Canada & The Great War (1917-1918): The Home Front
(Sources: Veterans Affairs Canada & A Brief History of Canada by Desmond Morton)
Conscription Crisis
Borden had to renege on his promise about conscription.
After his visit with the troops in 1916, he saw the need of more military personnel in
Europe. He also wanted to establish Canada as a fighting nation. It wouldn’t be easy to
break his promise. Conscription is a very divisive issue, especially amongst certain groups:
- Ontario & Quebec
- Farmers & Factory Workers
- Rural & Urban
- Pacifists & Militarists
It became THE issue of the 1917 election. Borden asked Laurier if he wanted to join forces and form a UNION GOVERNMENT. Even though Laurier wanted conscription, he had to say no to appease his voters in Quebec. The opposition in Quebec was so great that Laurier could not support Borden (even though he agreed with him). Because of Laurier's political decision, twenty members of Laurier’s cabinet quit and joined the Conservatives over the issue. This meant Borden would have his union government without Laurier. But Borden wanted to make absolutely sure he could get a conscription bill through Parliament. He passed:
Military Voters Act
A savvy politician, Borden used the War Measures Act to help secure an election win. First, he passed the Military Voters Act, which allowed all men AND WOMEN of the armed forces to vote in the election. It also denied the vote to CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. Then he passed the:
Wartime Elections Act
This act extended the vote to widows, wives, mothers, and adult sisters/daughters of servicemen. The passage of these acts would ensure victory. Borden’s union government would go on to win the election.
Election Aftermath
It was a bitter election, but Borden won a huge majority. More importantly for Borden, conscription was now law in Canada.
Canadians were divided. Borden soon realized that applying the new conscription system across the country proved to be difficult. In Quebec, on Easter weekend, a riot broke out in Quebec City, killing four. In March 1918, when the Germans launched a series of victorious offensives and the Allies had an urgent need for reinforcements, Borden called in his Cabinet eliminated all exemptions. By the end of the war (1918), Canada had conscripted 60,000 men. However, the bitterness (social, cultural, & political) would remain until today.
The War And Social Change in Canada
Economic Boom
Factories boomed and Canadian exports were in high demand by the troops overseas. By necessity, the war had transformed Canada into a highly industrialized nation.
Labour Shortage = Women Workers
Because so many men were overseas, Canada had a labour shortage. Women stepped in, often for less money in harsh conditions. When the men returned, the women were fired, but not before they proved that they were as important and strong as men.
Suffrage
By the end of the war, women had won the right to vote in most provincial and federal elections, thanks in part to Borden’s two new acts. Their contributions in the war raised their status in Canada.
Other Effects:
- Unions organized (due to a shortage of skilled workers.
- The federal civil service began.
- In 1917, income tax was introduced to help pay for the war. It was supposed to be temporary. It wasn’t.
The Road to Nationhood: Flexing National Muscle
Canada entered the war as a self-governing colony of Great Britain, but by the end, we had solidified our independence. At the meeting of the Imperial War Cabinet, Robert Borden told British Prime Minister David Lloyd George (nicknamed Boy George), that we should be treated as equal and AUTONOMOUS – making our own decisions about our own military. When the war ended, Borden demanded that Canada represent itself at the peace talks. He also demanded that he sign the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of Canada. Borden also demanded that Canada have its own seat on the League of Nations, established to peacefully settle disputes between countries in the future. This group later became known as the United Nations.
Aftermath of War: Effects on Canada
Returning Soldiers
Of the 600,661 soldiers who traveled overseas, more than 61,000 died. Many who made it back were scarred, physically and emotionally.
Economic Recession
The factories and industries which boomed during the war began to slow down. Jobs began to disappear. Some factories ‘retrofitted’ themselves for new industries. Returning soldiers wanted work.
Social Status
While some rights were gained, some of the other problems remained:
- Racism
- Discrimination
- Poverty
Those deemed ‘aliens’ and interned at the outbreak of the war also needed the government to atone for its actions.
Aftermath: Life in Canada
- Workers achieved rights, as unions began as a method of protecting worker.
- Government’s role in daily life became the norm with the establishment of the civil service and income taxes.
- In foreign relations, we now stood alone and our independence would be further guaranteed in 1931 when we signed the Statute of Westminster, which effectively stated that we have equal status as all other countries in the world, including Great Britain.
- Canada was set for a boom. It deserved one.
