The HOMEFIRESThe HOMEFIRES

Conscription Crisis of 1917 Conscription Crisis of 1917 and Internment of and Internment of

“Undesirables”“Undesirables”

OutcomeOutcome GL4GL4 analyse the role played by WWI in shaping analyse the role played by WWI in shaping

Canada’s identityCanada’s identity identify and describe Canada’s various military identify and describe Canada’s various military

roles and contributions in WWIroles and contributions in WWI analyse the impact of the war on Canada’s analyse the impact of the war on Canada’s

evolution from colony to nationevolution from colony to nation explain how the war was a catalyst for societal explain how the war was a catalyst for societal

change (e.g., changing roles for women, change (e.g., changing roles for women, minorities, children, governments, and home minorities, children, governments, and home front)front)

analyse some of the controversial decisions analyse some of the controversial decisions involving Canadians (e.g., internments, 1917 involving Canadians (e.g., internments, 1917 election, racist policies, and conscription)election, racist policies, and conscription)

1917 Background1917 Background Of the 400,000 Canadians who volunteered Of the 400,000 Canadians who volunteered

for service in WWI, fewer than one in 20 were for service in WWI, fewer than one in 20 were French. Of English Canadian volunteers, 70% French. Of English Canadian volunteers, 70% were recent immigrants from Britain.were recent immigrants from Britain.

French sentiment from the start had the war French sentiment from the start had the war as a European issue and as a British problem.as a European issue and as a British problem.

Quebec wanted Canada to stay out of the Quebec wanted Canada to stay out of the conflict.conflict.

By 1916 Canada needed more men but By 1916 Canada needed more men but volunteers were not as plentiful as before…volunteers were not as plentiful as before…

The SidesThe Sides Robert BordenRobert Borden Military Service ActMilitary Service Act War-time Elections ActWar-time Elections Act

Law which extended the Law which extended the right to vote to the right to vote to the mothers, wives, and sisters mothers, wives, and sisters of the soldiers serving, of the soldiers serving, while at the same time while at the same time refusing that right to refusing that right to citizens from enemy citizens from enemy countries. countries.

English CanadaEnglish Canada Borden forced election in Borden forced election in

19171917 Easter Riots forced Easter Riots forced

Conscription in August 1917Conscription in August 1917

Henri Bourassa Henri Bourassa Bill 17 - restricted Bill 17 - restricted

French instruction in French instruction in Ontario SchoolsOntario Schools

Would not allow one Would not allow one french man to serve in french man to serve in the army of the Britishthe army of the British

French Canada, French Canada, farmers, union farmers, union workersworkers

Easter 1917 French Easter 1917 French Canadians take to the Canadians take to the streets in a weekend streets in a weekend of protestof protest

Easter Weekend Riots 1917Easter Weekend Riots 1917 Friday March 28 – gathering resistance through Friday March 28 – gathering resistance through

Quebec City results in marchesQuebec City results in marches Saturday March 29 – Borden evokes the War Saturday March 29 – Borden evokes the War

Measures Act giving the federal government the Measures Act giving the federal government the right to take over safety and security, 780 soldiers right to take over safety and security, 780 soldiers arrive in Quebec City with 1000 reserves training arrive in Quebec City with 1000 reserves training for the front on the way from Ontario, 3000 for the front on the way from Ontario, 3000 dispatched form the Westdispatched form the West

Sunday March 30 – Rioters throw stones at the Sunday March 30 – Rioters throw stones at the soldiers, soldiers ordered to open fire on the rioterssoldiers, soldiers ordered to open fire on the rioters

Monday April 1- Riots are over, $300 000 in Monday April 1- Riots are over, $300 000 in damages, 5 rioters killed, dozens injured, 32 damages, 5 rioters killed, dozens injured, 32 soldiers injured – no deadsoldiers injured – no dead

AftermathAftermath March 1918 – Last German offensive, CEF March 1918 – Last German offensive, CEF

needed soldiers – Borden pushed for no needed soldiers – Borden pushed for no exemptions on the basis of fitness for exemptions on the basis of fitness for service or objectionservice or objection

Conservatives lost the western support Conservatives lost the western support they enjoyed and would not get it back for they enjoyed and would not get it back for a LONG timea LONG time

Borden split the countryBorden split the country 120,000 men gathered in conscription, 47 120,000 men gathered in conscription, 47

000 saw service000 saw service French Canada still has not forgiven French Canada still has not forgiven

OttawaOttawa

Québec History 25 - WWQuébec History 25 - WW1 Conscription Crisis - 1 Conscription Crisis -

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Internment of UndesirablesInternment of Undesirables Ukrainian (Austro-Hungarian Empire) Ottoman Ukrainian (Austro-Hungarian Empire) Ottoman

Empire, Italians and German people taken from their Empire, Italians and German people taken from their homes and placed in campshomes and placed in camps

War Measures Act 1914 gave the government power War Measures Act 1914 gave the government power to remove enemy populations from the general publicto remove enemy populations from the general public

This resulted in the internment of 8,579 "This resulted in the internment of 8,579 "enemy enemy aliensaliens" of which over 5,000 were Ukrainians who had " of which over 5,000 were Ukrainians who had emigrated to Canada from territories under the emigrated to Canada from territories under the control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It also meant control of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It also meant an additional 80,000 individuals (of which the vast an additional 80,000 individuals (of which the vast majority were Ukrainians) were obliged to register as majority were Ukrainians) were obliged to register as ""enemy aliensenemy aliens" and then required to report to local " and then required to report to local authorities on a regular basis. authorities on a regular basis.

Used as labour sources for government projects, Used as labour sources for government projects, public interests and work rehabilitationpublic interests and work rehabilitation

Image Gallery of Life in Image Gallery of Life in Ukrainian Internment CaUkrainian Internment Camps in Canadamps in Canada

AftermathAftermath

Spring 2005 Bill C3351 provided Spring 2005 Bill C3351 provided money and an apology to the money and an apology to the families affected by the internmentfamilies affected by the internment

Only one Member of Parliament ever Only one Member of Parliament ever attempted to keep the promise of attempted to keep the promise of money and an apology – the money money and an apology – the money never came and the Member was never came and the Member was declared “Out of Order” when he declared “Out of Order” when he attempted to deliver the apology in attempted to deliver the apology in the Housethe House

KapuskasingKapuskasing Internment Camp Internment Camp

honouredhonoured almost a century later - almost a century later -

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