Sharon Carstairs

The Honourable Sharon Carstairs PC CM

Canadian Senator
In office September 15, 1994 – October 17, 2011
Appointed by	Jean Chrétien
Constituency	Manitoba
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba for River Heights
In office 1986–1994
Preceded by	Warren Steen
Succeeded by	Mike Radcliffe
Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
In office 1984–1993
Preceded by	Doug Lauchlan
Succeeded by	Paul Edwards
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
In office 1988–1990
Preceded by	Gary Filmon
Succeeded by	Gary Doer
Personal details
Born	(1942-04-26) April 26, 1942 (age 74) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Other political affiliations	Manitoba Liberal Party
Relations	Harold Connolly, father
Portfolio	Federal: Minister with Special Responsibility for Palliative Care (2001-2003) Leader of the Government in the Senate (2001-2003) Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (1997-1999)

Sharon Carstairs PC CM (born April 26, 1942) is a Canadian politician and former Senator.

Carstairs was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the daughter of former Nova Scotia Premier and federal Senator Harold Connolly and his wife Vivian. She was educated at Dalhousie University, Smith College, Georgetown University, and the University of Calgary.

She later moved to Western Canada, and was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Calgary-Elbow in the 1975 Alberta provincial election. She served as President of the Alberta Liberal Party between 1975 and 1977, and was on the national executive of the Liberal Party of Canada in the same period.

Carstairs became leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party in 1984, at a time when the party held no seats in the legislature. She was defeated in a 1984 by-election in Fort Garry, but was elected for River Heights in the 1986 provincial election, defeating incumbent Tory Warren Steen. For the next two years, she was the only Liberal in the legislature.