1900-1929

The Married Women's Property Act is enacted - this allows a wife to own property separately from her husband.

Also gave women the legal ability to control their own wages and profits.

Women are now also jointly responsible for the support their children.

White women from Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan are now legally allowed to vote in their province.

Emily Murphy is appointed Canada’s first female judge.

White Canadian women win the right to vote in federal elections.

British Columbia passes maternity leave legislation - six weeks of leave before and after giving birth

No other Canadian jurisdiction will have maternity leave until 1964, almost 40 years later.

17.7% of women 14 years and older are employed in the labour force, mainly in office work.

Nellie McClung, Liberal MPP is elected to the Alberta legislature. She campaigns for mothers’ allowance, old age pensions, better factory conditions, minimum wage, birth control, and legal protection for widows.

The ‘Persons’ Case’ - The Famous Five Women petition the Senate and the Privy Council of Great Britain to make women “persons” as well. They successfully win.