Today in Canada's Political History - December 2, 1989: Audrey McLaughlin elected NDP leader

  • National Newswatch

Yukon’s Audrey McLaughlin made history on this date in 1989 with her election as the NDP’s national leader at the party’s Winnipeg leadership convention. In succeeding Ed Broadbent, she became the first-ever female leader of a federal political party. McLaughlin would go on to lead the NDP until 1995. Now 88, this pioneering Canadian leader was invested an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2003. Happy anniversary from Art’s History Ms. McLaughlin.