McLaughlin's victory was the first time a woman won the leadership of a major federal Canadian political party.

The Liberal Party, however, had reaped most of the benefits of opposing free trade to emerge as the dominant alternative to the Progressive Conservative (PC) government.

During the campaign, Barrett argued that the party should be concerned with western alienation, rather than focusing its attention on Quebec.

[4] Her victory meant that she became first woman in Canada to lead a major, recognized, federal political party.

In 1989, the Quebec New Democratic Party adopted a sovereigntist platform and severed its ties with the federal NDP.