The ''Dominion Elections Act'' () was a bill passed by the House of Commons of Canada in 1920, under Robert Borden's Unionist government. The Act allowed white women to run for the

Parliament of Canada The Parliament of Canada () is the Canadian federalism, federal legislature of Canada. The Monarchy of Canada, Crown, along with two chambers: the Senate of Canada, Senate and the House of Commons of Canada, House of Commons, form the Bicameral ...

. However, women from most/all minorities, for example, Aboriginals and Asians, were not granted these rights. This bill was passed due in part to the advocacy of Nellie McClung, a women's rights activist from Manitoba. The law established the agency now known as ''

Elections Canada Elections Canada () is the non-partisan agency responsible for administering elections in Canada, Canadian federal elections and Referendums in Canada, referendums. History Elections Canada is an agency of the Parliament of Canada, and reports ...

'' with the position of Chief Electoral Officer as head of the agency.

Background

During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the country was split on the issue of conscription. Ahead of the 1917 election, the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

experienced splits among individual MPs. Protests erupted over the government's plan to introduce conscription in what became known as the Conscription Crisis of 1917. Pro-conscription Liberals joined forces with the Conservative Party to form the Unionist Party in 1917, led by Prime Minister Robert Borden. In an effort to increase votes for the new Unionist Party, Borden granted the vote to female relatives of active-duty soldiers. The 1917 election had the highest female voter turnout out of any other election, and the Unionist Party won a safe majority, with only Quebec voting majority Liberal.

References

1920 in Canadian law 1920 in women's history Canadian federal legislation Canadian election legislation Women's suffrage in Canada {{Canada-law-stub

Background

See also

References