Womens rights timeline

By s.lauziere

  • Denying women the Right to Vote

    The Dominion Elections Act sets the rules for who can vote in federal elections. It makes the qualifications for federal elections the same as for provincial ones. That means minorities who can't vote in provincial elections are also excluded from federal elections. In other words, over half of Canadians, including visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, and women have no democratic rights.
  • Period: to

    Womens rights

  • The first of many

    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    1903
    In Prince Edward Island at least, married women are now people too, at least when it comes to property rights. Following the national trend, they are given the same legal capacity as men. Quotable quotes: "As the 19th Century was that of the United States, so I think the 20th Century shall be filled by Canada." Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier Addressing the Canadian Club in 1904

  • The Right to property is given to women in Saskatchewan

    In step with recent developments elsewhere in Canada, married women in Saskatchewan are given the same legal capacity as men

  • Securing the right to vote in manitoba,saskatchewan,Alberta

    In 1916, one government finally listens. Manitoba amends its Election Act granting women the right to vote. Soon after WWI, white women over the age of 21 have the vote federally, and in all provinces except Prince Edward Island (1922) and Québec (1940 Women in the suffrage movement tended to represent the upper classes of society. They argued that women were morally superior to men because of their roles as wives and mothers. Believeing themselves superior, these women viewed themselves as

  • Securing the vote in B.C

    women have attained the right to vote in B.C

  • securing the vote for women in Novia scotia

    The effects of Manitoba's decision to grant women the vote have rippled all the way to the East. The Nova Scotia Franchise Act gives women the right to vote in Nova Scotia's provincial elections.

  • Securing the vote for women in Ontario

    Granting women the right to vote seems to be an idea whose time has come. The War-Time Elections Act and many provinces have set a precedent that is difficult for the federal government to ignore. An Act to Confer Electoral Franchise Upon Women is a major victory for suffragettes. It grants all Caucasian women the franchise (the right to vote). It is important to note that women of Asian and Aboriginal descent are excluded from this victory.

  • Securing the right to vote for women in New brunswick

    New Brunswick joins many provinces and the federal government in granting Caucasian women the right to vote. The province amends the New Brunswick Electors Act, and gives women over the age of 21 the franchise (right to vote).

  • The dominion elections act

    The Dominion Elections Act recognizes that every eligible Canadian over 21 - male or female can vote in federal elections. Unfortunately, this does not include Aboriginal peoples, Inuit or anyone barred from a provincial voters' list including Asians and Hindus. It seems that in 1920, human rights are afforded only to Caucasian humans.

  • Securing the right to vote for women in PEI

    Prince Edward Island has becomes the 10th government in Canada to grant caucasian women over 21 the vote.

  • What's Yours is Yours and What's Mine is Mine

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    Edmonton, Alberta
    1922
    Thanks to the Married Women's Property Act, women who chose to marry no longer have to forfeit the rights to their properties. Gone are the days when marriage meant gaining a husband - and losing your rights. Another important step towards equality has been made.

  • Women from Québec Obtain the Vote

    Québec City
    1940
    Québec becomes the last existing province to make it legal for women - excluding those from a racial minority already banned from voting in other provinces - to vote and run for office by signing the Act Granting to Women the Right to Vote and to be Eligible as Candidates.

  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

    United Nations Building
    New York, USA
    December 10, 1948
    As you can imagine, reaching an agreement at the United Nations is not simple. This makes what happened in 1948 all the more remarkable. Without a single exception, representatives from all over the world passed Resolution 217A (III), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "UDHR"). The UDHR is the first comprehensive agreement among nations as to the specific ri

  • Equal Pay Comes to Saskatchewan

    Regina, Saskatchewan
    April 4, 1952
    The Equal Pay Act mandates that a woman be paid the same wage as a male for doing similar work.

  • British Columbia / Manitoba / Nova Scotia adopt the Equal Pay Act

    Victoria, B.C.
    1953
    The Equal Pay Act mandates that a woman be paid the same wage as a man for doing comparable work.

  • Federal Fair Wages

    1954
    The federal government declares its fair wages policy.

  • Federal Government adopts the Female Employees Equal Pay Act

    Ottawa, Canada
    1956
    In 1956, the federal Cabinet makes a declaration of equal wages. The government creates a policy wherein women are entitled to be paid the same wage as men for similar work. In other words, the Female Employees Equal Pay Act makes discrimination in wages on account of sex against the law.

  • Equal Pay for Equal Work introduced in Nova Scotia

    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    1956
    It happened in Ontario then it happened in Nova Scotia. A new law declared that women should not be paid less than men because of their gender.The notion of equal pay for equal work was catching on in Canada.

  • Promoting Fair Employment in New Brunswick

    Fredericton, New Brunswick
    1956
    New Brunswick passes its own fair employment legislation. It prohibits discrimination on account of race, colour, creed, sex, and ethnic origin in the hiring and employment of any person.

  • Promoting Fair Employment in British Columbia

    Victoria, B.C.
    1956
    British Columbia's fair employment legislation prohibits discrimination on account of race, colour, creed, sex, and ethnic origin in the hiring and employment of any person.

  • Promoting Fair Employment in Saskatchewan

    Regina, Saskatchewan
    1956
    Saskatchewan's 1947 Bill of Rights has already forbidden discrimination in employment, yet, in 1956, the province passes a separate fair employment law to make its position absolutely clear.

  • Equal Pay for Equal Work adopted in Manitoba

    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    1956
    Manitoba introduced its own law prohibiting an employer from discriminating with respect to wages on account of gender. Women can't be paid less just because they are women.

  • Introducing Equal Pay for Equal Work in Alberta

    Edmonton, Alberta
    1959
    Alberta amends the Labour Code to prohibit an employer from discriminating with respect to wages on account of gender. Women can't be paid less for doing the same or similar job just because they are women. This won't stop the practice, but it will be a solid step towards closing the wage gap between men and women.

  • First Attempt at a Human Rights Charter: The Canadian Bill of Rights

    Ottawa, Canada
    August 10, 1960
    Ever since its passing, Canadians wanted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights put into practice. Many called for a bill of rights to be added to the British North America Act, 1867, but all attempts to agree on amending the Act end in failure. Complications over jurisdiction concerning property, language, criminal law, and religion made reaching a consensus difficult. Frustrated by this squabb

  • The Birth of Human Rights Codes

    Toronto, Ontario
    1962
    In 1962, the province of Ontario repealed most of its human rights laws in order to make way for the Ontario Human Rights Code - the first comprehensive human rights code in Canada. The Saskatchewan Bill of Rights Act in 1947 and the Canadian Bill of Rights in 1960 were general laws that affirmed the existence of certain rights but lacked the enforcement mechanisms, penalties, and punishments provided in Ontario's new code. The Ontario Huma

  • Nova Scotia's adopts its Human Rights Act

    Halifax, Nova Scotia
    1963
    Nova Scotia passes its first Human Rights Act. The Act consolidates the province's Human Rights legislation into one Act.

  • Alberta's Human Rights Act

    Edmonton, Alberta
    1966
    Alberta passes its Human Rights Act. It sets up a comprehensive system for dealing with discrimination, but only has a single understaffed Administrator. In 1972, the province would strengthen its position by renaming the act the Individual Rights Protection Act, creating a Human Rights Commission, and hiring staff to administer it.

  • New Brunswick's adopts its Human Rights Act

    Fredericton, New Brunswick
    1967
    New Brunswick passes its own Human Rights Act, and sets up a Human Rights Commission to better combat discrimination.

  • Prince Edward Island's adopts its Human Rights Act

    Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
    1968
    Prince Edward Island joins other provinces in the fight against discrimination by passing its own Human Rights Act. This was a particularly significant act for P.E.I. as it did not have many individual laws prohibiting discrimination. A Human Rights Commission would follow in 1975.

  • The Newfoundland Human Rights Act

    St. John's, Newfoundland
    1969
    Newfoundland takes the plunge into human rights protection with the Human Rights Act. It will be 1974, however, before the Act provides for a Commission to ensure compliance with the law.

  • British Columbia adopts its Human Rights Act

    Victoria, B.C.
    1969
    British Columbia consolidates its various human rights laws into one Code - the Human Rights Act. The Act sets up a Commission to ensure that the law is complied with.

  • Manitoba enshrines its Human Rights Act

    Winnipeg, Manitoba
    1970
    Manitoba is the next Province to consolidate its various human rights laws into one Code - the Human Rights Act. The Act sets up a Commission to ensure that the law is complied with.

  • Québec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms

    Québec City, Québec
    1975
    Joining 8 other provinces, Québec passes its Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. What makes this law special is its scope. Like Saskatchewan's 1947 Bill of Rights, it covers all political rights and fundamental freedoms in addition to the anti- discrimination and equal pay provisions that are found in other human rights codes.

  • UN International Covenant

    1976
    The United Nations passes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights .

  • Saskatchewan consolidates its Human Rights Code

    Regina, Saskatchewan
    1979
    Saskatchewan consolidates its various pieces of human rights legislation into a single code. Saskatchewan was the first province to introduce a general human rights law. The passing of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code reinforces the province's leadership position.

  • The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

    Ottawa, Canada
    April 17, 1982
    Of all the human rights milestones in 20th century Canada, arguably the single most significant is the passing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. With its signing, human rights became an intrinsic and irrevocable part of our Canadian identity. At the turn of the century, human rights were at the mercy of laws passed by the provincial and federal governments. This instability opened the doors for discrimination.