Speaker, if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to allow members to make statements in remembrance for the late Mrs. Margaret Birch, with five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, five minutes allotted to the independent members as a group, and five minutes allotted to Her Majesty’s government.

It is an honour to rise today to pay tribute to Margaret Birch on behalf of the official opposition and the people of Ontario.

I’d like to begin by welcoming Margaret’s friends and family to the Legislature: Randy, her son; Jane Elliott, her daughter; Karen Stirrett; and Mobina Bhimani.

I would also like to recognize her many loved ones who couldn’t join us today—and like anyone who lived such a full life, the list is long:

—her son-in-law Dan Elliott;

—her grandchildren Sarah Schinkel, Jennifer Elliott and Meaghan Kabetu;

—her great-grandchildren Ethan Alexander Bond; Brandon, Ryan, Tyler and Amanda Schinkel; Peyton and Olivia Kabetu; and

—her sister Isabel Dalgleish.

Of course, there is also a large extended family and many friends who miss her dearly.

It’s not always easy to be a woman in politics, particularly not when Margaret was elected in 1971 as one of only two women in the Conservative 69-seat government. And while it’s hard to imagine how that must have felt, from time to time I’m sure every woman in the Legislature has been underestimated, has been disrespected, has experienced imposter syndrome and felt isolated because of her gender. That’s why it’s so important to have a strong support system—people who will love us unconditionally, people who will give us the inspiration that we need to fight through the adversity, and people who will believe in us when we have a crisis of faith in ourselves. So it’s a real honour to have some of you here today who were by Margaret’s side as she made history.

Along with the support of our family and friends, it’s also so important in the success of women in politics that we have great role models—role models who not only did it first, but who also did this job with dignity, integrity, passion and skill. And that’s what truly distinguishes Margaret Birch. Yes, she was the first woman to be appointed to the Ontario government’s executive council, but she also showed people—men and women alike—how tough, tenacious, resilient and impactful women in politics can be.

Margaret had to drop out of school at the age of 12 because her father got cancer and she needed to care for her four younger siblings and a new baby when her mother went back to work.

At 16, she was also working, first in tobacco fields, then at the Heinz plant, where she made sure that the label on every ketchup bottle was up to par.

Later, as she raised her children, she began volunteering for a local hospital, then worked her way up to chair of the Scarborough board of health, and eventually joined the mental health council and the social planners council.

By the time she was elected as MPP, she brought decades of work and volunteer experience, as well as invaluable lived experience, to the job. As a backbench MPP, seeing the gap in services for children and youth, she undertook to create new youth programs. Her work earned her the position of Minister without Portfolio, in which capacity she toured health care and mental health facilities. Outraged by the conditions in both, she worked hard to improve and to get progress on the way.

In 1972, despite what I’m sure were many naysayers trying to hold her back, she ultimately proved herself as the undeniable best choice for secretary of social development, a role she held for almost a decade.

As a woman in this House, as well as the opposition critic for children, community and social services, it’s easy to see how I followed in the path that Margaret started to carve out 50 years ago. I can’t thank her personally, but I hope to honour her legacy by living up to the standard she set in working for her constituents, advocating for those in need and empowering the next generation of women in politics.

Margaret, may the example that you set never be forgotten, and may she rest in peace.

It is my honour to rise today and pay tribute to Margaret Birch, a Scarborough hero—anyone from Scarborough will understand that—who broke barriers for women in Ontario politics as this province’s first female cabinet minister.

Margaret’s story is literally the stuff of legends, and it remains a shining example of how important it is to have women in politics.

First elected in 1971 as the MPP for Scarborough East, Margaret’s arrival on the political scene coincided with the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18. There can be no doubt that her presence on a provincial ballot was an immediate source of excitement and inspiration for a great many young women voting for the very first time.

Despite being one of only two women in a Legislature of 121 members, Margaret was far from intimidated, and I challenge you all to check Hansard to see some of her speeches and debates. You will see that she went toe to toe with those men in debates and in question period. She was already experienced with having to overcome adversity, as was said, after leaving school at the age of 12 to support her family. This willingness to help others was a quality that defined Margaret Birch early on, and it influenced much of what she was to go on to do.

After starting out as a volunteer at the Scarborough General Hospital, Margaret worked her way up to become chair of the Scarborough board of health in 1963. She joined the Scarborough mental health council and social planning council in 1967. She later became a member of the new hospital steering committee and was instrumental in finding the land and support needed to build what would later become known as the Scarborough Centenary Hospital. Scarborough Centenary Hospital opened in 1967, and Margaret was appointed to the hospital board of governors as a lifetime member. How fitting was it that a wing that was named after her was the place that she celebrated her 90th birthday with a strawberry social?

In 1970, she was recognized as Scarborough’s Citizen of the Year and was encouraged to run for a seat in provincial politics. Once elected, Margaret took her experience in health care and she channelled it. In her first year as an MPP, she helped to create a summer jobs program for youth. In 1972, when she was named Minister without Portfolio responsible for youth, Margaret Birch became the first female cabinet minister in Ontario’s history. She was later given the expanded portfolio that had responsibility for social services which impacted the lives of millions of Ontarians, including those living in long-term care and people with disabilities.

Margaret toured hospitals. She was open to meeting with patients and she wanted to learn more about the problems faced by the facilities. She was well known for visiting mental health institutions and advocating for improved conditions, and she was instrumental in the creation of the Assistive Devices Program.

She broke barriers in the Legislature and in society as well. To illustrate this, I’d like to read you an excerpt from Steve Paikin’s book on William Grenville Davis. It’s the story about the Albany Club, and it offers us a window into the world of Margaret Birch as she navigated it:

“Breaking the gender barrier in cabinet wasn’t Birch’s only claim to fame. At this point in its history, the downtown Toronto haunt for Conservatives for nearly a century, the Albany Club, still only permitted male members. The federal PC leader Robert Stanfield was about to make a guest appearance at the club, and Birch wanted to go. But, of course, that wasn’t permitted. Birch approached the Premier to discuss the issue.

“‘If I’m good enough to sit in this cabinet with all these men, surely I’m good enough to be a member of the Albany Club,’ she told the Premier.

“‘You’re right,’ Davis answered. ‘We’ll work on that.’

“And that is how Margaret Birch also became one of the first three female members of the Albany Club. Her proposer was none other than the 18th Premier of Ontario.”

I am so proud of this remarkable woman from Scarborough. I deeply believe that it’s vital to have women—and I say more women—engaged in politics and the trajectory of Margaret’s story shows us why. Her many notable achievements offered the people of Ontario real evidence that the contributions of women make a real difference, our voices matter and that better outcomes are possible when women are at the decision-making table.

So today, I want to express my deepest respect and admiration for Margaret Birch for stepping up in 1970 and blazing a trail for women like me to enter politics. It would be impossible to overstate the impact in expanding the possibilities for women in public life. Ontario is fortunate to have had such a remarkable role model.

I thank her family for sharing her with us for all of those years. The difference Margaret Birch has made in this province is profound.

I’m honoured to stand in this House before you all today to truly highlight a heroic woman, a pioneer, a trailblazer, and as the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, I know first-hand the importance of ensuring women’s voices are heard and reflected in this House in Ontario.

Today, there are many, many great women in this House, but before us there was Margaret Birch. Margaret Birch was best known as Ontario’s first female cabinet minister, a pioneer of our history in this province. In September 1972, then-Premier Bill Davis, Mr. Brampton, appointed her to cabinet as Minister without Portfolio responsible for youth. At that very moment, Premier Davis did more than just change cabinet; he helped change history. Minister Birch would later be promoted and serve nearly a full decade as Ontario’s Provincial Secretary for Social Development. Not only does she have this distinct honour, but also the honour of being the first female member of Toronto’s Albany Club, whose membership was limited to men, as we just heard, but that happened until Ms. Birch, as I like to say, kicked down that door.

Margaret Birch did these things at a time when being a woman in politics was infinitely more difficult than it is now. She had taken care of her family since she was 12. Her work ethic and strong commitment to her family took her through an amazing career path: working the tobacco fields of southwestern Ontario to placing the stickers on Heinz ketchup bottles.

She would later get married and move to Scarborough, where she volunteered for the local hospital. She worked her way up to becoming the chair of the Scarborough board of health. In 1963, she was named to the steering committee which built the Scarborough Centenary Hospital and she was a charter member of the hospital’s board of governors.

She would also get deeply involved in both the Scarborough social planning council and mental health council of Scarborough, the latter of which she was instrumental in creating and served as its first chairperson. As I said at the start of this address, this woman has accomplished a lot of firsts.

In 1970, she was chosen as Scarborough’s Rotary Club Citizen of the Year. The Rotary Club is well respected across the world—what an honour. But her entrance to politics was far from assured. She chose one of the most closely contested ridings in Scarborough East. But having Birch as the candidate made all the difference as she captured the seat with 41% of the vote.

Often described by political opponents as “nice,” her love, her dedication and care for her community was evident to all at the Legislature. I’ve been told that she was kind, she respected everyone and worked across the floor. Liberal leader Robert Nixon described her then as a competent and gracious person. NDP leader Stephen Lewis would add that she should be “one of the most capable Tory MPPs of either sex” and she “should be absolutely first-rate” in her job.

She was a beloved daughter of the late Wallace and Mary Stewart of Leamington and wife to the late Guy Birch. She is survived by her wonderful children, Randy and Jane.

Margaret passed away in October of 2020 at the young age of 99, but not before she was able to be here at 95 and listen to many pay tribute to her accomplishments here in this House.

I know, Randy and Jane, you are here today with friends and family. To both of you I say, thank you for sharing your mother. Thank you for sharing her with this great province, with her community. As a mother myself, of five children, I know it is hard to balance politics and motherhood, but she did it with grace. I can only imagine, though, how much harder it would have been in 1972.

I have said many times on this floor that women belong in all places, in all spaces and at every single sector and every table. Over 40 years ago, a woman paved the way for my seat and many other women’s seats in this House. Her name was Margaret Birch, and we’ll never forget her.

Applause.