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Women in Parliament and Legislatures!

Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards campaigned for years before women finally became "qualified persons", and therefore eligible to be appointed to the Senate.

On my first day as a Senator, I came to Parliament Hill and looked at the statue of the Famous Five.

It was only after their legal victory in 1929 that women could be appointed to the Senate. Without their courage and determination, I wouldn't be on the Hill.

The Famous Five wanted women to influence public policy and law - to bring women's life experiences, values and aspirations into public choices.

I do, too.

Look at What Some Women Have Said & Done...

"I am a firm believer in women - in their ability to do things and in their influence and power. Women set the standards for the world, and it is for us, women of Canada, to set the standards high." - Nellie McClung

Doris Anderson
Agnes Macphail, Canada's first female MP.
Madelaine Parent
Muriel Duckworth

Are there enough women in government? I don't think so!

"I am convinced that until we have more women in politics--openly, flagrantly and unashamedly committed to the struggle for the liberation of woman and determined to change traditional power politics to make it more responsive to the dispossessed of this earth--we as women are doomed to many more years of oppression and exploitation."
~Rosemary Brown, 1977.

There are 413 Members of Parliament. (105 Senators and 308 Members of The House of Commons). We are just one part of a large federal government in a complex country

As an activist, I know that change comes from lots of ideas, lots of people, lots of work & lots of volunteer time. Being inside Parliament, I know that politicians need your ideas & involvement. It's worth the time to e-mail me.

 

Further Information

• Senate of Canada
  
• FAQ's about the Senate
  
• Women in the Senate
  
• Cairine Wilson, first woman senator.
  
• Standing Committee on Human Rights
  
• Standing Committee on National Finance
  
• The Senate of Canada Annual Report 2004-2005 Working for Canadians
  
• Parliament of Canada
  

• Equal Voice
  
• Canadian Women in Government
  
• Women in the House of Commons
  
• Women in the Cabinet
  
• Women in Provincial and Territorial Legislatures
  
• Woman as head of the United Nations
  
• Women Take Right to Vote
  
• Women in the City of Toronto
  
• Toronto Women's Call to Action