Unionist Party (Canada)The Unionist Party was a centre to centre-right political party in Canada, composed primarily of Conservative party members of Parliament and some Liberal members of Parliament. It was formed in 1917 by MPs who supported the Union government formed by Sir Robert Borden during the First World War, who formed the government through the final years of the war, and was a proponent of conscription. It was opposed by the remaining Liberal MPs, who sat as the official opposition.
1917 Canadian federal electionResults by electoral districtResults by province and territoryThe Canadian parliament after the 1917 electionThe 1917 Canadian federal election was held on December 17, 1917, to elect members of the House of Commons of Canada of the 13th Parliament of Canada. Described by historian Michael Bliss as the "most bitter election in Canadian history", it was fought mainly over the issue of conscription (see Conscription Crisis of 1917).Ontario Liberal PartyThe Ontario Liberal Party (OLP; French: Parti libéral de l'Ontario, PLO) is a provincial political party in Ontario, Canada. It has been one of the two main contenders for government for much of Ontario's history along with their conservative rival (currently the Progressive Conservative Party). Liberal ministries governed the province 63 of the approximately 160 years since Confederation, producing 10 of its 26 premiers.
Wilfrid LaurierPrime Minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911Sir Henri Charles Wilfrid Laurier (November 20, 1841 – February 17, 1919) was the seventh prime minister of Canada from 1896 to 1911. The first French Canadian prime minister, his 15-year tenure remains the longest uninterrupted term of office among Canadian prime ministers and his nearly 45 years of service in the House of Commons is a record for the House.
Robert BordenSir Robert Laird Borden (June 26, 1854 – June 10, 1937) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the eighth prime minister of Canada from 1911 to 1920. He is best known for his leadership of Canada during World War I. Borden was born in Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia. He worked as a schoolteacher for a period and then served his articles of clerkship at a Halifax law firm. He was called to the bar in 1878 and soon became one of Nova Scotia's most prominent barristers.Liberal Party of CanadaThe Liberal Party of Canada (LPC; French: Parti libéral du Canada, PLC) is a federal political party in Canada. The Liberal Party espouses the principles of liberalism, and generally sits at the centre to centre-left of the Canadian political spectrum, with their main rival, the Conservative Party, positioned to their right and the New Democratic Party positioned to their left.
Conscription Crisis of 1917Lead figuresSir Robert BordenSir Albert Edward KempSir Wilfrid LaurierHenri BourassaThe Conscription Crisis of 1917 (French: Crise de la conscription de 1917) was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I. It was mainly caused by disagreement on whether men should be conscripted to fight in the war, but also brought out many issues regarding relations between French Canadians and English Canadians.
Newton RowellNewton Wesley Rowell, PCKC (November 1, 1867 – November 22, 1941) was a Canadian lawyer, politician, judge, and lay leader in the Methodist Church. Rowell led the Ontario Liberal Party from 1911 to 1917 and put forward a platform advocating temperance. Rowell's Liberals failed to oppose the Whitney government's passage of Regulation 17 which restricted the teaching of the French language in schools and alienated the province's French-Canadian minority.
12th Canadian ParliamentThe 12th Canadian Parliament was in session from 15 November 1911 until 6 October 1917. The membership was set by the 1911 federal election on 21 September 1911, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1917 election. At 5 years, 10 months and 22 days, it was the longest parliament in Canadian history.
Member of parliamentA member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. Members of parliament typically form parliamentary groups, sometimes called caucuses, with members of the same political party. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members often have a different title.
10th Canadian MinistryThe Tenth Canadian Ministry was the second cabinet chaired by Prime MinisterSir Robert Borden. It governed Canada from 12 October 1917 to 10 July 1920, including most of the 13th Canadian Parliament. The government was formed by the Unionists, a war-time coalition between the old Conservative Party of Canada and some members of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Cabinet of CanadaThe Canadian Ministry (French: Conseil des ministres), colloquially referred to as the Cabinet of Canada (French: Cabinet du Canada), is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.