Muriel Duckworth Legacy - Member Statement

MS. CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, for Women's History Month I'd like to speak to the legacy of Muriel Duckworth, a leader in the peace and feminist movements and a remarkable Nova Scotian. Muriel was known primarily for her role in Voice of Women, organizing anti-war demonstrations in the 1960s and early 1970s. She was a fierce critic of militarism, especially its perpetuation of violence against women and children and its role in exacerbating poverty and economic inequality. She famously stated that war is stupid, an example of her clear analysis and deep conviction.

Muriel's interest was not just at the global scale, she was an activist for social and economic justice here at home and a Halifax Raging Grannie. She ran as provincial candidate for the NDP in 1974 and in 1978, making her the first woman ever to run for a seat in the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, let us hold up the legacy of Muriel Duckworth, who lived to be 100 years old it should be noted, as a standard to which we should measure our own efforts to work towards a more just, peaceful, equitable and sustainable world.

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