Grace M. McCarthy

1983

1991 Leadership Campaign

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 1927.10.14 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

OCCUPATION: Florist. Community Activist.

POLITICAL PARTY: BC Social Credit Party.

BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE (MLA):
1994.02.17 (By) - Matsqui - Defeated.
1991 - Did not seek re-election.
1986.10.22 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Re-Elected.
1983.05.05 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Re-Elected.
1979.05.10 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Re-Elected.
1975.12.11 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Elected.
1972.08.30 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Defeated.
1969.08.27 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Re-Elected.
1966.09.12 - Vancouver-Little Mountain - Elected.

SENIOR BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT:
Deputy Premier (1975.12.22 - 1983.05.26 and 1986.08.14 - 1986.11.06).
Minister of Economic Development (1986.08.14 - 1988).
Minister of Government Services (1986.02.11 - 1986.08.14).
Minister of Human Resources (1978.12.04 - 1986.02.11).
Minister of Travel Industry (1976.10.29 - 1978.12.04).
Minister of Recreation and Travel Industry (1975.12.22 - 1976.10.29).
Provincial Secretary (1975.12.22 - 1976.10.29 and 1986.02.11 - 1986.08.14).
Minister without Portfolio (1966.12.12 - 1972.09.15).

VANCOUVER (BC) PARKS BOARD:
Served as Parks Commissioner: 1960-1966.

PARTY LEADERSHIP:
Leader, British Columbia Social Credit Party, November 1993 - October 1994. Resigned as the BC Socred Leader in 1994 -- having never lead the party in a provincial election -- due to problems with party in-fighting.

Candidate for Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party, November 1993. First ballot: 1st place (out of 4 candidates) with 7,338 votes - 49.5%. Second ballot: 1st place with 7,351 votes (49.7%). Third ballot: McCarthy was elected Leader over Graham Bruce by a vote of 7,700 (55.2%) to 6,245 (44.8%).

Candidate for Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party, July 1991. First ballot: 1st place (out of 5 candidates) with 659 votes - 35.8%. Second ballot: Rita Johnston defeated McCarthy for Leader by a vote of 941 (51.6%) to 881 (48.4%).

Candidate for Leader of the British Columbia Social Credit Party, July 1986. First ballot: 2nd place (out of 12 candidates) with 244 votes - 19.2%. Second ballot: 2nd place with 280 votes (21.9%). Third ballot: 3rd place - 305 votes (24%). McCarthy was eliminated as a candidate after the third ballot.

MISCELLANEOUS:
McCarthy was the first woman Deputy Premier in Canadian history (1975). Nicknamed "Amazing Grace," McCarthy was credited with rebuilding the Socreds after the disasterous 1972 provincial elections.

WEBSITES: Order of British Columbia: Dr. Grace McCarthy