Rita Johnston

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Rita Johnston, former Premier of British Columbia

Rita Margaret Johnston (born Melville, Saskatchewan April 22, 1935 née Leichert) was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnson became Canada's first female premier, when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.

Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the city of Surrey, British Columbia.

She first entered politics as a city councillor in Surrey. She was then elected to as a member of BC's Legislative Assembly as part of the Social Credit Party caucus.

She became a cabinet minister under Premier William Vander Zalm. She had previously served under Vander Zalm when she was a councillor and he was the mayor of Surrey.

Vander Zalm appointed Johnston deputy premier. When Vander Zalm resigned on April 2, 1991, Johnson succeeded him and became acting premier on April 2, 1991, making her Canada's first female premier.

At a Social Credit party convention in July 1991 she was formally elected leader of the Social Credit Party of BC, in a surprise upset, defeating the favoured front-runner Grace McCarthy. She served as both premier and leader only briefly, and was defeated in the October 1991 provincial election by the New Democratic Party led by Michael Harcourt. She resigned as leader of the Social Credit Party on January 11, 1992.

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