Margarette Luckock
Margarette Luckock, born Margarette Rae Morrison on October 15, 1893, in Ontario, Canada, emerged as a notable figure in Canadian politics and social activism during the mid-20th century. Raised on a family farm and influenced by her politically active father, she became engaged in political reforms during the Great Depression, joining the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in the 1930s. Luckock served on her district's executive board and made significant strides in local governance, ultimately becoming one of the first two women elected to the Ontario legislative assembly in 1943. As an education critic, she focused on improving rural education, labor rights, and advocating for fair pay for homemakers.
Her activism extended to consumer rights through the Housewives and Consumers Association, where she led initiatives such as the successful March of a Million Names petition. Despite facing challenges, including being labeled a communist and blacklisted in the U.S., Luckock remained committed to her causes. She also served as the first president of the Congress of Canadian Women, advocating for peace at international conferences. Luckock's life was significantly affected by her diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in 1956, leading to her hospitalization until her passing on January 24, 1972. Her legacy reflects a dedication to social justice and education, as well as the struggles faced by women in politics.
Subject Terms
Margarette Luckock
Politician
- Born: October 15, 1893
- Birthplace: Ontario
- Died: January 24, 1972
Contribution: Margarette Luckock was a Canadian politician who served in the Provincial Parliament from 1943 until 1945. She was one of the first two women to be elected to the Ontario legislature, along with Agnes Macphail. She was a member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation party, a political activist, and feminist.
Early Life and Education
Luckock was born Margarette Rae Morrison on October 15, 1893, in Ontario and raised on the family farm near the village of Arthur, Ontario. Her father, James J. Morrison, was involved in politics, giving her early exposure to political activism. In 1914, he helped to found the United Farmers of Ontario party and became its general secretary. That same year, Luckock married and resided with her husband in Arthur and Toronto, dividing her time between the two places. She eventually settled in Toronto during the 1920s. She had a job as a seamstress, but was laid off during the Great Depression and had to go on social assistance.
Political Career
In the 1930s, Luckock became an active member of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). The political party was created in 1932 to try to bring about economic reform for those affected by the Great Depression. It was a coalition of progressive, socialist, and labor ideals. Luckock served on the executive board of her district. She also was influential in promoting the party in other areas of Ontario.
Between 1938 and 1943, Luckock ran six times to be a trustee in Ward 5 of the Toronto School Board. In 1943, she was successful in obtaining the position, defeating Harold Menzies, but she resigned after she won a seat for the Bracondale riding (or electoral district) following the 1943 Toronto provincial general election. She became one of the first two women, along with Agnes Macphail, to become a member of the legislative assembly of Ontario.
She became the education critic for the CCF and worked on tuition finance and scholarships and the improvement of rural education. In addition to educational issues, she was involved in environmental and labor issues such as forestry and air pollution and equal pay for equal work. She also thought that homemakers should be paid for their work in the home.
During the 1945 provincial election, Luckock and all but one of her CCF colleagues were defeated. She then became involved with the Housewives and Consumers Association (HCA) and served as president of the organization. She helped to organize the March of a Million Names, collecting one million signatures to petition the federal government to respond to high prices of consumer goods. The petition was successful and the government took action against companies in the milling and baking industry, setting a fixed price on items such as bread.
In 1948, Luckock faced the difficult decision of choosing to support the CCF or the HCA after the CCF had labeled the HCA as a communist organization. After deciding to stay with the HCA, she was no longer welcome in the CCF and was labeled a communist. She was blacklisted in the United States because of the communist label and was refused entry; Luckock successfully argued her case and was eventually granted entrance.
When the Congress of Canadian Women was formed, she became the first president of the organization and traveled around the world for peace conferences. She continued her work until 1956, when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Luckock spent the last fourteen years of her life in the hospital; she died on January 24, 1972.
Personal Life
In 1914, Margarette Rae Morrison married Richard Luckock, an immigrant from England who worked as a tool and die maker. They had one daughter who died of scarlet fever at a young age in 1932.
Bibliography
Beattie, Rachel E. “Famous Women of the Grand.” Grand River Conservation Authority. Grand River Conservation Authority, Nov. 2000. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.
Bellis, Mark. “Town Honors Veterans, Female MPP, 126 Volunteered for World War II in Arthur (pop. 880).” Toronto Star 4 Aug. 1995: A10. Print.
“Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.” Le Canada. CBC, 2001. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.
Dawber, Michael. After You Agnes: Mrs. Rae Luckock, MPP. Tweed: Quinte-Web, 1994.
Legislative Assembly of Ontario. “Rae Luckock, MPP.” Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Legislative Assembly of Ontario, n.d. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.
Morley, J. T. “Co-operative Commonwealth Federation.” Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica-Dominion, 2012. Web. 15 Aug. 2012.
Sangster, Joan. Dreams of Equality: Women on the Canadian Left, 1920–1950. Toronto: McClelland, 1989. Print.
Trimble, Linda, Manon Tremblay, and Jane Arscott. Stalled: The Representation of Women in Canadian Government. Vancouver: UBC, 2013. eBook.