequent election campaign period, meaning she never faced Parliament as prime minister. Like Tupper and Turner, her time in office was entirely within an election year.

What is Kim Campbell doing now?

Since leaving politics, Kim Campbell has been involved in academia, public speaking, and international work. She chairs the Independent Advisory Board for Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments, a key role in the Supreme Court appointment process. As of 2022, she lived outside Florence, Italy, with her husband, Hershey Felder. She remains an active commentator and speaker on leadership and democracy.

Why did Kim Campbell lose the 1993 election?

The Progressive Conservative defeat in 1993 was historic and resulted from several converging factors. The party was deeply unpopular after Brian Mulroney's tenure, facing public backlash over the GST and a recession. During the campaign, Campbell's blunt comments about the deficit and social policy were portrayed as dismissive, and a controversial ad attacking Jean Chrétien's appearance caused a severe backlash. Furthermore, conservative vote splitting occurred with the rise of the Reform Party in the west and the Bloc Québécois in Quebec, while the Liberals consolidated support in Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The first past the post system magnified the PC's scattered vote into a catastrophic seat loss.

Was Kim Campbell ever an MLA?

Yes, Kim Campbell served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. She was elected in the 1986 provincial election as a Social Credit Party candidate for the riding of Vancouver Point Grey. She served as a backbench MLA until 1988, when she resigned to run successfully for the federal House of Commons in the riding of Vancouver Centre. Her provincial career, though short, included her notable but unsuccessful bid for the Social Credit leadership in 1986.

How many female prime ministers has Canada had?

Canada has had one female prime minister, Kim Campbell. She was the 19th prime minister and served from June to November 1993. No woman has held the office since, making her tenure a unique and historic milestone in Canadian political history over three decades later. Her achievement as the first woman to lead the country remains a focal point in discussions about gender representation in Canadian politics.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.