Sheila Maureen Copps's Kevo

If a member of the Canadian Tory government in 1984 were to have listed the Liberal Opposition member they most feared and despised, the name mentioned may well have been Sheila Copps. The Tories were enjoying a land-slide victory over the Liberals, so much so that Liberal Party leader John Turner suggested his party would stay quiet and give the new government a chance. those Liberals who did speak out were often shouted down amidst accusations of their previous administration's mistakes. There were, however, a few new Liberals in the House of Commons. With no history with previous administrations, this tactic could not work with them, and they were concerned that a quiet Liberal Opposition might allow the New Democarts to gain ground. One of them was Sheila Maureen Copps, the daughter of a noted Ontarian politican. She and her fellow rookie Liberals began an attack on the Tories that ruffled innumerable feathers, and lead Canadian newspapers to dub the outspoken Liberals "the Rat Pack."

The Rat pack, with Copps as their unofficial leader, caused chaos in the Tory ranks, using such tactics as the "Patronage of the Week" award, which they gave to Tory members whose families the Liberals felt were benefitting from the government. This lead to more than one shouting match in the House of Commons, including one in which an outraged Tory John Crosbie called Copps "baby," and "titmouse." (Crosbie had just won the Patronage of the Week award).

Many critics thought that Copp's outspoken, abrasive manner would limit her politically (her voice, often loud and strident, has been poked fun at by many Canadian political pundits). However, she proved them all wrong when, after the Liberals reassumed power, she was made Deputy Prime Minister. Copps is also the Minister of Canadian Heritage, a position that has seen her take center-stage in the ongoing Canadian/American magazine disputes.
Climb to Fame
Minister of Canadian Heritage and first female Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
Work History
(1996-) Minister of Canadian Heritage

(1993-1996) Minister of the Environment

(1993-) Deputy Prime Minister

(1990-) Deputy Director, Canadian Liberal Party

(1984-1990) Member of Canadian Parliament, House of Commons

(1982) Ran for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party. Came second in the voting.

(1981-1984) Member of Ontario Legislature

(1977-1981) Constituency assistant, Ontario Liberal leader Stuart Smith

(1977) Ran for a seat on the Ontario Provincial Legislature. Copps lost by fourteen votes

(1977) Journalist, Hamilton Spectator

(1974-1976) Journalist, Ottawa Citizen

(1968) Campaign worker for Liberal candidate John Munro