Monique Bégin

As a social scientist, an elected politician (1972-1984), then an academic, the Honourable Monique Bégin is recognized for the strong voice she has given to the voiceless, fighting for universal healthcare, for social determinants of health and for women’s equality.

At 31, the Honourable Monique Bégin was the Executive Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women. Appointed to Cabinet in 1976 as Minister of National Revenue she then served as Minister of Health and Welfare from 1977-1979 and from 1980-1984. As Minister of Health and Welfare, she introduced two ground-breaking pieces of legislation: the Canada Child Tax Credit and the Canada Health Act. Following politics, Monique held the first Joint Chair in Women’s Studies at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University before becoming the Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa. She has also served on or chaired provincial, national and international Commissions of Inquiry. In 2018, Monique published her memoire, “Ladies, Upstairs!”

“To the younger generation of women of today, there are many challenges still, but the tools to address them are quite different. You have to reinvent the way to force action to improve the status of women - be it pay equity, be it violence against women. It’s your challenge to use modern media to push social change and gender equality and to work with male allies who support your cause.”