Grace McCarthy
Encyclopedia
Grace Mary McCarthy, OC
, OBC
(born October 14, 1927) is a former Canadian politician
and florist in British Columbia
. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial election
.
. In an attempt to improve his hold on power Bennett promised that any woman elected to the legislature while he was in power would become a member of his Cabinet. In 1966 Grace successfully campaigned and was elected along with Les Peterson
to co-represent the dual member riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain
. Bennett kept his promise and together with Agnes Krips (also successful as a female candidate) Grace was made a Cabinet Minister without portfolio.
McCarthy was later a senior cabinet minister
, serving in a variety of portfolios, in the governments of Social Credit Premier
W.R. Bennett from 1975 to 1986 and of Social Credit Premier Bill Vander Zalm
from 1986 until her resignation from cabinet in 1988.
In 1968, McCarthy successfully lobbied both the Canadian federal and British Columbian provincial governments to broaden home ownership credit legislation to include single, divorced and widowed women without the need for a male guarantor.
In 1982, McCarthy was suspected of interfering in the re-drawing of the electoral boundaries of her Little Mountain constituency, to include an appendage of a wealthy westside Vancouver area, thus helping ensure her electoral success. This appendage and subsequent scandal became known as 'Gracie's Finger'. The actual area in question was between 16th and 33rd Avenues in Vancouver around the Arbutus Street corridor.
In 1986, McCarthy parlayed the idea to illuminate the main cables of Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge and arranged private-sector sponsorship by the Guinness family, the bridge's builders and original owners.
coming to see the province, the cracks within the party structure were virtually irreparable. Bill Bennett
was believed to be so disliked that he could not be reelected as Premier and the stage was set for a decisive leadership race. In 1986 Grace came second to Bill Vander Zalm
in a leadership race that would mark the end of Social Credit's climb to power.
By 1991, when Premier Vander Zalm was forced to resign amid scandal allegations, the Social Credit party had become bitterly divided. Socred members voted the lesser-known Rita Johnston
, a close ally of Vander Zalm, to be their new leader, over McCarthy. Many viewed this as a mistake, as Johnston was close to the Vander Zalm legacy; even future Premier Mike Harcourt
admitted later that he preferred Johnston over McCarthy, as the latter would be a much tougher opponent in an election. Johnston lost the 1991 provincial election
badly, with the party only winning third-place status in the legislature. Johnston resigned as leader shortly thereafter, and McCarthy was chosen to replace her.
However, McCarthy had no seat in the legislature, and the Socreds were in danger of being dismissed as an increasingly irrelevant political force in British Columbia. She missed a chance to re-enter the legislature when she lost a by-election
in 1994 http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/byelections/msi_vql94/toc.html by 42 votes in the provincial riding of Matsqui. Social Credit lost official party status in the BC Legislature when four of their six MLAs left the party to join the fledgling BC Reform Party
. Subsequently, she stepped down as leader in 1994 amid further infighting. In the 1996 election
the Socreds lost all their remaining seats.
In 1992, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. In 2004, she was awarded the Order of British Columbia
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(born October 14, 1927) is a former Canadian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and florist in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1972
The 30th general election for the Canadian province of British Columbia was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on July 24, 1972, and held on August 30, 1972...
.
Political career
In the 1960s Grace was a popular elected member of the City of Vancouver Parks Board. She was actively recruited to run for a seat in the Provincial Legislature by then Premier of the Province W.A.C. BennettW.A.C. Bennett
William Andrew Cecil Bennett, PC, OC was the 25th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia. With just over 20 years in office, Bennett was and remains the longest-serving premier in British Columbia history. He was usually referred to as W.A.C...
. In an attempt to improve his hold on power Bennett promised that any woman elected to the legislature while he was in power would become a member of his Cabinet. In 1966 Grace successfully campaigned and was elected along with Les Peterson
Leslie Peterson
Leslie Raymond Peterson, CM, OBC is a lawyer, politician, and university chancellor in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. After returning from serving in World War II from 1942-46, he obtained his law degree from the University of British Columbia in 1949...
to co-represent the dual member riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain
Vancouver-Little Mountain
Vancouver-Little Mountain was a provincial electoral district in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It first appeared on the hustings in the general election of 1966 as a two-member seat....
. Bennett kept his promise and together with Agnes Krips (also successful as a female candidate) Grace was made a Cabinet Minister without portfolio.
McCarthy was later a senior cabinet minister
Executive Council of British Columbia
The Executive Council of British Columbia is the cabinet of that Canadian province....
, serving in a variety of portfolios, in the governments of Social Credit Premier
Premier (Canada)
In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. There are currently ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers in Canada....
W.R. Bennett from 1975 to 1986 and of Social Credit Premier Bill Vander Zalm
Bill Vander Zalm
Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:...
from 1986 until her resignation from cabinet in 1988.
In 1968, McCarthy successfully lobbied both the Canadian federal and British Columbian provincial governments to broaden home ownership credit legislation to include single, divorced and widowed women without the need for a male guarantor.
In 1982, McCarthy was suspected of interfering in the re-drawing of the electoral boundaries of her Little Mountain constituency, to include an appendage of a wealthy westside Vancouver area, thus helping ensure her electoral success. This appendage and subsequent scandal became known as 'Gracie's Finger'. The actual area in question was between 16th and 33rd Avenues in Vancouver around the Arbutus Street corridor.
In 1986, McCarthy parlayed the idea to illuminate the main cables of Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge and arranged private-sector sponsorship by the Guinness family, the bridge's builders and original owners.
Social Credit downfall
The Social Credit party of British Columbia was never able to truly consolidate their power. Alone without federal or municipal counterparts they fought for 30 years to maintain power in British Columbia. By 1986, even with a World ExpositionExpo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
coming to see the province, the cracks within the party structure were virtually irreparable. Bill Bennett
Bill Bennett
William Richards Bennett, PC, OBC , commonly known as Bill Bennett, was the 27th Premier of the Canadian province of British Columbia 1975–1986. He is a son of the former Premier, W. A. C. Bennett. He was a 3rd cousin, twice removed, of R.B...
was believed to be so disliked that he could not be reelected as Premier and the stage was set for a decisive leadership race. In 1986 Grace came second to Bill Vander Zalm
Bill Vander Zalm
Wilhelmus Nicholaas Theodore Marie "Bill" Vander Zalm is a politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991.-Early life:...
in a leadership race that would mark the end of Social Credit's climb to power.
By 1991, when Premier Vander Zalm was forced to resign amid scandal allegations, the Social Credit party had become bitterly divided. Socred members voted the lesser-known Rita Johnston
Rita Johnston
Rita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history 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...
, a close ally of Vander Zalm, to be their new leader, over McCarthy. Many viewed this as a mistake, as Johnston was close to the Vander Zalm legacy; even future Premier Mike Harcourt
Mike Harcourt
Michael Franklin Harcourt served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th mayor of BC's major city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986....
admitted later that he preferred Johnston over McCarthy, as the latter would be a much tougher opponent in an election. Johnston lost the 1991 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
badly, with the party only winning third-place status in the legislature. Johnston resigned as leader shortly thereafter, and McCarthy was chosen to replace her.
However, McCarthy had no seat in the legislature, and the Socreds were in danger of being dismissed as an increasingly irrelevant political force in British Columbia. She missed a chance to re-enter the legislature when she lost a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1994 http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/byelections/msi_vql94/toc.html by 42 votes in the provincial riding of Matsqui. Social Credit lost official party status in the BC Legislature when four of their six MLAs left the party to join the fledgling BC Reform Party
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
. Subsequently, she stepped down as leader in 1994 amid further infighting. In the 1996 election
British Columbia general election, 1996
The British Columbia general election of 1996 was the thirty sixth provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996...
the Socreds lost all their remaining seats.
In 1992, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. In 2004, she was awarded the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
.