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The Married Womens Property Act
The Married Women’s Property Act allows married women to be owners of
own property. Previously, when women married, immediatelty their property was
transferred to their husbands. If a women wanted to divorce a male, the court remained heavily in the male's favour when distributing property. The act allows women to keep their property regardless of their circumstances and status (divorce, widowed, etc). -
Military Voters Act
Established as a Canadian right, The Military Voters Act stated that women working overseas to help with the war effort should also be given the power to vote among individuals. This was the first time women were allowed to have a role in influencing political issues. As a result, many young women joined the red cross and became nurses overseas. This was a major movement for the involvement of women in the wartime effort, giving them a strong leadership role through making changes in society. -
The Womens Labour Leauge
The Canadian Womens Labour Leauge emerged in Canada sometime around WWI and resembled the British Women’s League. This organization defended women workers and the labour movement. As radical as it seemed to some, the league called for equal pay, maternity care, and birth control, along with exposing the shortfalls of minimum wage laws. The leauge is a big step towards the advancement of the role of women by aiming to protect womens rights and managing their responsibiles in society. -
The Persons Case and the Famous Five
October 18th 1928, the Minister of Canadian Justice submitted a report to the Governor General of Canada regarding a petition by the famous five. This asked the Supreme Court of Canada to consider whether women were eligible to become Senators under the British North America Act. The Minister responded by implying that women were not considered persons, until the Famous 5 appealed to the British Privy Council overturned their decision by deciding that the women were considered persons. -
Womens workers in the inter war years
As unemployment rates rose, women workers were perceived as a threat within the union. This provoked contradictory attitudes through union leadership. 1925, the TUC established its own Women's Conference and in 1930, a Women's Advisory Committee to assist the General Council to tackle the 'problem' of women. The Women's Committee launched a campaign to increase the involvement of women in the union by establishing local womens committees that secured their leadership role. -
The Female Employees Equal Pay Act
Passed by the federal government where a policy was created for womens entitlement to be paid the same wage as men for similar work. This law abolished discrimination in wages on account of sex against the law. The equal pay legislation is passed in Nova Scotia and Manitoba. Fair employment legislation is enacted in New Brunswick, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. -
The Womens Liberation Movement
The women's liberation movement came in Canada in the late 1960s to the 1970s with activists from other movements. Largely independent of political parties, many were organized into small consciousness-raising groups; working on finding solutions to issues regarding abortion, birth control, and daycare. They created feminist organizations raising awareness for issues that create problems lin the live -
The Royal Commission on the Staus of Women
The Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada was created in 1967 and given the mandate to ensure that women in society met the same equalopportunities that are offered to men. The lives of Canadian women improved since the days of the Royal Commission, and in the present, the status of Women Canada continues to promote gender equality and works to advance the participation of females in society. -
Employment Equity Act
Canada's federal government passes the Employment Equity Act. This requires employers to identify and eliminate unnecessary barriers that limit the employment opportunities of historically disadvantaged groups, including women. The Act achieved it's mandate by creating more opportunities for women and disadvantaged groups by progressing equality in the workplace, and making sure the rights of these groups meet acceptable standards. The Act was successful as it advocated opportunity and equality -
Systematic discrimination and the CNR
A lobby group supporting women's rights complains to the Canadian Human Rights Commission that CNR is guilty of systemic discrimination, as it became unlawful. The Tribunal was aware of this and ordered the CNR to start an employment equity program, after making no effort to hire women.The CNR refused, appealing the case to the Supreme Court. It wasnt until the CNR lost the case that the commission had the right to impose an employment equity program on them to end their discriminatory policies.
