The names of every woman elected to the House of Assembly were read in the House of Assembly this week as the province marks the end of the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador.
The names of all 40 women elected to the legislature since the first woman, Lady Helena Squires, was elected in May of 1930 were read in the House by Speaker Paul Lane to a standing ovation from members of the legislature.
The NDP’s Shielagh O’Leary told the House that changes are needed to get more women to offer themselves for election.
She says 100 years after gaining the right to vote, “women still only make up a quarter of this chamber. We know that snap elections are a barrier to women standing for office; we therefore call on government to do its part to level the playing field by strengthening the fixed election date legislation.”
Women gained the right for vote in most of Newfoundland on April 3, 1925.
