100 Years of Women in the House of Commons

2021 Marks the 100^th anniversary of the first woman being elected to The House of Commons!

It is an important anniversary, as we have seen many women break barriers and rise up to positions of leadership over the years. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done. In fact, as of 2021, only 29% of MPs in Canada are women.

This lack of representation is a problem Equal Voice has been dedicated to fight and solve over the last 20 years. For that, it is important that we all use our voices to encourage and work towards getting more women in politics.

How to Join:

Learn more about some of the women who have made history over the years:

Agnes MacPhail

First woman elected to the House of Commons in 1921

The Right Honourable Jeanne Sauvé

First woman Speaker of the House of Commons in 1980

The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew

First First Nations (Dene) woman MP, elected in 1988

The Right Honourable Kim Campbell

First (and only) woman Prime Minister, appointed in 1993

The Hounourable Jean Augustine

First African Canadian woman MP, elected in 1993

The Honourable Sheila Copps

First woman Deputy Prime Minister appointed in 1993

The Honourable Hedy Fry

First Trinidadian woman MP, elected in 1993 and longest-serving woman MP

Nancy Karetak-Lindell

First Inuk woman MP and first woman MP for the Eastern Arctic elected in 1997

Libby Davies

First openly 2SLGBTQ woman MP, elected in 1997 and first woman House Leader

Sophia Leung

First Chinese Canadian woman MP, elected in 1997

Yasmin Ratansi

First Muslim woman MP, elected in 2004

Meili Faille

First Taiwanese-Canadian woman MP, elected in 2004

Nina Grewal

First Indian Canadian woman MP, elected in 2004 (same time as Ruby Dhalla)

Ruby Dhalla

First Indian Canadian woman MP, elected in 2004 (same time as Nina Grewal)

The Honourable Shelly A Glover

First Metis woman MP, elected in 2008

Salma Zahid

First MP to wear a hijab in the House of Commons in 2018

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland

First woman Minister of Finance, appointed in 2020

Annamie Paul

The first Black woman and first Jewish woman to be elected leader of a federal party in Canada, in 2020.

*Disclaimer: This list is based on publicly available self-identification. If you notice any errors, please contact us at [email protected]

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

If you want to read more about some of the women who have marked Canadian politics over the last 100 years, download our brochure here and click here to download the timeline.

You can also watch our Women MPs series here

A LOOK THROUGH HISTORY

Watch this video to learn more about the journey of Canadian women in politics and be inspired to make a difference!

Updates

Equal Voice celebrates 100 years of women in Parliament

Jul 06, 2021

To commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the first woman being elected to the House of Commons, Equal Voice will be hosting two major events in Ottawa on the 7th of December: a daytime event at the SHAW Centre that will be free and open to all; and a ticketed gala dinner celebration in the evening.