Grey County's Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons, holding office from 1921 to 1940.   (Photo  Contributed).Grey County's Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected to the House of Commons, holding office from 1921 to 1940. (Photo Contributed).
Midwestern

Push is on for first Canadian Woman on Banknote

A campaign's on to have Grey County's own Agnes Macphail as the first Canadian woman on a Canadian banknote.

Macphail was Canada's first woman elected to the house of Commons, holding office from 1921 to 1940.

Grey Roots Museum manager Petal Furness says Macphail paved the way for women in Canadian politics who followed in her footsteps.

"If you look back at all the records and how difficult it was to be a woman in the House of Commons, all the hardships she faced with the men in the House and the press, her heart was in the right place all the time." says Furness.

Macphail spoke up for mistreated groups, such as farmers and labourers and she was pivotal to prison reform.

After her time in federal politics she was elected to the Ontario Legislature where she initiated the first pay equity campaign.

The Bank of Canada is accepting nominations for the first woman on a Canadian banknote until April 15th, 2016.

Full details are available a www.bankofcanada.ca/banknoteable.

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