Deputy Prime Minister
On being sworn-in as Prime Minister on December 12, 2003, Paul Martin showed renewed confidence in McLellan and sent a message to the west about his plans to reduce western alienation by naming her his Deputy Prime Minister. McLellan was also named minister for the newly created Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
During the 2004 federal election, she was re-elected by 721 votes, or just over 1% of the vote, defeating Laurie Hawn of the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Edmonton Centre.
In the 2006 federal election on 23 January 2006, McLellan was defeated by Hawn in a rematch, taking 38.36% to Hawn's 45.01% of the popular vote in Edmonton Centre.
McLellan has so far been the last Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, as the succeeding Harper government has opted not to use this title. Interestingly, she is one of the few parliamentarians to have never served as a government backbencher or in opposition.
Read more about this topic: Anne McLellan
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