The five Alberta women who won the right for women to be legally recognized as “persons” have been named honorary senators.
The Senate voted this week to bestow the honour posthumously on Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby.
The women, known as the Famous Five, won a landmark court ruling in 1929 that recognized women as persons and allowed them to sit in the appointed Senate.
The idea to name the women honorary senators came from Calgary journalist Catherine Ford.
“I thought, wouldn’t that be just gracious of Canada as a country to say, ‘These five women did so much for the women of Canada. Let’s give them a singular honour.’”
Ford said she was “stunned” and “so pleased for women” when she heard the five were being recognized for their work. It’s the first time the Senate has named anyone an honorary senator.
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How long will it be before the senate believes it can name it’s own real senators? Or better yet, when will we have “honorary MPs” Or do we have them now?
Does this mean we have to pay a posthumous pension to their families?
I don’t mind recognizing the Famous Five but sometimes I wonder…
Will they deport some Chinese in honour of the day too?