Agnes Campbell MacPhail (March 24, 1890 – February 13, 1954) was a Canadian politician and the first woman elected to Canada's House of Commons. She served as a
Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
(MP) from 1921 to 1940; from 1943 to 1945 and again from 1948 to 1951, she served as a member of the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
riding of
York East
York East was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada at different times. It was located in the province of Ontario.
History
The first federal riding of York East was created by the British North America Act ...
. Active throughout her life in
progressive politics, Macphail worked for multiple parties, most prominently the
Progressive Party Progressive Party may refer to:
Active parties
* Progressive Party, Brazil
* Progressive Party (Chile)
* Progressive Party of Working People, Cyprus
* Dominica Progressive Party
* Progressive Party (Iceland)
* Progressive Party (Sardinia), Ita ...
and the
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation. She promoted her ideas through column-writing, activist organizing, and legislation.
Background
![Macphail sign](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Macphail_sign.JPG)
Agnes Macphail was born to Dougald McPhail and Henrietta Campbell in
Proton Township,
Grey County
Grey County is a county of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is in Owen Sound. It is located in the subregion of Southern Ontario named Southwestern Ontario. Grey County is also a part of the Georgian Triangle. At the time of t ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
. Although her surname was spelled "McPhail" at birth, she discovered during a later trip to Scotland that her family's surname had been spelled as "Macphail" and changed her name to reflect this. She was raised in the
Methodist Church, but converted to the
Reorganized Latter Day Saint church as a teenager. This was the church of her missionary uncle. In later years she joined the United Church of Canada, which had absorbed the Methodist church of her youth.
Macphail attended
Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Owen may refer to:
Origin: The name Owen is of Irish and Welsh origin.
Its meanings range from noble, youthful, and well-born.
Gender: Owen is historically the masculine form of the name. Popular feminine variations include Eowyn and Owena. ...
for one year. Although she did well, she transferred to Stratford Normal School so she could complete her studies while boarding with a relative. She graduated in 1910 with a second-class teacher's certificate. She applied for five positions and was accepted at all five. She later said that this was not due to her competence but to a scarcity of teachers at the time. She taught in several rural Ontario schools in such communities as
Port Elgin, Honeywood, and
Newmarket “Roots and branches of Saugeen”, a local history book, states that Agnes MacPhail was the teacher in the Gowanlock School, and would “hoist herself up to the counter top” in the Burgoyne Store and argue politics with the “boys” for hours.
While working in
Sharon, Macphail became active politically, joining the
United Farmers of Ontario
The United Farmers of Ontario (UFO) was an agrarian and populist provincial political party in Ontario, Canada. It was the Ontario provincial branch of the United Farmers movement of the early part of the 20th century.
History
Foundation and r ...
(UFO) and its women's organization, the United Farm Women of Ontario. She also became a columnist for the ''
Farmer's Sun
''The Farmer's Sun'' (also known as the ''Canadian Farmer's Sun'' and ''The Weekly Sun'' at various times) was a progressive weekly periodical published in Ontario from 1892 until 1934. It was, at various times, the official organ of several succe ...
'' around this time.
As with many prominent people of the era, Macphail was an ardent supporter of eugenics.
Federal politics
After amendments to the Elections Act by the
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
federal government in 1919, Macphail was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the
Progressive Party of Canada for the
electoral district of
Grey Southeast
Grey Southeast was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1917 to 1935. It was located in the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Grey East and Grey South ridings when the cou ...
in the
1921 federal election. She was the first female MP in Canadian history. She was re-elected in the
1925
Events January
* January 1
** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria.
* January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Itali ...
,
1926
Events January
* January 3 – Theodoros Pangalos declares himself dictator in Greece.
* January 8
**Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud is crowned King of Hejaz.
** Crown Prince Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thuy ascends the throne, the last monarch of Viet ...
, and
1930 federal elections.
Macphail objected to the
Royal Military College of Canada
'')
, established = 1876
, type = Military academy
, chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Harry Kowal
, head_label ...
in 1924 on the grounds that it taught snobbishness and provided a cheap education for the sons of the rich; in 1931 she objected to government support for the college as she opposed it on pacifist grounds.
As a radical member of the Progressive Party, Macphail joined the socialist
Ginger Group, a faction of the Progressive Party that later formed
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). She became the first president of the
Ontario CCF
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (Ontario Section) – The Farmer-Labor Party of Ontario, or more commonly known as the Ontario CCF, was a democratic socialist provincial political party in Ontario that existed from 1932 to 1961. It was the ...
in 1932.
[Stewart & Shackelton (1959), pp. 171–172] However, she left the CCF in 1934 when the United Farmers of Ontario pulled out over fears of
Communist influence in the Ontario CCF.
[Stewart & Shackelton (1959), p. 178] While Macphail was no longer formally a CCF member, she remained close to the CCF MPs and often participated in caucus meetings. The CCF did not run candidates against Macphail in her three subsequent federal campaigns.
In the
1935 federal election, Macphail was again elected, this time as a United Farmers of Ontario–Labour MP for the newly formed
Grey—Bruce riding. She was allowed to use the party's name, even after it stopped being a political organization in 1934. She was always a strong voice for rural issues. Macphail was also a strong advocate for penal reform and her efforts contributed to the launch of the investigative
Archambault Commission in 1936. The final report became the basis for reform in Canadian penitentiaries following World War II.
Macphail's concern for women in the criminal justice system led her, in 1939, to found the
Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada, named after
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
reformer
Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney; 21 May 1780 – 12 October 1845), sometimes referred to as Betsy Fry, was an English prison reformer, social reformer, philanthropist and Quaker. Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the tr ...
.
Causes she championed included
pensions for seniors and workers' rights. Macphail was also the first Canadian woman delegate to the
League of Nations
The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference that ...
in
Geneva
, neighboring_municipalities= Carouge, Chêne-Bougeries, Cologny, Lancy, Grand-Saconnex, Pregny-Chambésy, Vernier, Veyrier
, website = https://www.geneve.ch/
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevr ...
,
Switzerland, where she worked with the World Disarmament Committee. Although a
pacifist, she voted for Canada to enter
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
In the
1940 election, she was defeated. With the death of
United Reform MP for Saskatoon City,
Walter George Brown
Walter George Brown (September 6, 1875 – April 1, 1940) was a Presbyterian Church in Canada minister who opposed the formation of the United Church of Canada and was a United Reform Movement MP in the House of Commons of Canada.
Early life ...
, a few days after the election, Macphail was recruited by the United Reform Movement to run in the by-election to fill the seat. On August 19, she was defeated by
Progressive Conservative candidate
Alfred Henry Bence
Alfred Henry Bence (October 18, 1908 – May 27, 1977) was a Canadian politician and barrister. He was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1940 as a Member of the Progressive Conservative Party to represent the riding of Saskatoon Cit ...
. He received 4,798 votes, while Macphail placed second with 4,057 votes. It was her last federal campaign as a candidate.
Journalist
Macphail was a frequent contributor to newspapers in Grey County such as the ''
Flesherton Advance'' and ''
Markdale Standard'', often acting as a correspondent or ambassador to the rest of the country. She wrote dispatches from Parliament about political news of interest to the rural communities back home, and contributed columns when she travelled and spoke to citizens in other regions. She also wrote a number of pieces for ''
The Farmer's Sun
''The Farmer's Sun'' (also known as the ''Canadian Farmer's Sun'' and ''The Weekly Sun'' at various times) was a progressive weekly periodical published in Ontario from 1892 until 1934. It was, at various times, the official organ of several succe ...
'', an Ontario progressive weekly, including a number of reminiscences about rural Ontario history.
Out of office, she wrote agricultural columns for ''
The Globe and Mail
''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...
'' newspaper in Toronto and contributed pieces about politics to the ''
Newmarket Era''.
Following a family tragedy in her home town, Macphail moved to the Toronto suburb of
East York
East York is a former administrative district and municipality within Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From 1967 to 1998, it was officially the Borough of East York, a semi-autonomous borough within the upper-tier municipality of Metropolitan Toron ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
and rejoined the Ontario CCF in 1942 becoming its farm organizer.
Provincial politics
In the
1943 provincial election, Macphail was elected to the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a member of the Ontario CCF representing the suburban Toronto riding of
York East
York East was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada at different times. It was located in the province of Ontario.
History
The first federal riding of York East was created by the British North America Act ...
.
She and
Rae Luckock
Margaret Rae Morrison Luckock (October 15, 1893 – January 24, 1972) known as Rae Luckock was a feminist, social justice activist, peace activist and, with Agnes Macphail, one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of ...
were the first women elected to the Ontario Legislature. She was the first woman sworn in as an Ontario
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). Although defeated in the
1945 provincial election, she was elected again in the
1948 election. Macphail was responsible for Ontario's first equal-pay legislation, passed in 1951, but was unable to continue her efforts when she was defeated in
elections later that year. At that time, Macphail was barely able to support herself through journalism, public speaking and organizing for the Ontario CCF.
Macphail was eager to see more women in politics. She explained: "Most women think politics aren't lady-like. Well, I'm no lady. I'm a human being."
Macphail never married. She died February 13, 1954, aged 63, in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
, just before she was to have been offered an appointment to the
Senate of Canada. She is buried in
Priceville, Ontario
Priceville is a village in the southwest corner of the Municipality of Grey Highlands, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. It is on the Saugeen River on Grey Road 4, east of Durham and southwest of Flesherton.
History
The first settlers were African ...
, with her parents and Gertha Macphail, one of her two sisters.
Electoral record
Federal: Saskatoon City
Federal: Grey—Bruce
Federal:
Grey Southeast
Grey Southeast was a federal electoral district represented in the House of Commons of Canada from 1917 to 1935. It was located in the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Grey East and Grey South ridings when the cou ...
Legacy
![Macphail Memorial Elementary School Flesherton Ontario](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Macphail_Memorial_Elementary_School_Flesherton_Ontario.jpg)
*In 1968, when
Flesherton
Flesherton (population 584) is a community in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada, located at the junction of Highway 10 and Grey County Road 4 (formerly Highway 4). Although the area initially showed a high rate ...
High School was replaced by
Grey Highlands Secondary School
Grey Highlands Secondary School is a Grade 9-12 high school located in Flesherton, Ontario, Canada, in rural Grey County. It was built in 1967. Early history
Grey Highlands Secondary School (GHSS) was built in 1967 as one of the many new school co ...
, the old high school was converted to an elementary school and named Macphail Memorial Elementary School. This building was replaced with a new school of the same name in 2006.
*In 1981, a public school in
Scarborough Scarborough or Scarboro may refer to:
People
* Scarborough (surname)
* Earl of Scarbrough
Places Australia
* Scarborough, Western Australia, suburb of Perth
* Scarborough, New South Wales, suburb of Wollongong
* Scarborough, Queensland, su ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...
was named after her.
*In 1993, honouring the 50th anniversary of Macphail's election to the Ontario legislature,
Michael Prue, the mayor of
East York
East York is a former administrative district and municipality within Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From 1967 to 1998, it was officially the Borough of East York, a semi-autonomous borough within the upper-tier municipality of Metropolitan Toron ...
, declared March 24 would annually be known as ''Agnes Macphail Day''.
*In 1994,
East York
East York is a former administrative district and municipality within Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From 1967 to 1998, it was officially the Borough of East York, a semi-autonomous borough within the upper-tier municipality of Metropolitan Toron ...
council established the ''Agnes Macphail Award''. The award is given out annually to "a resident of East York who has made outstanding contributions in the area of equality rights and social justice and who has exemplified and continued Macphail's tradition of leadership."
*In 1997, East York inaugurated the annual Agnes Macphail public speaking contest for students. In addition, there are a number of sites and endeavours named for her in East York, including the Agnes Macphail Parkette, located at the corner of Mortimer Street and Pape Avenue; the Agnes Macphail Playground, Agnes MacPhail Youth Resource Centre and the Agnes MacPhail Food Bank (all located at 444 Lumsden Avenue).
*In 1999, a new townhome development was built by Brownstone Homes and named a street after her, Macphail Ave, also at Pape & Mortimer.
*In 2005, in a contest run by former Ontario MPP
Marilyn Churley
Marilyn Churley (born May 7, 1948) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2005 who represented the downtown Toronto ridings of Riverdale and Toronto—Danfor ...
, Agnes Macphail was voted as the Greatest Ontario Woman.
*On June 24, 2006, a
cairn and bronze bust commemorating Agnes Macphail's life was unveiled in
Hopeville, Ontario. The same year, highway signs labelled "You are now entering Agnes Macphail Country" were placed at the eastern approach to the hamlet of Ceylon, at the intersection of Grey Roads 4 and 14 (known locally as "Six Corners"), and on Grey Road 9, east of Hopeville. Grey County Road 9 between Highway 6 and Highway 10 was named Agnes MacPhail Road.
*An apartment building at 860 Mercer Street in
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada, on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Essex County, it is the southe ...
, is named "Agnes Macphail Manor".
* A 2015 episode of ''
Murdoch Mysteries'' (season 8, episode 17, "Election Day") sees a young Agnes Macphail (played by Zoe Fraser) showing an interest in the suffragette movement.
* She appears on the 2017 "Canada 150" edition of the
Canadian ten-dollar note
The Canadian ten-dollar note is one of the most common banknotes of the Canadian dollar.
The current $10 note is purple, and the obverse features a portrait of Viola Desmond, a Black Nova Scotian businesswoman who challenged racial segregation ...
alongside
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald (January 10 or 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first prime minister of Canada, serving from 1867 to 1873 and from 1878 to 1891. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, he had a political career that sp ...
,
George-Étienne Cartier
Sir George-Étienne Cartier, 1st Baronet, (pronounced ; September 6, 1814May 20, 1873) was a Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation.
The English spelling of the name—George, instead of Georges, the usual French spelling—is explained ...
and
James Gladstone
James Gladstone ( bla, Akay-na-muka, script=Latn, italic=yes, lit=Many Guns; May 21, 1887 – September 4, 1971) was a Canadian politician who claimed to become the first Treaty Indian to be appointed to the Senate of Canada.
Early life
Ja ...
and is the first woman other than the sovereign to have a permanent spot on Canadian currency.
Archives
There is an Agnes Macphail
fonds
In archival science, a fonds is a group of documents that share the same origin and that have occurred naturally as an outgrowth of the daily workings of an agency, individual, or organization. An example of a fonds could be the writings of a poe ...
at
Library and Archives Canada.
Archival reference number is R4413.
References and notes
Notes
References
*
*
External links
*
The Canadian Encyclopedia, Agnes MacphailAgnes Macphail Website and Digital Collection*
*
CBC Digital Archives – CCF's Agnes Macphail and the 1948 Ontario election radio address by Macphail.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macphail, Agnes
1890 births
1954 deaths
Canadian women activists
Canadian Christian pacifists
Canadian feminists
Canadian members of the Community of Christ
Canadian people of Scottish descent
Canadian socialist feminists
Women members of the House of Commons of Canada
20th-century Canadian politicians
Ontario Co-operative Commonwealth Federation MPPs
Ginger Group MPs
Labour MPs in Canada
Members of the United Church of Canada
People from Grey County
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
Progressive Party of Canada MPs
United Farmers of Ontario MPs
Women MPPs in Ontario
Converts to Mormonism from Methodism
20th-century Canadian women politicians
Mormon feminists
Canadian activists