| Celebrating
Women's History
Rediscover our history by
learning about the
women who helped to create it.
History of Political Milestones and Legislation Affecting Manitoba
Women
1857
The British Matrimonial Causes Act was
adopted in Canada. A husband could divorce his wife because of adultery. A husband had to
be guilty of adultery and desertion without reason.
1859
Married women could own property in Canada, but they could not
sell it.Sale of the property required the agreement of the women and their husbands.
1871
According to Manitoba's Act Respecting Married Women, a woman was allowed
to keep ownership of her property, but any wages she made went to her spouse. If he was
judged cruel or insane, she was entitled to her wages and those of any dependant children.
1883
Sir John A. MacDonald introduced a suffrage bill. It was defeated, as were the next two
suffrage bills he introduced.
1885
The Dominion Franchise Act was established
and remained in effect until 1898. An eligible voter was identified as a male person,
which included any person of Aboriginal descent and excluded any person of Asian descent.
A man could vote if he or his wife owned property, but she was still responsible for the
property tax.
1887
Single and married women were able to vote in municipal elections in Manitoba, but they
were not allowed to hold office until 1917.
1890
Women ratepayers in Manitoba were able to vote and hold office at the school board level.
1892
Section 179 of the Canadian Criminal Code made abortion and the sale of
all forms of birth control illegal and subject to two years in jail. This did not change
until 1969.
1900
The Married Women's Property Act allowed wives in Manitoba to keep
control over their property and wages. It also made them jointly responsible with their
husbands for their children.
1907
The Manitoba Municipal Act was amended so that only women were excluded
as voters in municipal elections, although they had been granted this right previously.
Public protest forced the act to be amended again.
1909
The Criminal Code was amended to make it a crime to abduct women. Before
this, the abduction of any woman over 16 was legal, except if she was an heiress.
The maximum penalty for stealing a cow was much higher than for kidnapping an
heiress.
1911
By 1911, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia passed laws to help women abandoned
by their husbands.
1912
Manitoba women with illegitimate children could take court action against the alleged
father for support of the child.
1913
Manitoba passed an act making it illegal for white women to work for any person of Asian
descent.
1916
On January 28, Manitoba women won the right to vote and run in provincial elections
(except for Aboriginals and some minority women).
1918
National suffrage was achieved on May 24.
British Columbia and Manitoba established minimum wage
boards for women.
1919
The Naturalization Act allowed a British subject who married an
"alien" permission to retain her citizenship. Previously, the wife automatically
took her husband's nationality and lost her citizenship rights.
Between 1910 and 1919, the prairie provinces enacted
legislation guaranteeing the inheritance rights of wives and restricting a husband's
ability to sell or mortgage family property without his wife's consent.
In the first Manitoba election after women became eligible
to vote, four women ran for office. Edith Rogers was the only woman elected and she
remained the lone woman in the legislature until she retired in 1932.
1920
Between 1916 and 1920, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario had
established mothers' allowances.
The Elections Act of 1920 reaffirmed
national suffrage, which still excluded Aboriginals and certain minorities.
1921
Women were forced to resign from the Canada Civil Service when they got married.
Just four women candidates ran in the 1921 federal
election, the first in which women were eligible to vote and hold office. Only Agnes
Macphail won, as an independent from Grey Country, Ontario. She served for nineteen years
and was joined by one other woman during that time, Martha Black from the Yukon
(1935-1940).
1928
"Men Only" beer parlors were created under Manitoba's Liquor Control Commission.
1938
During the 1930s, the authority of many minimum wage boards was extended to men. By 1938,
only Newfoundland's minimum wage law applied exclusively to women.
A plaque was unveiled at the entrance to the Senate chamber
on June 11, honouring the "Famous Five" women who had fought for the recognition
of women as "persons".
1947
Asian and Indo-Canadians could vote in federal elections.
1948
The United Nations enacted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which proclaimed that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights". Canada was one of the signatories to the Universal Declaration.
1952
Women were allowed to sit on juries in Manitoba.
1953
Fair employment legislation was enacted in Manitoba.
1954
The Women's Bureau at the Federal Department of Labour was created.
1955
Restrictions on the employment of married women in the federal public service were
removed.
1956
Equal pay legislation was enacted in Manitoba. Women were allowed into beverage rooms.
1957
Ellen Fairclough was appointed as a secretary of state, making her the first woman federal
cabinet minister.
1960
Olive Irvine was the first woman from Manitoba to be appointed to the Senate. Aboriginal
men and women were granted the right to vote in federal elections.
1963
Margaret Konantz became the first Manitoba woman elected to the House of Commons. She was
the daughter of Edith Rogers, the first woman MLA in Manitoba.
1967
The Government of Canada established the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in
Canada, chaired by Florence Bird.
1969
The Criminal Code was amended so that prescribing contraceptives and handing out
information on birth control methods as well as sexual acts between consenting adults of
the same sex were no longer considered crimes.
1971
Jean Folster, of Norway House, became the first woman Chief in Manitoba. She served her
people in that position for four years and as a magistrate for over a decade.
Major amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Act
in 1971 brought in a wide range of benefits, including maternity leave for women.
1972
The Manitoba Government established the Women's Bureau within the Department of Labour. It
provided direct employment counselling services to women.
1975
The United Nations declared 1975 to be the International Year of Women and held the first
World Conference on Women in Mexico.
1977
Parliament adopted The Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibited
discrimination on the grounds of sex in employment and services in federal jurisdiction.
It also strongly reinforced the principle of equal pay for equal work. The Canada
Labour Code was amended to provide a 17-week maternity leave.
A United Nations resolution was passed calling for
countries to celebrate a day for womenıs rights and international peace. This day is
known as International Womenıs Day (March 8th) and it is celebrated annually by women
throughout the world.
1982
NDP MP Margaret Mitchell was laughed at in the House of Commons when she raised the issue
of violence against women. The outcry from women brought the issue to national attention.
1983
The Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to prohibit sexual harassment
and to ban discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and family or marital status. The
federal government adopted Bill C-127, which acknowledged the notion of "spousal
rape".
1984
Sharon Carstairs became the first woman in Manitoba and the second woman in Canada to lead
a major political party. She was leader of the Manitoba Liberals.
Government established the Manitoba Women's Directorate, to
support the Minister responsible for the Status of Women and to ensure the integration of
women's concerns in the policy development and decision-making processes of government.
1985
The Manitoba Pay Equity Act was introduced, allowing women to receive
equal pay for work of equal value in the following areas of the public sector: Manitoba
Civil Service, Crown corporations, twenty-three Manitoba hospitals and four universities.
1986
The Employment Equity Act
was introduced, applicable to Crown corporations and federally regulated businesses, to
correct historic and systemic discrimination against women, Aboriginal persons, persons
with disabilities and members of visible minorities.
1987
The Manitoba Women's Advisory Council on the Status of
Women Act was enacted to create a council to advise the government on matters
concerning the status of women. In 1991, an amendment act was introduced in order to
change the councilıs title to its current name, the Manitoba Womenıs Advisory Council.
After a lengthy debate on the role of women in the Canadian
Armed Forces, the Minister of National Defense announced that all air force combat roles
were open to women, including flying fighter aircraft (such as CF-18) and tactical
helicopters.
1989
The Supreme Court of Canada decided that sexual harassment is a form of discrimination.
1992
The federal government commemorated the first official Women's History Month in Canada.
Susan Thompson was elected the first woman mayor of Winnipeg.
1993
The United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna reaffirmed that "the
fundamental rights of women and girls are inalienable, integral and indissociable from
human rights".
1995
The fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing China, resulted in the document
"Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration". This was a framework intended
to move issues of gender equality to the top of the global agenda in all spheres of public
and private life.
1997
The Midwifery Act was passed in
Manitoba that acknowledged the establishment of the College of Midwives of Manitoba and
outlined the legal duties and responsibilities of midwives.
1999
The Supreme Court upheld Bill C-46, which restricts access to medical and psychiatric
files of victims of sexual abuse. The court also unanimously affirmed that "no means
no". In other words, consent to sexual activity must be voluntary and communicated.
2001
Parental leave benefits, available to either parent, were increased from 10 weeks to 35
weeks by the federal government. (Maternity benefits, available only to the mother,
remained at 15 weeks. Combined benefits provide one year of leave.)
Manitoba amended its Employment Standards Code
to harmonize legislation with the federal government (ensuring that the parent's job is
secure)
Return to:
Women's History Month
Publications
Celebrating Women's History
Rediscover our history by
learning about the
women who helped to create it.
History of Political Milestones and Legislation Affecting Manitoba
Women
1857
The British Matrimonial Causes Act was
adopted in Canada. A husband could divorce his wife because of adultery. A husband had to
be guilty of adultery and desertion without reason.
1859
Married women could own property in Canada, but they could not
sell it.Sale of the property required the agreement of the women and their husbands.
1871
According to Manitoba's Act Respecting Married Women, a woman was allowed
to keep ownership of her property, but any wages she made went to her spouse. If he was
judged cruel or insane, she was entitled to her wages and those of any dependant children.
1883
Sir John A. MacDonald introduced a suffrage bill. It was defeated, as were the next two
suffrage bills he introduced.
1885
The Dominion Franchise Act was established
and remained in effect until 1898. An eligible voter was identified as a male person,
which included any person of Aboriginal descent and excluded any person of Asian descent.
A man could vote if he or his wife owned property, but she was still responsible for the
property tax.
1887
Single and married women were able to vote in municipal elections in Manitoba, but they
were not allowed to hold office until 1917.
1890
Women ratepayers in Manitoba were able to vote and hold office at the school board level.
1892
Section 179 of the Canadian Criminal Code made abortion and the sale of
all forms of birth control illegal and subject to two years in jail. This did not change
until 1969.
1900
The Married Women's Property Act allowed wives in Manitoba to keep
control over their property and wages. It also made them jointly responsible with their
husbands for their children.
1907
The Manitoba Municipal Act was amended so that only women were excluded
as voters in municipal elections, although they had been granted this right previously.
Public protest forced the act to be amended again.
1909
The Criminal Code was amended to make it a crime to abduct women. Before
this, the abduction of any woman over 16 was legal, except if she was an heiress.
The maximum penalty for stealing a cow was much higher than for kidnapping an
heiress.
1911
By 1911, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia passed laws to help women abandoned
by their husbands.
1912
Manitoba women with illegitimate children could take court action against the alleged
father for support of the child.
1913
Manitoba passed an act making it illegal for white women to work for any person of Asian
descent.
1916
On January 28, Manitoba women won the right to vote and run in provincial elections
(except for Aboriginals and some minority women).
1918
National suffrage was achieved on May 24.
British Columbia and Manitoba established minimum wage
boards for women.
1919
The Naturalization Act allowed a British subject who married an
"alien" permission to retain her citizenship. Previously, the wife automatically
took her husband's nationality and lost her citizenship rights.
Between 1910 and 1919, the prairie provinces enacted
legislation guaranteeing the inheritance rights of wives and restricting a husband's
ability to sell or mortgage family property without his wife's consent.
In the first Manitoba election after women became eligible
to vote, four women ran for office. Edith Rogers was the only woman elected and she
remained the lone woman in the legislature until she retired in 1932.
1920
Between 1916 and 1920, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario had
established mothers' allowances.
The Elections Act of 1920 reaffirmed
national suffrage, which still excluded Aboriginals and certain minorities.
1921
Women were forced to resign from the Canada Civil Service when they got married.
Just four women candidates ran in the 1921 federal
election, the first in which women were eligible to vote and hold office. Only Agnes
Macphail won, as an independent from Grey Country, Ontario. She served for nineteen years
and was joined by one other woman during that time, Martha Black from the Yukon
(1935-1940).
1928
"Men Only" beer parlors were created under Manitoba's Liquor Control Commission.
1938
During the 1930s, the authority of many minimum wage boards was extended to men. By 1938,
only Newfoundland's minimum wage law applied exclusively to women.
A plaque was unveiled at the entrance to the Senate chamber
on June 11, honouring the "Famous Five" women who had fought for the recognition
of women as "persons".
1947
Asian and Indo-Canadians could vote in federal elections.
1948
The United Nations enacted The Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
which proclaimed that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights". Canada was one of the signatories to the Universal Declaration.
1952
Women were allowed to sit on juries in Manitoba.
1953
Fair employment legislation was enacted in Manitoba.
1954
The Women's Bureau at the Federal Department of Labour was created.
1955
Restrictions on the employment of married women in the federal public service were
removed.
1956
Equal pay legislation was enacted in Manitoba. Women were allowed into beverage rooms.
1957
Ellen Fairclough was appointed as a secretary of state, making her the first woman federal
cabinet minister.
1960
Olive Irvine was the first woman from Manitoba to be appointed to the Senate. Aboriginal
men and women were granted the right to vote in federal elections.
1963
Margaret Konantz became the first Manitoba woman elected to the House of Commons. She was
the daughter of Edith Rogers, the first woman MLA in Manitoba.
1967
The Government of Canada established the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in
Canada, chaired by Florence Bird.
1969
The Criminal Code was amended so that prescribing contraceptives and handing out
information on birth control methods as well as sexual acts between consenting adults of
the same sex were no longer considered crimes.
1971
Jean Folster, of Norway House, became the first woman Chief in Manitoba. She served her
people in that position for four years and as a magistrate for over a decade.
Major amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Act
in 1971 brought in a wide range of benefits, including maternity leave for women.
1972
The Manitoba Government established the Women's Bureau within the Department of Labour. It
provided direct employment counselling services to women.
1975
The United Nations declared 1975 to be the International Year of Women and held the first
World Conference on Women in Mexico.
1977
Parliament adopted The Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibited
discrimination on the grounds of sex in employment and services in federal jurisdiction.
It also strongly reinforced the principle of equal pay for equal work. The Canada
Labour Code was amended to provide a 17-week maternity leave.
A United Nations resolution was passed calling for
countries to celebrate a day for womenıs rights and international peace. This day is
known as International Womenıs Day (March 8th) and it is celebrated annually by women
throughout the world.
1982
NDP MP Margaret Mitchell was laughed at in the House of Commons when she raised the issue
of violence against women. The outcry from women brought the issue to national attention.
1983
The Canadian Human Rights Act was amended to prohibit sexual harassment
and to ban discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and family or marital status. The
federal government adopted Bill C-127, which acknowledged the notion of "spousal
rape".
1984
Sharon Carstairs became the first woman in Manitoba and the second woman in Canada to lead
a major political party. She was leader of the Manitoba Liberals.
Government established the Manitoba Women's Directorate, to
support the Minister responsible for the Status of Women and to ensure the integration of
women's concerns in the policy development and decision-making processes of government.
1985
The Manitoba Pay Equity Act was introduced, allowing women to receive
equal pay for work of equal value in the following areas of the public sector: Manitoba
Civil Service, Crown corporations, twenty-three Manitoba hospitals and four universities.
1986
The Employment Equity Act
was introduced, applicable to Crown corporations and federally regulated businesses, to
correct historic and systemic discrimination against women, Aboriginal persons, persons
with disabilities and members of visible minorities.
1987
The Manitoba Women's Advisory Council on the Status of
Women Act was enacted to create a council to advise the government on matters
concerning the status of women. In 1991, an amendment act was introduced in order to
change the councilıs title to its current name, the Manitoba Womenıs Advisory Council.
After a lengthy debate on the role of women in the Canadian
Armed Forces, the Minister of National Defense announced that all air force combat roles
were open to women, including flying fighter aircraft (such as CF-18) and tactical
helicopters.
1989
The Supreme Court of Canada decided that sexual harassment is a form of discrimination.
1992
The federal government commemorated the first official Women's History Month in Canada.
Susan Thompson was elected the first woman mayor of Winnipeg.
1993
The United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna reaffirmed that "the
fundamental rights of women and girls are inalienable, integral and indissociable from
human rights".
1995
The fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing China, resulted in the document
"Platform for Action and the Beijing Declaration". This was a framework intended
to move issues of gender equality to the top of the global agenda in all spheres of public
and private life.
1997
The Midwifery Act was passed in
Manitoba that acknowledged the establishment of the College of Midwives of Manitoba and
outlined the legal duties and responsibilities of midwives.
1999
The Supreme Court upheld Bill C-46, which restricts access to medical and psychiatric
files of victims of sexual abuse. The court also unanimously affirmed that "no means
no". In other words, consent to sexual activity must be voluntary and communicated.
2001
Parental leave benefits, available to either parent, were increased from 10 weeks to 35
weeks by the federal government. (Maternity benefits, available only to the mother,
remained at 15 weeks. Combined benefits provide one year of leave.)
Manitoba amended its Employment Standards Code
to harmonize legislation with the federal government (ensuring that the parent's job is
secure)
Return to:
Women's History Month
Publications
|
