Women in Nova Scotia Politics
In 1758, Nova Scotia elected the first representative government in Canada. It wasn’t until much later that women achieved full voting rights or stand for office.
The right to vote
Women in Nova Scotia gained the right to vote in 1920. Women voted before this date, but only if they met certain requirements. Technically, until 1851 women could vote because the only voting requirement was land ownership. There is documentary evidence from 1793 and 1806 that a handful of women did vote in elections held in those years. In 1851, legislation was enacted to explicitly exclude women from voting. The property requirement was also eliminated. In 1918, women were explicitly included in the legislation, but could only vote if they also fulfilled the property ownership requirement. Finally, in 1920 women in Nova Scotia achieved universal suffrage.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
1758-1851 | Women not specifically excluded from voting |
1851 | Women denied the franchise |
1918 | Women property owners allowed to vote |
1920 | Universal suffrage takes effect for British subjects |
Elected office
In 1918 women in Nova Scotia gained the right to run for office through An Act to Amend the Statute Law (1918, c. 23 s. 1). Women stood for election for the first time in 1920. These women were Grace McLeod Rogers, who ran in Cumberland for the Liberal Conservative party, and Bertha A. Donaldson, who ran in Pictou for the Labour party. Six more women ran for office before Gladys Porter was elected in 1960 to represent the Progressive Conservative party for Kings North. It took 40 years for Nova Scotia to elect a woman to the House of Assembly after they were provided the franchise without the need to own property.
Nova Scotia women political firsts
| Date | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Elected member | Gladys Porter |
| 1980 | Party leader | Alexa McDonough |
| 1985 | Cabinet minister | Honourable Maxine Cochran |
| 1989 | Deputy speaker | Marie Dechman |
| 2000 | Lieutenant Governor | Honourable Myra Ava Freeman, CM, ONS, MSM |
| 2013 | Deputy premier | Honourable Diana Whalen |
| 2021 | Government House Leader | Honourable Kim Masland |
| 2023 | Speaker | Honourable Karla MacFarlane |
Nova Scotia women and gender diverse members
Note: Due to changes in electoral district names and party affiliations, some MLAs are listed more than once.
Name |
Party | Constituency | Start Date to End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams, Barbara | PC | Eastern Passage | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Adams, Barbara | PC | Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | 2017-May-30 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Arab, Patricia | Liberal | Fairview-Clayton Park | 2013-Oct-8 |
| Atwell, Yvonne | New Democratic Party | Preston | 1998-Mar-24 - 1999-Jun-18 |
| Baillie, Muriel | Progressive Conservative | Pictou West | 1999-Jul-27 - 2003-Jul-5 |
| Balser, Jill | PC | Digby-Annapolis (2021) | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Barkhouse , Danielle | PC | Chester-St. Margaret's | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Bernard, Joanne | Liberal | Dartmouth North | 2013-Oct-8 - 2017-Apr-30 |
| Birdsall, Pam | NDP | Lunenburg | 2009-Jun-9 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Bolivar-Getson, Carolyn | Progressive Conservative | Lunenburg West | 2003-Aug-5 - 2009-May-5 |
| Casey, Karen Lynn | Liberal | Colchester North | 2011-Jan-10 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Casey, Karen Lynn | PC | Colchester North | 2006-Jun-13 - 2011-Jan-10 |
| Chender, Claudia | NDP | Dartmouth South (2013) | 2017-May-30 |
| Cochran, Maxine | Progressive Conservative | Lunenburg Centre | 1984-Jun-5 - 1988-Jul-30 |
| Conrad, Vicki | NDP | Queens | 2006-Jun-13 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Coombes, Kendra | NDP | Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Coombes, Kendra | NDP | Cape Breton Centre | 2020-Mar-10 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Corkum-Greek, Susan | PC | Lunenburg | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Cosman, Francene | Liberal | Bedford-Fall River | 1993-May-25 - 1999-Jun-18 |
| Dechman, Marie | Progressive Conservative | Lunenburg West | 1988-Sep-6 - 1993-Apr-16 |
| Diab, Lena Metlege | Liberal | Halifax Armdale | 2013-Oct-8 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| DiCostanzo, Rafah | Liberal | Clayton Park West | 2017-May-30 |
| Druhan, Becky | PC | Lunenburg West | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Etter, Cora | Progressive Conservative | Hants East | 1984-Nov-6 - 1988-Jul-30 |
| Eyking, Pam | Liberal | Victoria-The Lakes | 2013-Oct-8 - 2017-Apr-30 |
| Godin, Rosemary | New Democratic Party | Sackville-Beaver Bank | 1998-Mar-24 - 1999-Jun-18 |
| Grosse, Twila | PC | Preston (2021) | 2023-Aug-8 |
| Hansen, Suzy | NDP | Halifax Needham | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Jennex, Ramona | NDP | Kings South | 2009-Jun-9 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Jolly, Sandra | Liberal | Dartmouth North | 1988-Sep-6 - 1998-Jan-9 |
| Kent, Becky | NDP | Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | 2007-Oct-17 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Lachance, Lisa | NDP | Halifax Citadel-Sable Island | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Leblanc, Susan | NDP | Dartmouth North | 2017-May-30 |
| Lohnes-Croft, Suzanne | Liberal | Lunenburg | 2013-Oct-8 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| MacDonald, Maureen | NDP | Halifax Needham | 1998-Mar-24 - 2016-Apr-12 |
| MacDonald, Helen | New Democratic Party | Cape Breton the Lakes | 1997-Nov-4 - 1999-Jun-18 |
| MacFarlane, Karla | PC | Pictou West | 2013-Oct-8 - 2024-Apr-12 |
| MacLean, Melinda | Liberal | Colchester County | 1974-Apr-2 - 1978-Aug-12 |
| Mancini, Marian | NDP | Dartmouth South (2013) | 2015-Jul-16 - 2017-Apr-23 |
| Martin, Tammy | NDP | Cape Breton Centre | 2017-May-30 - 2020-Feb-5 |
| Masland, Kim | PC | Queens-Shelburne | 2017-May-30 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Masland, Kim | PC | Queens (2021) | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Massey, Joan | New Democratic Party | Dartmouth East | 2003-Aug-5 - 2009-May-5 |
| McDonough, Alexa | New Democratic Party | Halifax Fairview | 1993-May-25 - 1995-Oct-20 |
| McDonough, Alexa | New Democratic Party | Halifax Chebucto | 1981-Oct-6 - 1993-May-25 |
| McGrath, Mary Ann | Progressive Conservative | Halifax Bedford Basin | 1999-Jul-27 - 2003-Jul-5 |
| Miller, Margaret | Liberal | Hants East | 2013-Oct-8 - 2021-Jun-1 |
| More, Marilyn | NDP | Dartmouth South - Portland Valley | 2003-Aug-5 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Nicoll, Lorelei | Liberal | Cole Harbour-Dartmouth | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Norrie, Eleanor | Liberal | Truro-Bible Hill | 1993-May-25 - 1998-Feb-12 |
| O'Connell, Eileen | New Democratic Party | Halifax Fairview | 1996-Jun-4 - 2000-Sep-27 |
| O'Connor, Lila | Liberal | Lunenburg | 1993-May-25 - 1998-Feb-12 |
| Paon, Alana | Independent | Cape Breton-Richmond | 2019-Jun-24 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Paon, Alana | PC | Cape Breton-Richmond | 2017-May-30 - 2019-Jun-24 |
| Peterson-Rafuse, Denise | NDP | Chester-St. Margaret's | 2009-Jun-9 - 2017-Apr-30 |
| Porter, Gladys | Progressive Conservative | Kings North | 1960-Jun-7 - 1967-Apr-20 |
| Purves, Jane | Progressive Conservative | Halifax Citadel (1967) | 1999-Jul-27 - 2003-Jul-5 |
| Raymond, Michèle | NDP | Halifax Atlantic | 2003-Aug-5 - 2013-Sep-7 |
| Regan, Kelly | Liberal | Bedford-Birch Cove | 2009-Jun-9 - 2013-Oct-8 |
| Regan, Kelly | Liberal | Bedford Basin | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Regan, Kelly | Liberal | Bedford (2013) | 2013-Oct-8 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Roberts, Lisa | NDP | Halifax Needham | 2016-Aug-30 - 2021-Jul-17 |
| Sheehy-Richard, Melissa | PC | Hants West | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Simmonds, Angela | Liberal | Preston (2021) | 2021-Aug-17 - 2023-Apr-1 |
| Smith-McCrossin, Elizabeth | PC | Cumberland North | 2017-May-30 - 2021-Jun-24 |
| Smith-McCrossin, Elizabeth | Independent | Cumberland North | 2021-Jun-24 |
| Streatch, Judy | Progressive Conservative | Chester-St. Margaret's | 2005-Jun-21 - 2009-May-5 |
| Thompson, Michelle | PC | Antigonish | 2021-Aug-17 |
| Treen, Joyce | Liberal | Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage | 2013-Oct-8 - 2017-Apr-30 |
| Whalen, Diana C. | Liberal | Clayton Park West | 2013-Oct-8 - 2017-Apr-30 |
| Whalen, Diana C. | Liberal | Halifax Clayton Park | 2003-Aug-5 - 2013-Oct-8 |
| Zann, Lenore | NDP | Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River | 2013-Oct-8 - 2019-Jun-7 |
| Zann, Lenore | Independent | Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River | 2019-Jun-7 - 2019-Sep-12 |
| Zann, Lenore | NDP | Truro-Bible Hill | 2009-Jun-9 - 2013-Sep-7 |
Nova Scotia women ministers
Cochran, Maxine Elizabeth Year 1st elected 1984
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Consumer Affairs
Minister of Culture, Recreation and Fitness
Minister of Transportation
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Dechman, Marie Year 1st elected 1988
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Community Services
Minister of Consumer Affairs
Minister of Housing
Minister of Housing and Consumer Affairs
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act
Minister responsible for the Housing Development Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Jolly, Sandra Lynn Year 1st elected 1988
Liberal
Minister of Business and Consumer Services
Minister of Housing and Consumer Affairs
Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Minister of Municipal Affairs
Minister responsible for Halifax Harbour Clean Up Incorporated
Minister responsible for Part II of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act
Minister responsible for the Housing Development Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Cosman, Francene Jen Year 1st elected 1993
Liberal
Minister of Community Services
Minister of Human Resources
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act
Norrie, Eleanor Elizabeth Year 1st elected 1993
Liberal
Minister of Housing and Consumer Affairs
Minister of Human Resources
Minister of Natural Resources
Minister responsible for Part II of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Civil Service Act
Minister responsible for the Housing Development Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Gaming Control Commission
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Minister responsible for the Tidal Power Corporation
Minister responsible for the Women's Directorate
MacDonald, Mary Maureen Year 1st elected 1998
New Democratic Party
Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs
Minister of Finance
Minister of Gaelic Affairs
Minister of Health
Minister of Health and Wellness
Minister of Health Promotion and Protection
Minister responsible for the Credit Union Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Minister responsible for the Securities Act
Minister responsible for the Utility and Review Board Act
Purves, Jane Stopford Year 1st elected 1999
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Education
Minister of Health
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission
Minister responsible for the Technology and Science Secretariat
Minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat Act
Bolivar-Getson, Carolyn Anne Year 1st elected 2003
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Emergency Management
Minister of Environment and Labour
Minister of Human Resources
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Natural Resources
Minister of Seniors
Minister responsible for Part II of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission
Minister responsible for the Utility and Review Board Act
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (Except Part II)
More, Marilyn Ann Year 1st elected 2003
New Democratic Party
Minister of Communications Nova Scotia
Minister of Education
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Information Management
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
Minister of Labour and Workforce Development
Minister of the Public Service Commission
Minister of the Voluntary Sector
Minister of Volunteerism
Minister responsible for Part II of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (Except Part II)
Whalen, Diana Caroline Year 1st elected 2003
Liberal
Minister of Finance and Treasury Board
Minister of Justice
Minister responsible for Part II of the Workers' Compensation Act
Minister responsible for the Credit Union Act
Minister responsible for the Elections Act
Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act
Minister responsible for the Insurance Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Police Complaints Commissioner
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Police Review Board
Minister responsible for the Regulations Act
Minister responsible for the Retail Business Uniform Closing Day Act
Minister responsible for the Securities Act
Minister responsible for the Utility and Review Board Act
Streatch, Judy Year 1st elected 2005
Progressive Conservative
Acting Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister of Communications Nova Scotia
Minister of Community Services
Minister of Education
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act
Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat Act
Casey, Karen Lynn Year 1st elected 2006
Liberal
Chair of Treasury and Policy Board
Deputy Premier
Deputy President of the Executive Council
Minister of Education
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Minister of Finance and Treasury Board
Minister of Health
Minister responsible for Part I of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
Minister responsible for the Chartered Professional Accounts Act
Minister responsible for the Credit Union Act
Minister responsible for the Insurance Act and the Insurance Premiums Tax Act
Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation
Minister responsible for the Securities Act
Minister responsible for the Utility and Review Board Act
Minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat Act
Minister responsible for Youth
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Education
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Minister of Health
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
Minister responsible for the Youth Secretariat Act
Minister responsible for Youth
Jennex, Ramona Year 1st elected 2009
New Democratic Party
Minister of Education
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Minister of Emergency Management
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Minister responsible for Youth
Peterson-Rafuse, Denise Year 1st elected 2009
New Democratic Party
Minister of Community Services
Minister of Seniors
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act
Regan, Kelly MaureenYear 1st elected 2009
Liberal
Deputy Premier
Deputy President of the Executive Council
Minister of Seniors
Minister of Community Services
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
Minister of the Voluntary Sector
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (Except Part II)
Minister responsible for Youth
Bernard, Joanne Year 1st elected 2013
Liberal
Minister of Community Services
Minister of the Voluntary Sector
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons' Commission Act
Diab, Lena Metlege Year 1st elected 2013
Liberal
Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie
Minister of Immigration
Minister of Immigration & Population Growth
Minister of Justice
Minister of Labour and Advanced Education
Minister responsible for Part II of the Workers' Compensation Act
Minister responsible for the Elections Act
Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Police Complaints Commissioner
Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Police Review Board
Minister responsible for the Regulations Act
Minister responsible for the Retail Business Uniform Closing Day Act
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (except Part II)
Liberal
Minister of Environment
Minister of Natural Resources
Arab, Patricia Year 1st elected 2013
Liberal
Minister of Internal Services
Minister of Communications Nova Scotia
Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services
Minister responsible for Part II of the Gaming Control Act
Minister responsible for the Residential Tenancies Act
Lohnes-Croft, Suzanne Year 1st elected 2013
Liberal
Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage
Minister of Gaelic Affairs
Minister responsible for the Heritage Property Act
Minister of the Voluntary Sector
MacFarlane, Karla Year 1st Elected 2013
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Community Services
Minister of L'nu Affairs
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Adams, Barbara Year 1st Elected 2017
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Seniors and Long-term Care
Minister responsible for Military Relations
Masland, Kim Year 1st Elected 2017
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Public Works
Minister responsible for Sydney Tar Ponds Agency (NS)
Minister responsible for the Sydney Steel Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Build Nova Scotia Act
Thompson, Michelle Year 1st Elected 2021
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Health and Wellness
Minister responsible for the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitement
Balser, Jill Year 1st Elected 2021
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Labour Skills and Immigration
Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualification Act
Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (except Part II)
Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act
Corkum-Greek, Susan Year 1st Elected 2021
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Economic Development
Minister responsible for Nova Scotia Business Incorporated
Minister responsible for the Innovation Corporation Act
Minister responsible for the Invest Nova Scotia Act
Druhan, Becky Year 1st Elected 2021
Progressive Conservative
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Grosse, Twila Rose Year 1st Elected 2023
Progressive Conservative
Minister of the Public Service Commission
Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs
