Monday, January 23, 2006

Vote Early and Vote Often




With the exception of Aboriginal women, women over the age of 21 who are Canadian citizens were granted the right to vote in federal elections in 1918. It was a hard fought battle, led by a strong willed group of women. Our right to vote should never be taken for granted. Nellie McLung played a key role in orchestrating this change in perception and law.


Born in 1873 in Grey County, Ontario, she was married on August.25, 1896 to Weslie McLung. They moved to Alberta and Nelly became very involved in politics and the movement of suffrage. In 1921 she became a liberal member of the Alberta Legislature. She lead the battle in getting women the right to vote in Manitoba and Alberta.

Nelly once said "We may yet live to see the day when women will be no longer news! And it cannot come too soon. I want to be a peaceful, happy, normal human being, pursuing my unimpeded way through life never having to stop to explain defend, or apologize for my sex." Nelly gave women a challenge to fight with her for women's rights. She was a liberal member of the Alberta legislature from 1921 to 1926 and during this period of time she fought for mother's allowance , public health and nursing services, and free medical and dental services for school children.

Emily Murphy, Nelly Mclung, Louise McKinney, Henrietta Edwards, Irene Parlby, and Judge Murphy were all part of the Persons Case and were nicknamed "The Famous Five." They petitioned the prime minister asking "Does the word ‘person' in Section 24 of the British North America Act include female ‘persons'?" The persons case was in court for a long time.

The Supreme Court of Canada finally decided in April 1928, the women were not "persons" qualified to be appointed to the Senate in Canada. They became discouraged but were not ready to give up. The Privy Council was the highest court of appeal in the British Empire, so they decided to take their case to the Privy Council. After months of consideration, the judges of the Privy Council decided the word ‘persons' does include females. The women had won their fight and women were qualified to sit in the Canadian Senate.

Today is voting day in Canada. More than any federal election in recent years, your vote will count. Exercise this right.......but only once.





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