Elect on ability

Quick, who was Canada’s first female prime minister?
The answer, of course, is Kim Campbell, who became PM back in 1993 after replacing Brian Mulroney as leader of the Progressive Conservatives. Her stint in 24 Sussex Dr. was a short one, though, losing the subsequent election four months later to Jean Chrétien’s Liberals in which the Tories were reduced to just two seats in the House of Commons.
Not exactly a glowing moment in Canadian history, which is probably why Ms. Campbell’s achievement has been relegated to a mere footnote, a “Trivial Pursuit” question if you will, rather than one immortalized by monuments and school names.
Still, at least Canada has broken the gender barrier when it comes to a national leader, which certainly can’t be said for our neighbours south of the border.
That may soon change, though, as both the gender and race factor already are heating up a presidential election still 22 months away. Sen. Hilary Clinton, the former First Lady, is seen by many to be a front-runner to win the Democratic nomination while Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat from Illinois who announced yesterday his intention to test the waters for a bid, is being touted as the first credible black candidate to seek the White House.
All that’s needed to add to the drama is the Republican Party nominating current U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice as its candidate, thus opening the door to the first female and black president in one fell swoop.
Seriously, there have been black presidents and female presidents in movies and on TV series, but are Americans ready to break through the gender/race barrier for real? Let’s hope so, so any notion that a person’s ability hinges on their sex, skin colour, or religion can be put to rest once and for all.
Canada may not have a great track record for electing non-male, non-white leaders, but at least we’re living in the 21st century.