Who was Agnes Macphail? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Canadian Celebrities Born In March

Also Known As: Agnes Campbell MacPhail

Died At Age: 63

Family:

father: Dougald McPhail

mother: Henrietta Campbell

Political Leaders Canadian Women

political ideology: Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, UFO-Labour, Progressive

Died on: February 13, 1954

place of death: Toronto, Canada

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Women Political Leaders

Childhood & Early Life

Born in Proton Township, Ontario, Agnes was the daughter of Dougald McPhail and Henrietta Campbell. She did her schooling at Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute and later attended the teachers college in Stratford.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

Canadian Political Leaders

Career

After completing her education, she taught at various schools in southwest Ontario. Besides teaching, she also joined the United Farmers of Ontario and its organization for women namely the United Farm Women of Ontario.

She was elected to the House of Commons as a member of the Progressive Party of Canada for the Grey Southeast electoral district in the 1921 federal election. She is remembered as the first woman Member of Parliament in Canada.

In 1924, she expressed her discontent about the teaching methods and standard at the Royal Military College of Canada. According to her opinion, this organization imparted low standard of education for the sons of rich people.

In 1925, 1926 and 1930, she was re-elected in the federal elections of Canada. In 1931, for the second time, she expressed her dissatisfaction towards the Royal Military College of Canada as a pacifist.

As a member of the Progressive Party, she became a part of the socialist Ginger Group. This group was actively involved for the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF).

In 1932, she became the first president of the Ontario CCF. In 1934, when the United Farmers of Ontario stopped functioning politically due to its fear of Communist influence in the Ontario CCF, she left the CCF.

She stayed in touch with several CCF MPs and used to take part in political meetings of the CCF occasionally, even after leaving the CCF. After getting elected in the 1935 federal election as a United Farmers of Ontario-Labour MP, she got the permission to use the party’s name.

She was also the first Canadian woman delegate to the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. There she worked with the World Disarmament Committee.

In the 1940 election, she was defeated by Progressive Conservative candidate Alfred Henry Bence. It was her last federal campaign as a contestant.

In 1942, she joined the Ontario CCF as its farm organizer. In 1943 provincial election, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario elected her as a member of the Ontario CCF.

She became the first woman to be sworn in as an Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament. Agnes lost the 1945 provincial election. In the 1948 election, she was elected again. Due to her effort Ontario’s fist equal pay legislation was passed in 1951.

Personal Life & Legacy

Her political activity mirrored her strong support towards rural issues. Apart from that, she worked for the reformation of penal law. As a result of this, Archambault Commission was formed in 1936.

In 1939, she took the initiative to set up the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada to improve the condition of the criminal justice system for women. She also campaigned for the pensions for seniors and rights of workers.

Shortly before her appointment to the Canadian Senate, she passed away at the age of 63. She was buried in Priceville, Ontario. Agnes Macphail remained bachelor all through her life.

Trivia

In 1993, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Macphail's election to the Ontario legislature, it was decided that March 24 would be considered as Agnes Macphail Day.

In 1994, East York council decided to honor Agnes Macphail by establishing Agnes Macphail Award to the resident of East York with amazing contributions in the arena of equality rights and social justice.

A number of places/organisations are named after her, including Agnes Macphail Parkette, Agnes Macphail Playground, Agnes MacPhail Youth Resource Centre and Agnes MacPhail Food Bank.

Agnes Macphail Biography