February 1st, 2025 | Allan Ray

The Liberal Party Has Never Had A Woman In Charge

It's not about to start now.

The Liberal Party of Canada, often lauded as a progressive political force and Canada's “natural governing party”, has an enduring legacy of shaping the nation’s political landscape. However, its history is marred by a glaring omission: it has never elected a woman as its leader. Nor has it ever elected a leader of colour. This fact stands in sharp contrast to the party’s rhetoric of inclusivity and equality, and those within it who often lecture us about the evils of white men.

Since its founding, the Liberal Party has had 18 leaders, all men. Women have played roles within the party, but their bids for leadership have consistently fallen short and they have only held cabinet positions and been under male leadership. This trend raises questions about systemic barriers within the party that hinder women’s advancement to the top political position.

Historically, female candidates in Liberal leadership races have faced steep odds. Sheila Copps was the first woman to make a serious bid for the leadership in 1990, but she finished third in a contest ultimately won by Jean Chrétien. Her candidacy was groundbreaking, but it also highlighted the entrenched biases and power structures inside the Liberal Party.

Similarly, in 2006, Martha Hall Findlay entered the leadership race as an underdog. While her campaign was well-received for its substance and energy, she lacked the institutional support and financial backing that are often critical for success. Her loss to Stéphane Dion was another missed opportunity for the party to live up to its feminist and progressive vision.

The political landscape has been evolving since the 1980s, with women achieving leadership roles in other major parties. Kim Campbell briefly served as Canada’s first and only female Prime Minister in 1993, as a Progressive Conservative. Rona Ambrose led the Conservative Party after Stephen Harper's departure. The New Democratic Party elected Audrey McLaughlin as its leader in 1989. Yet, the Liberals have remained the only party that has lagged behind, failing to reflect the changing face of Canadian politics.

Now, in 2025, the Liberal Party is at another crossroads. Two prominent women, Chrystia Freeland and Karina Gould, have declared their candidacies for leadership. However, their bids are overshadowed by Mark Carney, a seasoned economist and former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Carney’s candidacy embodies the archetype of the establishment candidate: an older, white man with an elite resume and strong institutional ties. Despite Freeland and Gould’s credentials, early signs suggest Carney is the favoured frontrunner.

The Liberal Party’s hesitancy to elect a woman leader reflects the party's hypocrisy. While Canadians express support for so-called gender equality, unconscious biases persist among the most vocal Liberal Party supporters. Female politicians are often judged more harshly on their appearance, tone, and personal lives by the party's voters.

Moreover, the party’s internal culture plays a significant role. Leadership races often hinge on backroom deals, endorsements, and fundraising—areas where established male candidates have an advantage. Institutional inertia and a preference for “safe” choices also perpetuate the status quo. While the Liberals champion diversity in their policies, their actions suggest a reluctance to disrupt traditional power dynamics.

Electing Carney would again signal that Liberals remain tethered to their past, resistant to fully embracing the gender equity their leaders have lectured Canadians about. This decision could alienate younger voters and progressive women who expect more from a party that brands itself as forward-thinking.

The Liberal Party of Canada loves to don the cloak of progressivism, parading its commitment to diversity and inclusion whenever cameras are rolling. Yet, when the time comes to elect a new leader, it’s the same old boys' club it has always been. For all its talk of breaking barriers and championing equality, the party seems remarkably consistent in clinging to the status quo: white, male, and preferably with a pedigree that screams "establishment".

This hypocrisy isn’t just a coincidence, it’s practically institutional. While they enthusiastically recruit women to check diversity boxes on campaign materials, the Liberals balk at actually handing over the reins. Instead, they’ll happily trot out policies and photo ops to prove how woke they are, while ensuring the backroom remains a bastion of the same stale power dynamics. It’s progressivism in branding only, and Canadian voters deserve better than this performative nonsense and deception.