Marie-Claire Kirkland
Encyclopedia
Marie-Claire Kirkland-Casgrain, (born September 8, 1924) is a Quebec
lawyer, judge and politician. She was the first woman elected to the National Assembly of Quebec
, the first woman appointed a Cabinet minister in Quebec, the first woman appointed acting premier, and the first woman judge to serve in the Quebec Provincial Court.
Born in Palmer, Massachusetts
, the daughter of Charles-Aimé Kirkland
, a Quebec MNA from 1939 to 1961, and Rose Demers, she received a Bachelor of Arts
in 1947 and a Bachelor of Civil Law
in 1950 from McGill University
. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1952 and was made a Queen's Counsel
in 1969. From 1952 to 1961, she practiced law in Montreal
.
She was elected in a by-election
as a Liberal in her father's riding of Jacques-Cartier after his death in 1961. She was re-elected in 1962
. She held two cabinet posts in the government of Jean Lesage
: Minister without Portfolio (1962 to 1964) and Minister of Transport and Communications (1964 to 1966). In 1966
, she was elected in the riding of Marguerite-Bourgeoys and re-elected in 1970
. She also held two cabinet posts in the government of Robert Bourassa
: Minister of Tourism, Game and Fishing (1970 to 1972) and Minister of Cultural Affairs (1972 to 1973).
She resigned in 1973 to become a judge. She retired in 1991.
In 1985, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
. In 1992, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
.
She was married to Philippe Casgrain and had three children. Her marriage ended in divorce because Philippe had an extramarital affair with the lawyer Ruth Zendel who got pregnant, had abortion and suicided after a depression. She re-married Wyndham Strover.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
lawyer, judge and politician. She was the first woman elected to the National Assembly of Quebec
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
, the first woman appointed a Cabinet minister in Quebec, the first woman appointed acting premier, and the first woman judge to serve in the Quebec Provincial Court.
Born in Palmer, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the daughter of Charles-Aimé Kirkland
Charles-Aimé Kirkland
Charles-Aimé Kirkland was a Canadian politician serving as the Liberal MNA in the provincial riding of Jacques-Cartier from 1939 to 1961. The Town of Kirkland is named in his honour, as well as the now-closed Charles A. Kirkland Elementary school in Roxboro, Quebec.-References:* at Assemblée...
, a Quebec MNA from 1939 to 1961, and Rose Demers, she received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1947 and a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
in 1950 from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. She was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1952 and was made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1969. From 1952 to 1961, she practiced law in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
She was elected in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
as a Liberal in her father's riding of Jacques-Cartier after his death in 1961. She was re-elected in 1962
Quebec general election, 1962
The Quebec general election of 1962 was held on November 14, 1962, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Quebec, Canada. The incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage, won re-election, defeating the Union Nationale led by Daniel Johnson, Sr..In an unusual move,...
. She held two cabinet posts in the government of Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage
Jean Lesage, PC, CC, CD was a lawyer and politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 19th Premier of Quebec from 22 June 1960, to 16 August 1966...
: Minister without Portfolio (1962 to 1964) and Minister of Transport and Communications (1964 to 1966). In 1966
Quebec general election, 1966
The Quebec general election of 1966 was held on June 5, 1966, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The Union Nationale , led by Daniel Johnson, Sr, defeated the incumbent Quebec Liberal Party, led by Jean Lesage....
, she was elected in the riding of Marguerite-Bourgeoys and re-elected in 1970
Quebec general election, 1970
The Quebec general election of 1970 was held on April 29, 1970 to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada. The former Legislative Assembly had been renamed the "National Assembly" in 1968...
. She also held two cabinet posts in the government of Robert Bourassa
Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
: Minister of Tourism, Game and Fishing (1970 to 1972) and Minister of Cultural Affairs (1972 to 1973).
She resigned in 1973 to become a judge. She retired in 1991.
In 1985, she was made a Knight of the National Order of Quebec
National Order of Quebec
The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as l'Ordre national du Québec, and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec...
. In 1992, she was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
She was married to Philippe Casgrain and had three children. Her marriage ended in divorce because Philippe had an extramarital affair with the lawyer Ruth Zendel who got pregnant, had abortion and suicided after a depression. She re-married Wyndham Strover.