Get informed about Canada’s political system—and women’s leadership within it.
Some women get the right to vote in Manitoba
Louise McKinney is the first woman elected in Canada (Alberta MLA)
Some women get the right to vote in federal elections
Some women get the right to run as federal candidate
Agnes Macphail is first woman elected to Parliament
Barbara Hanley is first woman elected as mayor in Canada
The right to vote is extended to Asian women
Inuit women gain the right to vote, although not put into practice in the North until 1962
Charlotte Whitton is first woman mayor of a major Canadian city (Ottawa)
The Indian Act is amended to allow First Nations women the right to vote in federal elections
Rosemary Brown is first Black woman elected in Canada (British Columbia MLA)
Jeanne Sauvé is first woman Speaker of the House of Commons
Ethel Blondin-Andrew is first Indigenous woman elected to the Parliament
Audrey McLaughlin is first woman to lead a major federal political party
Rita Johnson is first woman Premier in Canada (British Columbia)
Kim Campbell is Canada’s first (and still only) woman Prime Minister
Equal Voice founded
Kathleen Wynne becomes the first openly LGBTQ+ provincial Premier (Ontario)
Alberta NDP comes closest governing party to gender parity, with 47 percent of seats held by women
First gender-balanced federal cabinet appointed
Québec is the first jurisdiction to elect more than 40% women (41.5%)
Canada has multiple levels of government: federal, provincial/territorial, municipal and band council. There are also many self government agreements in place with Indigenous communities across the country.
Led by the Prime Minister, the federal government is responsible for areas of national/international importance, including foreign affairs, national defense, banking and taxes.
Led by a Premier, provincial and territorial governments manage their lands, and have jurisdiction over areas such as healthcare, education, and road regulations.
Led by a Mayor, municipalities run cities and towns, and are responsible for areas such as local police and fire services, parks, roadways, and libraries.
By law, federal elections always take place on the third Monday of October, the fourth year after the previous election. However, there are times when the federal government may decide to call an election at an earlier date.
Most other election times and laws vary across provinces, territories, and municipalities. Check your province's election website for more details.
Voting is the easiest way to make a difference. Exercise your right to vote. Find out more about voting at www.elections.ca.
Encourage others to vote on election day.
Drive a friend to the polls or lend a helping hand to friends with children to make sure they get out and vote.
If there's a campaign going on in your riding, municipality, or province/territory, consider volunteering for a local candidate that you like. Campaigns need people to call potential voters, put up signs and posters, knock on doors, drop off flyers, fundraise, answer phones, attend rallies and election events. Elected officials often need volunteers in their constituency offices as well to help with organizing and attending events as well as answering phones. Just drop in and ask if you can be of assistance.
If you are active in your local political party and you know a woman who is smart enough, tough enough and energetic enough to take on the challenge of political office, get her involved and support her nomination AND/OR run yourself.
