The Rt. Hon. Ellen FAIRCLOUGH

Ellen Loucks Fairclough was the first woman to be appointed to Canada’s Cabinet.

Before entering politics, Ellen Fairclough was a chartered accountant and successful businessperson. She was a member of Hamilton City Council from 1945 until 1950, the year she was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election. Ellen Fairclough represented Hamilton West for the Progressive Conservatives until 1963.

In the House of Commons, Ms. Fairclough was a dedicated speaker and advocate on a number of issues, taking considerable interest in such issues as housing, tax policy, unemployment insurance, and the status of women, among others. She introduced Private Member’s Bills in favour of equal pay for work of equal value.

In 1957, Ellen Fairclough was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State. She went on to serve as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Postmaster General. As Minister of Immigration, Ms. Fairclough was responsible for regulatory changes that largely removed racial discrimination from Canadian immigration policy.

It is worth noting that Ellen Fairclough was also the first woman to serve as Acting Prime Minister, in February 1958. In 1979, Ms. Fairclough was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was promoted to Companion in 1994.

In 1993, she nominated Kim Campbell for the Progressive Conservative Party leadership. Ellen Fairclough passed away in 2004.