Winona Grace MacInnisOCOBE (née Woodsworth; July 25, 1905 – July 10, 1991) was a socialist Canadian politician. She was the first woman from British Columbia elected to the House of Commons of Canada, as well as the first wife of a former Canadian Member of Parliament to be elected to the House of Commons in her own right, rather than by directly succeeding her husband in a by-election following his death.
MacInnis was born on July 25, 1905, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She was the eldest among six children of J. S. Woodsworth, the first leader of Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF, later the New Democratic Party), and Lucy Lillian Staples Woodsworth. Their lives and enthusiasm about politics highly influenced MacInnis' ideals as a politician, and a feminist. Her father was a minister of a comfortable Methodist parish. Her mother, Lucy, was a teacher and a loving mother to her children, also was known as a liberated thinker who taught her children about birth control, which was illegal at that time. The family had discussion frequently, which encouraged the children to express their thoughts freely. In the year of 1953, she published biography of her father: J.S. Woodsworth- A Man to Remember.[3][4]
After attending the University of Manitoba and the Sorbonne, she became a teacher, but soon left her career to assistant her father in 1931, and later acted as secretary of the CCF party. She married Angus MacInnis in January 1932 who spent 27 years as a CCF member of Vancouver-Kingsway in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1957 due to his failing health, which also confined MacInnis' activities as well.[3][4] In 1941, she was elected to the British Columbia legislature as one of two members for the riding of Vancouver-Burrard and remained until 1945. In the year of 1960, she was suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which confined her activities completely.[4][3] It took about 4 years for her to be quiescent. In 1964, her husband Angus MacInnis died. She rested and resumed her activities in NDP, and was elected as a Party Member of Vancouver-Kingsway in 1965. She held senior positions in both CCF Party and its successor, the NDP,[3][5] and was president of the British Columbia Party for two terms, both on constituency and provincial levels. She received unanimous support from her party, and continued her activities[which?] for 35 years. MacInnis died on July 10, 1991.
Career
During her career, MacInnis debated issues in the House of Commons concerning housing and abortion. In 1967, she was responsible for bringing the issue of housing to the government's attention, arguing that it was the main problem in Canada. This exchange led to the increase in interest rates of NHA loans from 7 1/4 % to 8 1/4%, which was advantageous,[clarification needed] however, qualifying for the loans still remained difficult. She explained that Canadians couldn't qualify unless their income was at least $8,000 a year(the equivalent of $62,101.69 in 2020 dollars) and for those who could afford it, it was costly to carry a loan for an extended period.[3][6] At the same meeting, MacInnis addressed abortion and how it is necessary for the option to be available for women if the child has a possibility of being born unhealthy, their physical or mental health was imperilled or the pregnancy was caused by rape. Her precautionary measures for abortion rights were that two registered physicians had to prescribe it for any of the previous reasons and she emphasized that anyone could apply. One of her reasons why these rights would be helpful was because they would reduce the amount of wrongly performed illegal abortions.[3][6]
One problem that MacInnis recognized during her time in Parliament was that men don't usually engage in issues involving women. MacInnis advocated for those on lower incomes, in hopes of creating more opportunities for those who aren’t able to create their own. She highlighted the importance of the ability for women to not have to choose between work and having children, and considered the need for more childcare centres so this could be made possible. In addition, she pressed for advancements towards training and education in order for all classes of women to qualify for better jobs.[3][7]
Legacy
MacInnis' papers (1.6 m) are held by the special collections division of the library of the University of British Columbia. They include the diaries, correspondence and speeches of her husband.[8] The university also holds Angus Maclnnis Memorial Collection, the Angus Maclnnis Papers, and the Lillie d'Easum Collection, which include material by or about MacInnis. There is also a Grace MacInnis fonds (4.6 m) at Library and Archives Canada.[9] Archival reference number is R5492.
^"Only One Of 36 Women Wins Seat At Ottawa". Winnipeg Free Press. 27 June 1968.
^ abMacInnis, Grace (3 October 1967). "Report from Ottawa, Grace MacInnis, M.P., Vancouver-Kingsway". House of Commons Canada.
^"Grace MacInnis Wants More Help For Women". Winnipeg Free Press. 29 March 1969.
^Blinkhorn, Victoria Kendall (August 1987). "Grace MacInnis, 1905 - An Inventory of Her Papers in the University of British Columbia Special Collections Division" (PDF). University of British Columbia.
^"Finding aid to Grace MacInnis fonds, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF).
External links
Grace MacInnis – Parliament of Canada biography
January 29, 2023
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Winona Grace MacInnis OC OBE nee Woodsworth July 25 1905 July 10 1991 was a socialist Canadian politician She was the first woman from British Columbia elected to the House of Commons of Canada as well as the first wife of a former Canadian Member of Parliament to be elected to the House of Commons in her own right rather than by directly succeeding her husband in a by election following his death Grace MacInnisOC OBEMember of the Canadian Parliament for Vancouver KingswayIn office November 8 1965 July 7 1974Preceded byArnold WebsterSucceeded bySimma HoltMember of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver BurrardIn office October 21 1941 October 24 1945Serving with Charles Grant MacNeilPersonal detailsBornWinona Grace Woodsworth 1905 07 25 July 25 1905Glen William Prince Edward Island CanadaDiedJuly 10 1991 1991 07 10 aged 85 Sechelt Sunshine Coast British Columbia Canada 1 Political partyIndependent LabourCo operative Commonwealth FederationNew Democratic PartySpouseAngus MacInnisProfessionWriterteacherThe daughter of Co operative Commonwealth Federation founding leader J S Woodsworth and the wife of long serving CCF MP Angus MacInnis Grace MacInnis championed issues such as family planning affordable housing abortion rights and women s equality She was a founding member of the CCF and served as an MLA in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1941 to 1945 on the executive of the national CCF and in the Canadian House of Commons as a Member of Parliament representing the CCF s successor the New Democratic Party from 1965 until her retirement in 1974 MacInnis represented the British Columbia riding of Vancouver Kingsway She was the only woman MP elected in the 1968 election In 1974 she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of a lifetime of service to Canada as teacher author and parliamentarian In 1979 she was a recipient of the Governor General s Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case 2 In 1990 she was awarded the Order of British Columbia Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksPersonal life EditMacInnis was born on July 25 1905 in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada She was the eldest among six children of J S Woodsworth the first leader of Co operative Commonwealth Federation CCF later the New Democratic Party and Lucy Lillian Staples Woodsworth Their lives and enthusiasm about politics highly influenced MacInnis ideals as a politician and a feminist Her father was a minister of a comfortable Methodist parish Her mother Lucy was a teacher and a loving mother to her children also was known as a liberated thinker who taught her children about birth control which was illegal at that time The family had discussion frequently which encouraged the children to express their thoughts freely In the year of 1953 she published biography of her father J S Woodsworth A Man to Remember 3 4 After attending the University of Manitoba and the Sorbonne she became a teacher but soon left her career to assistant her father in 1931 and later acted as secretary of the CCF party She married Angus MacInnis in January 1932 who spent 27 years as a CCF member of Vancouver Kingsway in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1957 due to his failing health which also confined MacInnis activities as well 3 4 In 1941 she was elected to the British Columbia legislature as one of two members for the riding of Vancouver Burrard and remained until 1945 In the year of 1960 she was suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which confined her activities completely 4 3 It took about 4 years for her to be quiescent In 1964 her husband Angus MacInnis died She rested and resumed her activities in NDP and was elected as a Party Member of Vancouver Kingsway in 1965 She held senior positions in both CCF Party and its successor the NDP 3 5 and was president of the British Columbia Party for two terms both on constituency and provincial levels She received unanimous support from her party and continued her activities which for 35 years MacInnis died on July 10 1991 Career EditDuring her career MacInnis debated issues in the House of Commons concerning housing and abortion In 1967 she was responsible for bringing the issue of housing to the government s attention arguing that it was the main problem in Canada This exchange led to the increase in interest rates of NHA loans from 7 1 4 to 8 1 4 which was advantageous clarification needed however qualifying for the loans still remained difficult She explained that Canadians couldn t qualify unless their income was at least 8 000 a year the equivalent of 62 101 69 in 2020 dollars and for those who could afford it it was costly to carry a loan for an extended period 3 6 At the same meeting MacInnis addressed abortion and how it is necessary for the option to be available for women if the child has a possibility of being born unhealthy their physical or mental health was imperilled or the pregnancy was caused by rape Her precautionary measures for abortion rights were that two registered physicians had to prescribe it for any of the previous reasons and she emphasized that anyone could apply One of her reasons why these rights would be helpful was because they would reduce the amount of wrongly performed illegal abortions 3 6 One problem that MacInnis recognized during her time in Parliament was that men don t usually engage in issues involving women MacInnis advocated for those on lower incomes in hopes of creating more opportunities for those who aren t able to create their own She highlighted the importance of the ability for women to not have to choose between work and having children and considered the need for more childcare centres so this could be made possible In addition she pressed for advancements towards training and education in order for all classes of women to qualify for better jobs 3 7 Legacy EditMacInnis papers 1 6 m are held by the special collections division of the library of the University of British Columbia They include the diaries correspondence and speeches of her husband 8 The university also holds Angus Maclnnis Memorial Collection the Angus Maclnnis Papers and the Lillie d Easum Collection which include material by or about MacInnis There is also a Grace MacInnis fonds 4 6 m at Library and Archives Canada 9 Archival reference number is R5492 References Edit Grace MacInnis Section15 ca Governor General Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case Status of Women Canada cfc swc gc ca Retrieved 25 October 2022 a b c d e f g Elizabeth Long Series 4 File MacInnis Grace ID File 254 Dana Porter Library University of Waterloo a b c Biographic Data Grace MacInnis M P Vancouver Kingsway Only One Of 36 Women Wins Seat At Ottawa Winnipeg Free Press 27 June 1968 a b MacInnis Grace 3 October 1967 Report from Ottawa Grace MacInnis M P Vancouver Kingsway House of Commons Canada Grace MacInnis Wants More Help For Women Winnipeg Free Press 29 March 1969 Blinkhorn Victoria Kendall August 1987 Grace MacInnis 1905 An Inventory of Her Papers in the University of British Columbia Special Collections Division PDF University of British Columbia Finding aid to Grace MacInnis fonds Library and Archives Canada PDF External links EditGrace MacInnis Parliament of Canada biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grace MacInnis amp oldid 1118170279, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
