Ellen Louks Fairclough
Canada’s First Woman to be Federal Cabinet Minister
Winner of a May 1950 by-election in Hamilton West, she was the only female parliamentarian during that session.
Ellen Louks Fairclough and Progressive Conservative Party
As member of the Progressive Conservative Party (P.C.) official opposition, Ellen Louks Fairclough was named the labour critic by leader George Drew. In October 1950 she served as a member of Canada's delegation to the United Nations. She was re-elected to Parliament in the 1953 election when the Progressive Conservative Party remained in opposition.
A frequent speaker in the Commons, she introduced a private member’s bill that called for equal pay for equal work in jobs that were under federal jurisdiction. She also stated the need to have old-age pensions applicable at age 65 instead of 70.
Ellen Louks Fairclough First Woman Federal Cabinet Minister
Ellen Fairclough won her seat again in the June 1957 federal election that took John Diefenbaker and the Progressive Conservatives to power in a minority government. Somewhat grudgingly, he named Ellen Fairclough Secretary of State. The first woman to serve in Canada’s federal cabinet, she was sworn in on June 21, 1957.
Ellen Louks Fairclough and Canada Day Celebrations
She was surprised to learn that there would be no celebration of Canada’s 90th birthday on Parliament Hill. Disagreeing with the explanation that it would not be well attended, she issued an order for a celebration the following year. The celebrations have grown extensively since then.
Ellen Fairclough easily won her Hamilton West seat in the Progressive Conservatives’ landslide victory March 31, 1958. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker appointed her to the cabinet position of Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Ellen Louks Fairclough and Status Indians’ Right to Vote
Historic legislation introduced by Ellen Fairclough in 1960 gave Status Indians the right to vote in federal elections. She assured Native leaders that their treaty rights would not be undermined. She said, "I think that was long overdue and I was very happy that it happened in my time.”
She tried unsuccessfully to restrict sponsorships of immigrants to immediate family members.
In 1962 she introduced immigration policy reforms that largely removed racial discrimination.
Ellen Louks Fairclough Political Career Ended in 1963
In the June 1962 general election, the Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a minority government. Ellen Fairclough was re-elected and appointed by Prime Minister Diefenbaker to the position of Postmaster General. When the Liberal Party led by Lester Pearson won the April 1963 general election, Ellen Fairclough was personally defeated.
Ellen Fairclough continued her activities with various foundations and voluntary organizations including the United Empire Loyalists Association. She was also instrumental in the growth of the Hamilton Trust and Savings Corporation and served as Chairperson of Ontario Hydro.
Ellen Louks (Cook) Fairclough was born January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario. Her mother ran a boarding house in the industrial city where her father was a building contractor. At age twelve she had a part-time job in a department store and worked full time at sixteen. Married to Gordon Fairclough in 1931, she began to establish herself as a business woman, and took correspondence courses to become an accountant. Elected to Hamilton City Council in 1946, she served there until 1949.
Ellen Louks Fairclough Not an Ardent Feminist
As noted in the Elections Canada article, “Ellen Louks Fairclough never saw herself as an ardent feminist but always believed that women could contribute more to business and political life. She proved it with her own career.”
Ellen Louks Fairclough commented, “Although I never started out to be the 'first' anything, it turned out that I was the first woman in many areas of public life. There were not many others to follow, so I just followed my own instincts…it has been a pretty satisfying life.” She died November 13, 2004 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Sources:
Saturday's Child: Memoirs of Canada's First Female Cabinet Minister by Ellen Louks Fairclough; University of Toronto Press 1995
Ellen Fairclough Receives Governor General's Award
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