En 1918, quand les Canadiennes sont autorisées pour la première fois à participer aux élections fédérales, Ellen Louks Fairclough (née Cook) a 13 ans. C’est une jeune fille «typique de la nouvelle ère» qui saisit bon nombre des chances qui s’offrent alors aux femmes. La vie d’Ellen Cook suivra une trajectoire extraordinaire puisqu’elle deviendra la première femme membre d’un cabinet ministériel fédéral au Canada.
Fairclough abandonne l’école en 8e année. Elle travaille déjà à mi-temps depuis l’âge de 12 ans. Pendant une brève période, au cours de la récession économique de 1921-1922, cause de chômage considérable à Hamilton (Ontario), sa ville natale, elle est le seul soutien de sa famille. Ses racines ouvrières l’amèneront à poursuivre une carrière dans les affaires et elle sera l’une des premières femmes à devenir comptable agréé au Canada.
Fairclough triomphe de nombreuses difficultés; elle fait l’objet de discrimination au travail, surtout après son mariage avec Gordon Fairclough et la naissance de son fils, Howard. Elle est très active dans de nombreuses organisations bénévoles, siège au conseil municipal de la Ville d’Hamilton, et dirige une entreprise prospère pendant la Crise de 1929.
 |
 |
Avant de faire carrière en politique, Fairclough a occupé des postes de direction dans de nombreuses organisations, dont l’Association des consommateurs du Canada, les Guides du Canada,, I.O.D.E., Zonta International. L’expérience qu’elle y a acquise lui servira lors qu’elle entrera en politique au niveau fédéral. Elle adhère au Parti conservateur et, le 15 mai 1950, lors d’une élection partielle pour la circonscription d’Hamilton West, est élue à la Chambre des communes.
Le Premier ministre G. Diefenbaker la nomme secrétaire d’État en 1957. Elle se fait remarquer pour ses talents oratoires, sa détermination et son énergie. En 1958, elle devient ministre de la Citoyenneté et de l’Immigration. Elle est la première femme à assumer par intérim la fonction de Premier ministre du Canada (19-20 février 1958), et pour cette raison la reine Elizabeth II lui octroiera le titre de The Right Honourable le 1er juillet 1992. En 1962, elle introduit de nouvelles règles pour réduire la discrimination raciale dans les politiques en matière d’immigration, augmentant ainsi le nombre d’immigrants autorisés au Canada et apporte d’importants changements pour libéraliser la politique relative aux réfugiés.
Bien que sa carrière parlementaire prenne fin en 1963, Fairclough continue à s’intéresser à la politique et à la condition féminine. Elle appuie activement la législation sur la parité salariale et continue à assurer la place des Canadiennes dans le gouvernement en proposant la candidature de Kim Campbell à la tête du Parti progressiste-conservateur en 1993. Cette dernière deviendra la première, et la seule, femme Premier ministre du Canada.
Le 16 avril 1980, Fairclough est nommée Officier de l’Ordre du Canada puis promue Compagnon le 1er mars 1995. Elle reçoit l’Ordre de l’Ontario, honneur le plus élevé de cette province, en 1996. Un immeuble à bureaux fédéral, au coin de McNab et de King Street, dans sa ville d’Hamilton, porte le nom d’Édifice Ellen Fairclough. Elle est décédée le 13 novembre 2004, quelques semaines seulement avant son centième anniversaire. En 2005, la Société canadienne des postes a édité un timbre en son honneur.
 |
 |
Documents
House of Commons, Canada
502 Toronto General Trusts Bldg.,
Calgary, Alberta,
August 23, 1960
Stamped: “Seen by John G. Diefenbaker”
Personal and Confidential
The Right Honourable Mr. John G. Diefenbaker,
Q.C., P.C.,
Prime Minister of Canada,
House of Commons
Ottawa, Canada.
Dear Prime Minister: -
Re: Oriental Problem
Find enclosed a copy of a letter I have written to The Honourable Ellen Fairclough which I honestly and conscientiously believe is causing much difficulty across the country.
I do not know if there is a solution, but I really believe that some simpler formula could be devised and I bring it to your attention in the same spirit as I wrote the letter to Mrs. Fairclough.
Yours very truly,
Eldon M. Woolliams
EMW/ff
Encl.
Stamped: “Office of the Prime Minister, Aug 24, 1960”
House of Commons, Canada
502 Toronto General Trusts Bldg.,
Calgary, Alberta
August 23, 1960
Personal and Confidential
The Honourable Mrs. Ellen Fairclough,
Minister of Citizenship & Immigrations,
House of Commons,
Ottawa, Canada.
Dear Mrs. Fairclough: -
Re: Oriental Problem
My sympathy has always been with you Ellen as you have a most difficult portfolio, and in consequence, with this type of responsibility goes some unpopularity.
One of the main problems is the manner in which we treat Orientals. Is there not some easier formula which could be set up, rather than dealing with wives and relatives and questioning them in reference to their credentials, which only leads to a false hope and criticism of the Department of Citizenship and Immigration at your expense?
This is mentioned to you, not as criticism on my part, but as something which no doubt all of you have had in mind and mentioned only as a matter of goodwill to all.
Yours sincerely,
Eldon Woolliams
EMW/ff
c.c. to: The Prime Minister of Canada.
[Handwritten Note]
Jan. 12, 1960
354 x 312 C+I
Mr. P.M.
I would like to plant a seed – for thought:
A Royal Commission on Citizenship and Immigration
The Committee should meet during 1960 Session. It’s [sic] recommendation could be for a Royal Commission
If set up in, say, June or September 1960, it could not report before 1962 any legislation could only be subsequent to the next election.
Front of postcard: “Flamboyant Tree, Barbado”
Reverse: Tuck’s Postcard
Air Mail
Rt. Hon + Mrs. J.G. Diefenbaker
24 Sussex Dr.
Ottawa, Ont
Stamped: Office of the Prime Minister, Apr 20 1963, Ottawa
Monday
It seems a long way from home but we are gradually unwinding and getting a rest. Will see you next week.
Sincerely,
Ellen Fairclough.
Hamilton, Ont.
April 9, 1964
Stamped: “Seen by John G. Diefenbaker”
Dear John,
We all worked like dogs down here but to no avail. I am so sorry I could not hold Hamilton West for you but I’m afraid it was a lost cause from the start. Peculiarly enough I thought we were winning but the people must have been kidding me. Even yesterday, on my rounds of the polls, I was sure I was winning.
I do want to thank you warmly for giving me the opportunity to serve in your Cabinet. It was an unforgettable experience and one I shall always cherish.
I am leaving tomorrow for a holiday in Barbados. I arranged this in January and the reservations cannot
25 Stanley Avenue,
Hamilton, Ontario
September 9, 1963
Dear John,
No doubt you have wondered if I crawled in a hole or something and I do apologize for not having written before this.
I had intended to come down to Ottawa during the summer session but have had rather a hectic few months about which I shall tell you. The other day I met Mrs. Freeman in a Department store and when she told me Olive had been asking for me I really felt very guilty indeed.
About the first week in June I went into hospital for a check-up, the result of which was that I went back again for surgery the last week of June. I had amazing success with my recovery but, of course, it takes quite a bit out of one even under the best of circumstances.
The job of clearing out three offices and my bed-sitting room at the Chateau was a little more than I had bargained for. I have most of the stuff put away now but was amazed at what I had accumulated (it cost me $250 to have it moved to Hamilton). Gordon said “Thank goodness you didn’t have an apartment or a house,” to which I said “amen.”
I am going back into business with a group of Hamilton business and professional men in a new venture which should be quite exciting and challenging. As soon as the announcement is made
I shall let you know. My campaign manager, Mr. David Goldberg, Q.C., and I will be starting to work on the Hamilton West situation just as soon as the provincial election is over. We had intended starting September 1st but the election is claiming everyone’s attention right now. We will start a new organization, getting rid of some of the dead wood, and scouting around for a candidate because I have a feeling we may be in for an election sooner than most people think.
We will have to have three new candidates in Hamilton because, in addition to myself, I suppose you know Bob MacDonald has taken a position in Toronto and Quinto is running for the provincial.
Controller Ada Pritchard is running in Hamilton Centre which takes in a portion of my riding and a portion of Quinto’s. You may recall she is the woman I wanted Howard Green to name to the United Nations as a delegate but he wouldn’t go for it. She is a good candidate, aggressive and experienced, and should win if her workers are on their toes. She has had no experience in this kind of a campaign, however, and I am doing what I can to help her out.
We were all so sorry to hear that you had lost “Happy” who was a lovely animal. I am sure you must miss him sorely but hope you will replace him.
It must have been quite a chore moving to 541 and I have heard some intriguing tales about the situation there but will have to wait until I see you to get the story straight.
If all goes well, and my business will allow it, I shall try and come down during the forthcoming session and will hope to have a chat with all of my old friends.
I don’t know whether you heard about Howard or not but he and Jeannine are being married this coming Friday (the 13th!). You will be receiving an announcement in due course but I thought you and Olive would be interested since you met her on a couple of occasions although you may not remember.
So you can see that, with moving, surgery, son’s marriage, and my new business I have been far from idle.
As the Nova Scotians say, “God willing and weather permitting” I shall see you some time this autumn.
Warm regards to both of you.
Sincerely,
Ellen
Stamp: Seen by John G. Diefenbaker
Canada, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Ottawa, April 12th, 1962
Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker, M.P.,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Ottawa
My dear Prime Minister,
As I was leaving the hotel this morning, Mr. Eloi Belanger asked me if I would deliver the enclosed note to you personally.
Just to refresh your memory this is the elevator starter with the raspy voice who has been there for so many years. He asked me if I would mind delivering this to “my friend, the Prime Minister.”
Yours sincerely,
Ellen Fairclough
Ellen L. Fairclough
Encl.
Royal Commissions
(November 15th, 1948 to June 21st, 1957)
The following is a list of Royal Commissions appointed by the Administration of the Right Honourable Louis S. St. Laurent (November 15th, 1948 to June 21st, 1957):
| Royal Commission | Date of Establishment |
|---|---|
| 1. Cases where revocation of citizenship is under consideration | 17th December 1948 |
| 2. Transportation | 29th December 1948 |
| 3. National development in the arts, letters and sciences | 8th April 1949 |
| 4. Floods in Red River Valley, Manitoba | 17th May 1950 |
| 5. Fire damage to towns of Rimouski and Cabano, P.Q. | 17th May 1950 |
| 6. Rents payable on leased lands in townsites and subdivisions in Banff and Jasper National Parks and minimum value of buildings which may be erected therein | 15th September 1950 |
| 7. Claims arising out of World War II (Mr. Chief Justice Ilsley) | 31st July 1951 |
| 8. South Saskatchewan River Project | 24th August 1951 |
| 9. Staking of areas and application for permits re exploring petroleum products by Sun Oil Co. and California Standard Co. | 12th November 1951 |
| 10. Claims arising out of World War II (Mr. Chief Justice Campbell) | 23rd October 1952 |
| 11. Criminal law relating to defence of insanity | 2nd March 1954 |
| 12. Criminal sexual psychopaths | 25th March 1954 |
| 13. Quartz mining and placer mining in Yukon Territory | 29th April 1954 |
| 14. Agreed charges under Part IV of the Transport Act | 20th May 1954 |
| 15. Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks | 10th June 1954 |
| 16. Humber River Valley flood | 20th October 1954 |
| 17. Coasting trade in Canada | 1st March 1955 |
| 18. Long-term prospects of the Canadian economy | 17th June 1955 |
| 19. Broadcasting in Canada | 2nd December 1955 |
| 20. Dispute between Canadian Pacific Railway and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers | 17th January 1957 |
| 21. Financial position of Newfoundland | 21st February 1957 |
Royal Commissions Appointed
April 1, 1953 – June 21, 1957
(excluding commissions appointed to inquire into charges of political partisanship, covering a period of 51 months)
|
Date of establishment |
|
|---|---|
| 1. Criminal law relating to defence of insanity | 2 March 1954 |
| 2. Criminal sexual psychopaths | 25 March 1954 |
| 3. Quartz mining and placer mining in Yukon Territory | 29 April 1954 |
| 4. Agreed charges under Part IV of the Transport Act | 20 May 1954 |
| 5. Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks | 10 June 1954 |
| 6. Humber River Valley flood | 20 October 1954 |
| 7. Coasting trade in Canada | 1 March 1955 |
| 8. Long-term prospects of the Canadian economy | 17 June 1955 |
| 9. Broadcasting in Canada | 2 December 1955 |
| 10. Dispute between Canadian Pacific Railway and Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers | 17 January 1957 |
| 11. Financial position of Newfoundland | 21 February 1957 |
Royal Commissions Appointed
June 21, 1957 – October 19, 1961
(excluding commissions appointed to inquire into charges political partisanship; covering a period of 51 months)
| Date of establishment | |
|---|---|
| 1. Energy policy | 15 October 1957 |
| 2. Price spreads in food products | 10 December 1957 |
| 3. Seabird Island Indians | 18 February 1958 |
| 4. Railway problems | 13 May 1959 |
| 5. Route of railway line, Northern Alberta | 4 June 1959 |
| 6. Treaties 8 and 11 as applied to the Indians of the MacKenzie District | 25 June 1959 |
| 7. Coal | 6 October 1959 |
| 8. Motor vehicles industries | 2 August 1960 |
| 9. Station CHEK-TV, Victoria, B.C. | 6 September 1960 |
| 10. Government organization | 16 September 1960 |
| 11. Canadian magazines and other periodicals | 16 September 1960 |
| 12. Health services | 20 June 1961 |
| 13. Unemployment Insurance Act | 17 July, 1961 |
| 14. Banking and finance | 18 October, 1961 |