Ellen Fairclough Biography

Ellen Fairclough Biography About Ellen Fairclough Ellen Fairclough became the first Canadian woman federal cabinet minister when she was appointed Secretary of State by Prime Minister Diefenbaker in 1957. Vivacious, intelligent and competent, Ellen Fairclough had a mixed record in cabinet. Her attempt to restrict family immigration sponsorships to immediate family members caused an uproar in the Italian community, but she was successful in introducing regulations that largely removed racial discrimination from Canadian immigration policy. Birth January 28, 1905 in Hamilton, Ontario Death November 13, 2004 in Hamilton, Ontario Professions Before entering politics, Ellen Fairclough was a Chartered Accountant and owner of a Hamilton accounting firm.She was active in the Consumers Association of Canada, the Girl Guides, the I.O.D.E., the United Empire Loyalist Association, and the Zonta Club of Hamilton and Zonta International.After leaving politics, she worked in a trust company and was then chairman of Ontario Hydro.Ellen Fairclough published her memoirs Saturdays Child in 1995. Political Party Progressive Conservative Federal Riding (Electoral District) Hamilton West Political Career of Ellen Fairclough She was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in 1950. She was the only woman in the House of Commons until three others were elected in the 1953 general election. Ellen Fairclough was elected to Hamilton City Council in 1946. She served on the Hamilton City Council for five years until 1949.As Progressive Conservative labour critic, Ellen Fairclough introduced a private members bill requiring equal pay for equal work and advocated the creation of a Department of Labour Womens Bureau.With the election of a Conservative minority government in 1957, John Diefenbaker grudgingly appointed Ellen Fairclough to cabinet as Secretary of State. As Secretary of State, Ellen Fairclough initiated Dominion Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.The Conservatives won a majority government in 1958, and Ellen Fairclough was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. At the beginning of her time at Citizenship and Immigration, Ellen Fairclough ran into political problems, especially from the Italian community, when she tried to limit immigration family sponsorships to immediate family members, and was forced to back down. In 1962 however, she successfully b rought in regulations which went a long way towards the elimination of racial discrimination in Canadian immigration policy. She was moved to the Postmaster General portfolio in 1962.Ellen Fairclough was defeated in the 1963 election.