I am pleased to join with all Canadians in honouring the contribution women and girls have made to Canadian society, notably today’s recipients of the Governor General’s Persons Case awards.
Women’s history month is a time for all Canadians to learn and reflect on the important milestones women and girls have achieved. October 18th marks Persons Day – a milestone in Canadian history recognizing the date in 1929 when women were recognized as persons under Canadian law.
The women behind the Persons Case, known as the Famous Five – Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby – displayed fierce determination to overcome the prejudices of their time and paved the way for women to be fully integrated into Canada’s democratic institutions.
Every year the Governor General recognizes the achievements of outstanding Canadian women through the Person’s Case awards. This year’s recipients, Jeannette Corbiere Lavell, Daphne E. Dumont, Bev LeFrancois, Karen Messing, Mary Scott and Pauline Fogarty, have all displayed remarkable determination to ensuring long lasting change in Canadian society.
The Liberal Party of Canada is committed to equality for women and ensuring their voices are heard in Parliament from issues on pay equity, to the fight for missing aboriginal women, to the respect of human rights.
On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, I congratulate these women on their leadership and remarkable accomplishments and honour all Canadian women who have strived to make Canada a fairer place.
