Page "British Columbia Social Credit Party" Paragraph 20

Vander Zalm was forced to resign in a conflict of interest scandal in 1991, and was succeeded as party leader and premier by longtime associate Rita Johnston, who became the first female head of government at any level in Canada.

Johnston then defeated McCarthy in the subsequent leadership election and continued as premier.

Many viewed this as a mistake as Johnston was close to the Vander Zalm legacy.

Even NDP opposition leader Mike Harcourt admitted later that he preferred Johnston over McCarthy, as the latter would likely have been a much tougher opponent in an election.