Timeline: Women in Canada

1916-Manitoba, followed by Saskatchewan & Alberta, gives vote to women in provincial elections.
1917-British Columbia and Ontario give right to vote to women.
1917-Women serving in Armed Forces and women with relatives in uniform are allowed to vote in
         federal elections.
1918-Nova Scotia gives vote to women.
1918-Women are given franchise in Federal elections.
1919-New Brunswick approves women’s suffrage.
1919-Women gain right to stand in Federal elections.
1921-Angnes MacPhail is the first women elected to Parliament.
1922-Prince Edward Island approves women’s suffrage.
1925-Newfoundland approves women’s suffrage.
1928-Supreme Court rules that women are not “persons” and cannot be appointed to senate.
1929-British Privy Council overturns Supreme Court ruling.
1931-Cairine Wilson is first women appointed to senate.
1940-Quebec gives women the right to vote & is last to do so.
1947-Married women are restricted from holding federal public service jobs.
1955-Above restrictions are removed.
1957-Ellen Fairclough is sworn in as 1st women federal cabinet minister.
1967-Royal Commission on the Status of Women is established.
1971-Canada Labour Code is amended to allow women 17 weeks of   maternity leave.
1973-Supreme Court upholds section of Indian Act depriving aboriginal women of their rights.
1977-Canadian Human Rights Act is passed, forbidding discrimination on the basis of sex.
1981-Canada ratifies UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against
         women.
1982-Bertha Wilson becomes first women appointed to Supreme Court of Canada.
1983-Affirmative action programs are made mandatory in federal public service.
1984-28 women are elected to Parliament, 6 appointed to cabinet.
1984-Jeane Sauve become first female Governor General.
1985-Sec 15 of Charter of Rights and Freedoms comes into effect.
1989-Indian Act is amended to remove discrimination against aboriginal women.
1989-Audrey MaLaughlin; 1st women to lead significant political party (the NDP)
1991-Rita Johnston, 1st women premier in Canada in B.C.
1993-Catherine Callbeck is first women elected premier. (P.E.I.)
1993-Kim Campbell serves briefly as Canada’s first women prime minister.
1997-General election: 60 women are elected to Parliament -largest number ever.
1999-Beverley McLachlin if first women appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

     Source:
Jackson, Robert J. and Jackson, Doreen. Politics In Canada: Culture, Institutions, Behavior, and Public Policy. 5th Edition. Toronto: Prentice Hill, 2001. p.138