Canada

House of CommonsSenate

House of Commons

Historical data on women

Data on women’s right to vote and to stand for election, the date at which the first woman entered parliament, and female Heads of State or Government

Women's suffrage

Women’s right to vote
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1917
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Suffrage: Restrictions detail
Women who served in the military or who had a close male relative serving in the military (i.e. a father, husband or son) were granted the right to vote
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1918
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Suffrage: Restrictions detail
All women except for Indians
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1950
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Detail of restrictions Suffrage: Restrictions detail
Federal franchise extended to Indians (regardless of gender) under the condition that they waive the tax exemptions given to them by the Indian Act
Women’s right to vote Year in which women obtained the right to vote
1960
National or local Suffrage: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Suffrage: Additional Notes on right of suffrage
Universal adult male suffrage was not achieved federally until August 1960, with the unqualified extension of voting rights to all Indians under the Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act. It was not until 1969 (1940?), when Quebec became the last province to extend franchise rights to Indians, that provincial voting was secured.
Women’s right to stand for election
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1919
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
Same conditions as men (age 21), only the House of Common
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1929
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
The right to stand for elections is extended to the Senate
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1950
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Restricted
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
Indians granted right with same restriction (men and women)
Women's right to stand for election Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election
1960
National or local Stand for Election: National or Local
National
Restricted or unrestricted suffrage Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
Universal
Notes Stand for Election: Additional Notes on right to stand for election
Right to stand for election without any restriction
First woman in parliament
First woman in parliament Year in which first woman entered parliament
1921
First woman speaker
Year of first woman speaker Date at which, for the first time in the country's parliamentary history, a woman became Presiding Officer of Parliament or of one of its Houses.
1972