Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to pay tribute to the Right Hon. Ellen Fairclough who died this past Saturday, November 13, just shy of her 100th birthday.
As we all know, in 1957 Mrs. Fairclough was the first woman in this country to be appointed to the federal cabinet, a significant step that made her a pioneer in the movement for women's equality in this country.
Mrs. Fairclough was born and raised in Hamilton, the city where she ended her days and which she so faithfully served as an alderwoman for four years, as deputy mayor for one year and ultimately in Parliament for 13 years following a byelection victory in 1950 in the riding of Hamilton West.
Prior to joining politics, she was a pioneer of sorts in a different realm, as a professional businesswoman having set up her own business as a certified public accountant in 1935. From 1950 to 1953 she was the House of Commons' only female member of Parliament. Since that time the number of female members of the House has increased to 65, a trend that will and, dare I say must, continue.
She served first for seven years in opposition and then in the Diefenbaker government until its defeat in 1963.
Mrs. Fairclough served as Secretary of State for Canada, Minister of Immigration and later Postmaster General. Throughout her career, she called for equal pay for women.
It was in opposition that she introduced legislation to work toward equal pay for equal work by women. As citizenship and immigration minister, she sought to end racial bias in Canada's immigration rules and to allow entry to the ill to obtain treatment in our country.
In 1978, Mrs. Fairclough was named an Officer of the Order of Canada and in 1995 a Companion of the Order of Canada.
Simply put, Mrs. Fairclough led the way for generations of women to follow by taking her rightful place among men in positions of power and forever changing the face of our government.
On behalf of the Government of Canada and, in particular, on behalf of the women of our nation, I offer our condolences to her family and our thanks for her years of service and her leadership.