Marlene Catterall remembered as accomplished politician, trailblazer for women | CBC News (2024)

Joseph Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 14, 2024 9:42 AM EDT | Last Updated: August 15

Tributes are pouring in for Marlene Catterall, a former Ottawa city councillor, member of Parliament and the first woman to become the chief government whip.

Catterall, describedas a trailblazer who broke barriers for women,died Monday of respiratory failure due to a pre-existing lung condition. She was 85.

Catterall, who was born in Ottawa, was elected as a Liberal MP in 1988 and was re-elected over the following four terms, finally retiring from her storied political career in 2006.

"We knew that was a big deal, having a government whip that was a woman," said Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh.

"It doesn't seem like a new idea now, but it was then. So it was a breakthrough. It was a perfect job for her."

Kavanagh said she and Catterall were political rivals early on, but Catterall soon became a mentor and a friend.

During her time in federal politics, CatterallrepresentedOttawa West and later OttawaWest–Nepean. Shealsosat onOttawa's pre-amalgamation city councilfrom 1976 to 1985, and ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Jim Durrell.

Before entering politics,Catterall taught high school.

Kavanaghrecalled Catterall as a challenging opponent.

"Don't go up against her without knowing what you're up against because she's tough. She's smart, but for the right reasons," Kavanagh told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morningon Wednesday.

Prime minister sends condolences

On social media, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Catterall's "tireless work as a social activist, politician, and Canada's first female Chief Government Whip opened countless doors for future generations."

Last year, Catterall received a Governor General's Award in Commemoration of the Persons Case, acknowledging those who have worked for gender equality. Catterall received the award in part forher workhelping tosecure pay equity for women in the public service.

"I'm sending my deepest condolences to her loved ones," the prime minister said.

'Politics never left her'

Sheila Copps, who served as heritage minister and deputy prime minister under Jean Chrétien, called Catterall "a joyful partner, mother and friend" who was"always there for those in need."

"When she left politics, politics never left her," Copps said. "She stayed involved on issues... and even when she was walking with a walker and with oxygen provided, she was still ready to take on a battle, which was kind of who she was."

Catterall was considered instrumental in getting the Famous Fivemonument on Parliament Hill, now seen on the Plaza Bridge near the Senate of Canada as Centre Block undergoes construction.

WATCH | Sheila Copps says Marlene Catterall was always 'ready to take on a battle'

The statue is a tribute to Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy and Henrietta Muir Edwards, who appealed a decision by the Supreme Court of Canada that ruled women could not be appointed to the Senate.

Coppssaid the placement ofthe Famous Five monument was contentiousat the time.

She said the Speaker of the House at the time,Gilbert Parent, told Copps and Catterall that only statues of heads of state were permittedon Parliament Hill, but eventually conceded that if they could "get everybody on board," the monument could go up.

"Everybody was on board.I had spoken to everybody, including all the opposition leaders, the women in the opposition, but I had forgotten to speak to [then IndependentMP] John Nunziata," Copps said. "And John, being a bit of a curmudgeon because he hadn't been spoken to, kept objecting, objecting,objecting."

CoppssaidCatterall ultimately got the bill through by calling then-Liberal MPJean Augustine, who proposed the bill, at an opportune moment.

Copps said Catteralltold Augustine to "get over here, John's in the can! ... We managed to put the thing through Parliament while he was in the bathroom. All the women got together and made it happen."

"The way she was in politics, I think she was in life as well," said her sonChris Catterall.

He said she was the third in a line of strong "matriarchs" in his family.

His sister Sheryl Catterall saidthat "a lot of the media it says that she was a teacher and then she went into politics. But there was 13 years where she was a full-time mom.

"I think that's an important thing to mention. And she was as fierce as a mother as she was as a politician or as public figure."

Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson called Catterall a trailblazer for women in politics, saying he was pleased his council was able to offer their own tribute to the longtime city activist, naming a park in her honour.

Kavanagh saidgaining Catterall's political support was "huge," andthe advice she receivedfrom her mentorhas stuck with her.

"Basically, just stick to your guns. Stick up for your community," the councillor said."She really was big on equity. She understood the importance of it. "

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