Women in the 19th Canadian Parliament

During the 19th Canadian Parliament, for the first time, a woman sat as a member of the party holding the majority in the House of Commons. Nine women ran for seats in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1940 federal election. Dorise Nielsen was elected in the North Battleford riding as a Unity member; she was the third woman and the first Communist to sit in the House of Commons. Agnes Macphail, first elected in 1921, was defeated. Martha Black chose to step aside to allow her husband George Black to run for reelection. Cairine Wilson and Iva Campbell Fallis continued to sit as members of the Senate.

In June 1941, Cora Taylor Casselman was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the governing Liberal Party in a by-election held following the death of her husband.

Party Standings PartyTotal women candidates% women candidates of total candidatesTotal women elected% women elected of total women candidates% women elected of total electedCo-operative Commonwealth Federation (of 93)5.4% (of 8)0%0%Unity (of 2)50% (of 1)100%100%Independent (of 19)5.3% (of 1)0%0%United Farmers of Ontario-Labour (of 1)100% (of 1)0% -New Democracy (of 17)5.9% (of 3)0%0%Table source:Parliament of Canada: Women Candidates in General Elections

Members of the House of Commons NamePartyElectoral districtNotes Dorise Nielsen Unity North Battleford first woman MP from SaskatchewanCora Taylor CasselmanLiberalEdmonton Eastby-election, first woman MP from Alberta

Senators SenatorAppointed on the advice ofTermfromPartyCairine WilsonKing1930.02.15 - 1962.03.03OntarioLiberalIva Campbell FallisBennett1935.07.20 - 1956.03.07OntarioConservative

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