Shirley McLoughlin
Leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party
In office
1981–1984
Preceded byJev Tothill
Succeeded byArt Lee
Personal details
Born(1930-06-25)June 25, 1930
DiedJuly 20, 2018(2018-07-20) (aged 88)
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada, British Columbia Liberal Party
Residence(s)Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Occupationteacher

Shirley Eleanor McLoughlin (June 25, 1930 – July 20, 2018) was a Canadian politician, who was the leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party from 1981 to 1983.[1] She was the first woman ever to lead a political party in the province.[2]

Life and career

Shirley Eleanor McLoughlin was born on June 25, 1930.[1] Prior to assuming the leadership, McLoughlin worked as a teacher, and served as the party's president.[3] She ran as the Liberal Party of Canada's candidate in Comox—Powell River in the 1980 federal election,[4] losing to Ray Skelly. She was elected leader of the BC Liberals at their leadership convention on May 25, 1981, over lawyer Tom Finkelstein and farmer Roland Bouwman.[2]

McLoughlin took over the leadership at a time when the party was in unprecedented crisis; under her predecessor Jev Tothill, the party had run just five candidates provincewide in the 1979 election, and had failed to win a single seat in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the first time in its history. She led the party to a modest resurgence, running 52 candidates in the 1983 provincial election and increasing the party's popular vote total by over 600 per cent compared to 1979, but again failed to win a seat.[5] She was defeated in her own dual-member district of Vancouver Centre by New Democrats Emery Barnes and Gary Lauk.

McLoughlin announced her resignation as party leader in August 1983.[6] She was succeeded by Art Lee at the party's 1984 leadership convention.[7]

McLoughlin later served two terms on the municipal council of Comox.

McLoughlin died on July 20, 2018, at the age of 88.[8]

Electoral record

1980 Canadian federal election: Comox—Powell River
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticRaymond Skelly25,00748.97+4.69
Progressive ConservativeAl Lazerte16,54532.40-2.81
LiberalShirley McLoughlin9,22118.06-1.82
CommunistSy Pederson2920.57-0.06
Total valid votes 51,065
New Democratic hold Swing +3.75
1983 British Columbia general election: Vancouver Centre
Party Candidate Votes%Elected
New DemocraticEmery Oakland Barnes18,96028.70Green tickY
New DemocraticGary Vernon Lauk18,74328.37Green tickY
Social CreditAvril Kim Campbell12,74019.28
Social CreditPhilip W. Owen12,41518.79
LiberalShirley McLoughlin2,0843.15
Progressive ConservativeKevin Baden Bruce8801.33
CommunistMaurice Rush2440.37
Total valid votes 66,06699.87
Total rejected ballots 840.13
Total votes 66,150
Registered voters 53,512

References

  1. 1 2 "Liberal fortunes rising: leader". The Globe and Mail, October 17, 1983.
  2. 1 2 "B.C. Liberal Party elects woman to lead its seatless, divided ranks". The Globe and Mail, May 25, 1981.
  3. ↑ "Liberal denounces 'childish' ads". The Globe and Mail, January 31, 1980.
  4. ↑ "Togetherness - it's rare: It seems only the NDP is on speaking terms with its provincial cousin on the West Coast". The Globe and Mail, February 9, 1980.
  5. ↑ "Bennett savors win, NDP ponders fate after B.C. election". The Globe and Mail, May 7, 1983.
  6. ↑ "B.C. Liberal leader resigns, cites lack of seats in House". The Globe and Mail, August 16, 1983.
  7. ↑ "End confrontation politics, new B.C. Liberal chief says". The Globe and Mail, April 2, 1984.
  8. ↑ "Shirley Eleanor McLoughlin". Comox Valley Record. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
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