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Historical Background

On August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany and Austria-Hungary. Canada was automatically entered into the war because of its ties to Great Britain. However, French Canadians did not support the war because they felt it was not their war to fight. The bitter division between French and English Canada over war issues would define this election.

Conservative Prime Minister Robert Borden had been in power for six years. Wartime measures had extended the life of Parliament because the government felt that an election would distract from the country’s war efforts. Prime Minister Borden was committed to ensuring that Canada contributed its share of soldiers and resources to the Imperial war effort. However, 1916 and 1917 saw voluntary enlistments fall. In 1917, Borden attended an Imperial War Cabinet and promised to increase Canada ’s manpower contribution to the war. This meant that conscription would have to be introduced.

Borden proposed several measures to ensure Canada ’s war effort would be unified and to introduce conscription:

Borden proposes a Coalition Government

On May 25, Borden asked Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the Liberal party, to join forces to create a coalition government for the duration of the war. Borden felt that one government would permit the maximum war effort for Canada . He also wanted to avoid a distracting wartime election. However, Laurier turned down his proposal on June 6. Laurier knew that by agreeing to a coalition, he was agreeing to conscription, something that he did not support. Borden’s proposal was attractive to some Liberals, however. This began the slow trickle of Liberals who supported conscription to the Conservative side of government.

The Military Service Act

This Act passed on July 6, 1917. It established conscription in Canada. However, it also caused a deep division between French and English Canada. English Canadians felt it was their duty to support Britain in the war, and that conscription was the only way to ensure that Canada was putting forth its maximum effort. French Canadians felt that it was not their responsibility to fight Britain ’s war. The debate over the Military Service Act would set the stage for the 1917 election.

Borden attempted to extend the life of Parliament again to avoid an election. The Liberals objected to this idea, so Borden had no choice but to call an election. However, Borden introduced several measures which he hoped would enable conscription to pass and his government to be re-elected:

The Military Voters Act

This act was designed to enfranchise all members of the military service. It was also designed to disenfranchise conscientious objectors to war. Overseas voters were allowed to vote simply for a party rather than a candidate in a specific riding. The party was then free to distribute those votes to their best advantage. The Liberals did not put up a strong opposition to this bill because they were not aware of its future ramifications.

The Wartime Elections Act

The act enfranchised close female relatives of persons in active service overseas. It also disenfranchised those of alien birth or mother tongue who had been naturalized after 1902. This Act was passed through Parliament in late summer of 1917.

A Union Government is Formed

The Military Voters Act and the Wartime Elections Act convinced Liberals who supported conscription to join with Borden’s Conservatives to form a union government. They were convinced that Borden’s legislation ensured that everyone who supported conscription could vote, while those who didn’t support it couldn’t vote. On October 12, 1917, those Liberals who supported conscription joined the Union Government. Those Liberals who joined were mostly from western Canada. Borden was convinced that his government would be re-elected, and called an election for December 17, 1917.

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