Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement:

“In the late 1920s, years after most Canadian women had received the right to vote and hold some public offices, the Government of Canada continued to narrowly interpret the law to exclude women from holding certain positions of influence and power, most notably the Senate of Canada.

“On October 18, 1929, The “Famous Five” – Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henrietta Muir Edwards – took their fight all the way to London, where they won a definitive victory, establishing that women were “qualified persons” to sit in the Senate of Canada.

“Today, we commemorate the courage and the perseverance of the Famous Five, who paved the way for women’s full participation in Canadian public life.

“October is also Women’s History Month. As we celebrate the progress we have made towards equality, I encourage all Canadians to learn more about the women who played an important role in the history of our country.”