A Canadian Conscription Poster

Conscription Crisis of 1917

On August 4th ,1914 Canada has entered World War I, and the Canadian people answered the call of duty. By the end of August of 1914, Sam Hughes ( The Canadian Minister of Militia) has already created a training camp in Valcartier, Quebec, which was able to house 32,000 men, and by the end of October of 1914 the first 31,000 men were already overseas fighting with Britain. As the war continued the Canadian government continued to raise it expectations for volunteers, which was now at 150,000 men by 1915. However all of the training camps and battalions were English speaking and because of that very few French Canadians(which made up of 28% of the Canadian population) ever volunteered, making it harder for Canada to get enough volunteers. As political tensions between Ottawa and Quebec rise and no French speaking camp or regiments are formed, Canada is suffering many casualties overseas and with only 300,000 volunteers instead of the now promised 600,000 by the end of 1916, Prime Minster Robert Borden had only way to go. Conscription.

After the Battle of Somme, Canada was in great need to replenish its supply of soldiers. Being very few volunteers to replace them and the failing of the recruiting effort in Quebec, Conscription was a must. In May of 1917 Robert Borden introduced the Military Service Act ( a act that would allows the Prime Minister to Conscript if necessary) and on August 29 1917 the act was passed, allowing Canada to conscript men. Following the passing of the Military Service Act, the 1917 election were held, Robert Borden and his opposition Wilfred Laurier went head to head. To make sure that there was support for conscription, Robert Borden used the Military Voters act to gain votes from oversea soldiers who were in favour of conscription as they were in desperate need of more men, and with theses votes  Robert Borden was able to put them in any riding he wanted, allowing him to win the election with 153 seats, while Wilfred Laurier's Liberals secured 82. On January 1st,1918 the Government began to enforce the Military Service Act,causing over 400,000 men to be liable for military service, but as the act allowed for exemptions, so over 80% of these men were able to use these exemptions and find loopholes to avoid being conscripted. The men that were conscripted didn't have to do much or have wait long as the official end of WWI was on November 1st,1918. Conscription and the many events that revolved around it, would to this present day put a dent in the relations between Ottawa and Quebec.