Sharon Carstairs (born April 26, 1942) is a Canadian politician. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for the riding of River Heights, serving as Leader of the Opposition in Manitoba, and leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. After her career in provincial politics, Carstairs was appointed to the Senate of Canada by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Early life

Carstairs was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, She was educated at Dalhousie University, Smith College, Georgetown University, and the University of Calgary. but was elected for the central Winnipeg district of River Heights in the 1986 provincial election, defeating incumbent Tory Warren Steen. For the next two years, she was the only Liberal in the legislature.

Carstairs led the Liberal Party to a dramatic resurgence in the 1988 provincial election, which saw the New Democratic Party of Manitoba under Howard Pawley reduced from government to third party status, and the election of a Progressive Conservative minority government under Gary Filmon. Carstairs' Liberals won 20 of 57 seats for their best showing since 1953, largely by drawing many centre-left voters from the NDP. Carstairs became leader of the opposition, the first woman to hold such a position in any Canadian legislature. Many Liberals felt Carstairs had squandered their best chance in three decades to form government.

A strong opponent of the Meech Lake Accord,

In retirement, she and her husband intended to remain in Ottawa to be close to their children. Carstairs became chair of the

board for a network centre of excellence on caring for the frail elderly, pending the approval of a grant from the federal government.

Honours and awards

On June 30, 2016, Carstairs was made a Member of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston for "her public service and her work as a champion of palliative care."

References

  • Liberal Senate Forum