1. Democracy in Canada
Brief Timeline

2. 1849 – Responsible Government in Ontario
Upper and Lower Canada’s Governor Lord Elgin accepted and elected body
The executive branch was now responsible to elected Assemblies and to the people’s representatives

3. Confederation
4 Provinces were involved in Confederation in the 1860s: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
The British North America Act set out a federal system:
Federal and Provincial branches
House of Commons
Senate

4. 1916, 1918 – Women and the Vote
1916 – White women over 21 could now vote if they were British subjects
1918 – white Canadian women could vote
*First Nations women could not vote until 1960

5. 1929 – Persons Case
Privy Council of Britain overturned the Supreme Court of Canada and decided “persons” legally meant men and women both
Women could run for office
Famous Five: Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards.

6. 1931 – Statute of Westminster
Passed by British Parliament
Former colonies had power to self-govern and right to pass foreign affairs laws
Former colonies equal members of British Commonwealth

7. 1982 – Constitution Act
Canada can make changes to its Constitution without going through British Parliament
Charter of Rights and Freedoms – outlines the rights of citizens