At the age of 73, Peggy was appointed to the Senate.[1] However, qualification laws for senators caused problems with her appointment. All Canadian senators are required to possess land worth at least $4,000 in the province for which he or she is appointed, as well as own real and personal property worth at least $4,000, above his or her debts and liabilities. Having taken a vow of poverty upon becoming a nun,[2] Butts was able to officially be sworn in only after her order formally transferred a small parcel of land to her name.[2] Butts resigned at the age of 75 as required by law,[1] and for her two years of service donated her entire salary to charity.[1]
Butts received the Weiler Award in 1995 in recognition of her contributions to community and social development in Canada, and was awarded an honorary degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 1996.
She received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.[5]
References
^ abcdStaff reporter (2004-03-10). "Sister Peggy Butts, Canadian activist, senator, dies at age 79". Catholic News Service. Archived from the original on 2005-02-18. Retrieved 2008-02-12. A Canadian social activist who was the first nun to serve as a Canadian senator died March 7 at age 77. [...] Former prime minister Jean Chrétien appointed Sister Butts to the Senate in 1997 when she was 73. She resigned two years later after reaching the Senate retirement age of 75. During that time, she donated her government salary to the poor...
^ abStaff reporter (April 1998). "Canada's Upper House: Do We Need the Senate? - Constitutional Origins". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2008-02-12. But having taken a vow of poverty 40 years ago, she lacked the necessary $4000 in "real and personal property" that is stipulated in Section 23 of the Constitution Act of 1867. Upon this realization, the scramble was on to ensure her appointment, and a small parcel of land was transferred by her Montreal-based order into her name.
