Former Social Credit Party of BC Leader Grace McCarthy has died

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The former leader of the Social Credit Party in BC, Grace McCarthy has died after a lengthy battle with a brain tumor.

Known as “Amazing Grace”, McCarthy first entered politics as a Vancouver Park Board Commissioner in the 1950s but her prominence grew after she became the MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain in 1966.

She then went onto cabinet positions in the governments of WAC Bennett, his son, Bill Bennett and then Bill Vander Zalm.

McCarthy is widely credited for helping rebuild the SoCreds after the party’s defeat in the 70s, earning her the name “Amazing Grace”. In her first term, she successfully lobbied provincial and federal governments to enable women to apply for mortgages without a male guarantor and became the first woman in Canada to serve as Deputy Premier.

After being reelected multiple times, she went on to lead the Social Credit Party in the mid-90s. However, despite her spirit, she was unable to save it.

Retired broadcaster Rafe Mair said in a statement on Facebook”Although I knew it was coming, I’m still having difficulty coming to grips with what is still a sudden, tragic loss.”

Mair took time to dispel some of the myths surrounding ‘Amazing Grace’.

“In her political prime some, by no means all her opponents, saw her as hard and uncaring but those who worked with her and took the time to look, saw a warmhearted, caring person who was one of the finest Human Resources Ministers BC ever had. As we shall see, where many had the talk, Grace had the deep social conscience and she walked the walk.”

She wasn’t without some controversy — McCarthy was suspected of gerrymandering her Little Mountain constituency to her favour back in 1982.

Premier Christy Clark issued a statement shortly after the news of McCarthy’s passing.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Grace McCarthy.

“At a time when female leaders were hard to find in Canadian politics, Grace McCarthy was an agent of change. When she was first elected, women could not even apply for mortgages without a male guarantor – until she worked with the provincial and federal governments to fix it.

“From playing an instrumental role in bringing Expo 86 to Vancouver, to starting the first toll-free help line for children, to becoming Canada’s first female deputy premier, she left an indelible mark on our entire province.

“Equal parts intelligent, warm, and tough, she led by example, inspiring more than one generation of women in B.C. and Canada to stand up and pursue a career in politics. ‘Amazing Grace’ indeed.

“Because she touched so many people, we are working with her family on funeral arrangements, and will provide more details when they are available.

“My thoughts are with her family, friends, and colleagues who miss her, and all those she inspired.\

McCarthy was 89.