Political Opposition

Conscription also faced opposition on a political level. Borden originally approached Sir Wilfrid Laurier, leader of the Liberal party which was the opposition, with plans for a Union government. This would be a coalition of Conservatives and Liberals in order to present a united Canada in the face of war. Laurier did not support Borden’s ideas of conscription and turned down the offer. The Union government still went on as many English-speaking Liberals abandoned Laurier for Borden.

Many spoke out against the Military Service Act, including Henri Bourassa who was a leading French-Canadian nationalist. He had originally supported the war but referred to conscription as a “blood tax” because it forced citizens to repay their nation with their lives.

Laurier said, “If this military service bill is passed, we will face a cleavage which may red and tear this Canada of ours down to the roots.” His statement proved to be quite accurate as the debate over conscription had Canada divided. It worsened Anglo-French relations in particular. Being himself a French Canadian, Laurier probably understood the position of many people in Quebec better than many other politicians and was looking out for French Canadian interests.

During the 1917 election, Borden and his Union government won with a clear majority but lost 62 out of 65 seats in Quebec. These election numbers show the clear divide between French and English Canadians on the subject of conscription and how it tore apart the two demographic groups.