Ellen Fairclough

Pioneering politician

Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1905; died in 2004.

Was a Chartered Accountant and owner of a Hamilton accounting firm.

Elected to the Canadian House of Commons in a 1950 by-election after being defeated in the 1949 federal election.

As a Member of Parliament, she advocated women's rights including equal pay for equal work.

Appointed to the position of Secretary of State for Canada by Prime Minister John Diefenbaker in 1957.  

First woman to be a cabinet minister in Ottawa’s House of Commons; became Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in 1958, and from 1962 until her defeat in 1963, was Postmaster General.

First female Acting Prime Minister of Canada from February 19 to February 20, 1958.

Nominated Kim Campbell for the Progressive Conservative Party leadership in 1993, after which Campbell became Canada's first woman prime minister.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen Fairclough

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