Mr. Speaker, 87 years ago Canadian women could not sit in the Senate because the Supreme Court of Canada did not consider them “persons” under the Senate requirement.
Five Alberta women, “the famous five”, challenged the Supreme Court of Canada decision all the way to the Judicial Council of the Privy Council in Britain, which overturned the ruling.
The now historic person's case stated:
...the exclusion of women from all public offices is a relic of days more barbarous than ours. And to those who would ask why the word “person” should include females, the obvious answer is, why should it not?
Today, 32 women are senators. Canada has had a female Prime Minister, and 50% of women sit in cabinet.
It is 2016, but representation in Parliament of 51% women eludes us still.