The Life and Legacy of Agnes Macphail 

Canada's First Female Member of Parliament  

Agnes Macphail was the only woman elected to Parliament in 1921, the first federal election in which women had the right to vote. She served as Member of Parliament for the riding of Grey South East until she was defeated nineteen years later in the 1940 election.

Agnes had allies and admirers in the House of Commons. She also faced criticism from fellow MPs (and journalists) who opposed her stance on political and social issues. She entered politics to represent the farmers of her region. Throughout her political career, Agnes also championed the rights of miners, immigrants, prisoners, women, and other marginalized groups. Some critics suggested that her support for these groups was influenced by communism; others implied her judgment had been affected by her “sweet nature” and “womanly sympathy.” When she dared to criticize militarism and imperialism, she was even accused of treason.

In 1943, Agnes returned to politics. She won the provincial riding of York East in Toronto, one of the first two women to become members of the Ontario Legislature. Then after losing her seat in 1945, she was re-elected in 1948. As an MPP, she continued to support farmers, industrial workers, prison inmates, and women.

Agnes's final political success was the passage in 1951 of Ontario’s first equal pay legislation, the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act. Despite the limitations of the Act, it was a significant step forward in terms of legislating equality.

Agnes Macphail died in February 1954, shortly before Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent was to offer her an appointment to the Senate.

Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/agnes-macphail