War Measures Act, Wartime Elections Act, Conscription

Question 1

War Measures Act

Answer 1

● Passed in 1914.
● Allowed the government to control many areas of Canadian life: laws, farms,
factories, etc.
● Government restricted civil rights; ability to arrest and detain without due
process (i.e. internment).
● Introduction of taxes - placed on businesses, personal income, and various
goods (i.e. coffee, tobacco).

Question 2

Wartime Elections Act

Answer 2

● Due to conscription, Borden had to find new ways to ensure an electoral victory.
● The Wartime Elections Act gave wives, mothers, and sisters of soldiers the right to vote.
● They were the first women permitted to vote in Canada.
● Granted the right to vote to all military personnel
including nurses.

Question 3

Conscription crisis

Answer 3

● Prime Minister Robert Borden became convinced after a visit to Europe that more soldiers were needed to win the war.
● Declines in the number of men enlisting, meant that Canada could no longer rely voluntary enlistment.
● The Military Services Act stated that all men between 20-45 who was not working in wartime production or conscientious objectors, were forced into military service.
● Borden continued with conscription even though he knew it would be divisive.
● Borden won the election in December 1917, and he formed a Union Government (consisting of members of his Conservative Party and members of the Liberal Party who were in favour of conscription).
● In April 1918 violent riots erupted in Montreal and Quebec City over conscription.
● The leader of the Liberal Party Wilfred Laurier believed that Canadians should vote in a referendum concerning conscription.