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In 1913 women could not Vote in elections, in fact they were not even considered to be “persons” under the British North American Act.  
 
Marriage for women was not the ‘partnership’ we consider it today, wives did not share ownership of their houses, or land with their Husbands.  
 
After the Suffragette movement was founded, five women of note were, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Louise McKinney, and Irene Parlby, each worked to change public perceptions of women and secured basic rights for most women.  
 
Exempt were First Nations and many immigrant women.  
 
Nellie McClung in addition to her Suffragist activities was a teacher, temperance leader, lecturer, novelist, politician, wife, and mother: she grew up on her families Homestead in the Souris Valley.  
 
She wrote:  
"Our worthy opponents will emphasize the fact that women are the weaker vessel. Well I should think that a woman who cooks for men, washes and bakes and scrubs and sews for her family could stand the extra strain of marking a ballot every four years."  
-Nellie McClung  
 
Source:  
http://www.abheritage.ca/famous5/index.html  
http://www.mta.ca/about_canada/study_guide/famous_women/nellie_mcclung.html