Bobbie Sparrow
Encyclopedia
Barbara Jane Sparrow, PC
(born July 11, 1935) is a former Canadian
politician.
Sparrow, a Registered Nurse
and businessperson, was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1984 federal election
as Member of Parliament
for Calgary South
, Alberta
. That election brought the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
to power under the leadership of Brian Mulroney
. In that election she won the biggest plurality in Canadian history up to that time, winning by a landslide of 55,590 votes. The plurality was 47,763 more votes then second place runner-up Harold Millican from the Liberal Party of Canada
.
Sparrow was re-elected in the 1988 general election
for the new riding of Calgary Southwest
. In 1991, she was named parliamentary secretary
to the Minister of National Health and Welfare.
When Kim Campbell
succeeded Mulroney as PC leader and prime minister
in 1993, she brought Sparrow into the Cabinet as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
and Minister of Forestry.
Both Sparrow and the Campbell government were defeated in the subsequent 1993 federal election
that reduced the Tories to only two seats in the House of Commons. Sparrow lost her seat to Reform Party
leader Preston Manning
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born July 11, 1935) is a former Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Sparrow, a Registered Nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
and businessperson, was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1984 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Calgary South
Calgary South
Calgary South was a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1988.This riding was created in 1952 from parts of Bow River, Calgary West and East Calgary ridings....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. That election brought the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
to power under the leadership of Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
. In that election she won the biggest plurality in Canadian history up to that time, winning by a landslide of 55,590 votes. The plurality was 47,763 more votes then second place runner-up Harold Millican from the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
Sparrow was re-elected in the 1988 general election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
for the new riding of Calgary Southwest
Calgary Southwest
Calgary Southwest is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988. The district is in the southwest part of the City of Calgary, south of Glenmore Trail, and west of the Canadian Pacific railway.The seat is held by Prime...
. In 1991, she was named parliamentary secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of National Health and Welfare.
When Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...
succeeded Mulroney as PC leader and prime minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
in 1993, she brought Sparrow into the Cabinet as Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources (Canada)
The Minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources was a member of the Cabinet of Canada from 1966 to 1995.-Ministers:The office of Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys was abolished and the office of the Ministers of Energy, Mines and Resources created by statute 14-15 Eliz. II, c...
and Minister of Forestry.
Both Sparrow and the Campbell government were defeated in the subsequent 1993 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
that reduced the Tories to only two seats in the House of Commons. Sparrow lost her seat to Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
leader Preston Manning
Preston Manning
Ernest Preston Manning, CC is a Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada, a Canadian federal political party that evolved into the Canadian Alliance...
.