10 Firsts for Canadian Women in Government

Looking back at historical firsts for Canadian Women in Government, it's hard to believe that it wasn't until 1918 that Canadian women first had the same voting rights as men in federal elections. A year later women gained the right to run for election to the House of Commons and the election of 1921 was the first federal election that included female candidates. It was 1940 before Quebec became the last Canadian province to make it legal for women to vote and run for office.

Photo: Agnes Macphail, First Canadian Woman Member of Parliament
Kelsey Studio / Library and Archives Canada / C-006908

More Canadian Women in Government:
Governor General Michaëlle Jean
Auditor General Sheila Fraser
Biographies of Canadian Women in Government