Historica reports that on this day in 1916 women in Manitoba became the first Canadian women to win the right to vote.
It was a Manitoba law, but it covered both Manitoba and federal elections. In those days, provincial legislation determined not only the provincial franchise, but also who could vote in federal elections. It was set that way at Confederation: the provincial franchise would apply federally. Macdonald established federal control of the federal franchise in 1885. Laurier, preaching provincial rights, reversed that soon after he came to power. Provincial control of the federal franchise was not completely removed until 1920.
