Women's Right to Vote in Canada
When did Canadian women get the right to vote? Key dates, the Persons Case, and what to remember for the citizenship test.
Most Canadian women gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1918. Some provinces acted earlier: Manitoba was the first province to grant women the vote, in 1916. These changes opened the door to fuller participation in Canadian democracy.
How women won the right to vote
The path to the vote came in stages. Manitoba led the way in 1916, becoming the first province to let women vote in provincial elections. Other provinces followed over the next few years. In 1918, the federal government extended the vote to most Canadian women, a major step toward equal citizenship.
This victory capped years of campaigning by suffragists across the country. Their work changed who could take part in choosing Canada's governments and who could run for office.
Dates and firsts to remember
- 1916: Manitoba becomes the first province to grant women the vote.
- 1918: most Canadian women gain the right to vote in federal elections.
- 1921: Agnes Macphail becomes the first woman elected to the House of Commons.
- 1929: the Persons Case recognizes women as persons eligible for the Senate.
The Persons Case and the Famous Five
In 1929, a legal decision known as the Persons Case ruled that women were persons under the law and could be appointed to the Senate. Before this, women had been excluded from it. A group of women known as the Famous Five brought the case forward.
This win built on the right to vote. It confirmed that women could hold public office at the highest levels, strengthening democratic rights in Canada. To see how these rights fit together, read the Charter of Rights and Freedoms explained.
Why this matters for the test
The citizenship test often asks about the history of the right to vote and the Persons Case. Remember 1918 for federal voting rights and Agnes Macphail as the first woman elected to the House of Commons. For the wider picture, see the guide Canada Explained.
Practice makes these facts stick. Try our timed practice exams to check what you remember.
Frequently asked questions
When did Canadian women get the right to vote? Most Canadian women gained the right to vote in federal elections in 1918. Manitoba was the first province to grant women the vote, in 1916.
Who was the first woman elected to the House of Commons? Agnes Macphail became the first woman elected to the House of Commons, in 1921.
What was the Persons Case? In the 1929 Persons Case, women were legally recognized as persons eligible to be appointed to the Senate. The Famous Five led this effort.