gay/lesbian senators Laurier LaPierre, Liberal Nancy Ruth (formerly Nancy Jackman) PC, first lesbian senator, appointed in 2006, came out in 1990 First openly gay/lesbian cabinet ministers Tim Stevenson, British Columbia, 2000–2001, first openly gay politician to be appointed to cabinet in Canada André Boisclair, Quebec, 1996–2003, came out in 2000 Dale Eftoda, Yukon, 2000–2002, came out in 2001 Ted Nebbeling, British Columbia, 2001–2004 George Smitherman, Ontario, 2003–2009 Scott Brison, federal, 2004–2006 Jim Rondeau, Manitoba, 2004–2006 Kathleen Wynne, Ontario, 2006–2018 Jennifer Howard, Manitoba, (2009–2016) Joanne Bernard, Nova Scotia, (2013–2017) First openly gay mayor Overall: Maurice Richard, Bécancour, Quebec Major city: Glen Murray, Mayor of Winnipeg (1998–2004) First openly gay city councillors: Montreal: Raymond Blain, 1986–1993 Vancouver: Gordon Price, 1986–2002 (M); Ellen Woodsworth, 2002–2008 (F) Winnipeg: Glen Murray, 1989–1998 Toronto: Kyle Rae, 1991–2010 (M); Kristyn Wong-Tam, 2010–2022 (F) Ottawa: Alex Munter, 1991–2003 (M); Catherine McKenney, 2014–2022 (F) Edmonton: Michael Phair, 1992–2007 (M); Sherry McKibben, 1994-1995 (F) Saskatoon: Lenore Swystun, 2000–2003 (F); Darren Hill, 2006-present (M) Halifax: Krista Snow, 2003–2008 Red Deer: Paul Harris, 2010–2017 Cumberland: Conner Copeman, 2011–present Wabana, Bell Island: Donovan Taplin, 2013–2017 Hamilton: Aidan Johnson, 2014–2018 Prince Albert: Evert Botha, 2016–2020 Indigenous people in Canada Year that status Indians were granted the right to vote in federal elections: 1960. Year that status Indians were granted the right to vote in Quebec provincial elections: 1969 First Indigenous person elected to a legislature in Canada: Solomon White, Ontario Conservative Party, 1878-1886 and 1890-1894 (first Native elected anywhere in Canada) First Indigenous person appointed to Canadian Senate (first Treaty Indian named a senator in Canada): James Gladstone of Alberta, 1958 First Indigenous person elected to the Canadian House of Commons (first Indigenous MP): Leonard Marchand, Kamloops-Cariboo (British Columbia), Liberal Party, 1968–1979 First Indigenous woman elected to the Parliament of Canada: Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal Party of Canada, Western Arctic, 1988–2006 First Indigenous woman MLA elected in British Columbia: Melanie Mark, British Columbia New Democratic Party MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, 2016–Present First Indigenous MLA elected in Alberta: Mike Cardinal, Alberta Progressive Conservatives MLA Athabasca-Redwater 1989–2008 First Indigenous MLA elected in Saskatchewan: Lawrence Riel Yew Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLA Cumberland, 1982–1986 and second was Keith Goulet MLA, Cumberland, 1986–2003 First Indigenous woman MLA elected in Saskatchewan: Joan Beatty, Saskatchewan New Democratic Party MLA for Cumberland, 2003 to 2009 First Indigenous MLA elected in Manitoba: Elijah Harper, Manitoba New Democratic Party MLA Rupertsland, 1981–1992 First Indigenous