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The act of conscription in Canada during World War One has seen to be one of the most controversial topics in Canadian politics. Some men were patriotically charged by the war effort in Europe and supported the idea of compulsory military service, while others believed military service should be voluntary, and therefore being of one’s own choice to make. The contentious topic of drafting young men had the public’s opinion split, and had the ideals and convictions of the Canadian government divided. After the Conscription Bill was passed, some men would respond willingly to the calling of their nation’s needs, while others would try to seek exemption from service, go into hiding, or receive the standard military sentence. Everyone had their own reasons for choosing sides regarding the issue of conscription. Surely, the Canadian government had their own rationale for finally installing mandatory military service, but the one historical fact remaining true is that when Canada first joined the war effort, Prime Minister Robert Borden claimed that there would be no conscription of Canadians to aid in the victory of the Great War.
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· Class 5: Those who were born in the years 1872 to 1875, both inclusive, and are unmarried, or are widowers who have no child.
Now that the possibility of conscription became apparent, it was only a matter of time before official councils would meet and decide whether or not to implement this system. The government has made every effort within its power so far as I can judge… I believe that the time has come when the authority of the State should be invoked to provide the reinforcements necessary to sustain the gallant men at the Front who have held the lines for months, and who have proved themselves more than a match for the best troops the enemy could send against them, and who are fighting in France so that Canada may live in the future… I bring back to the people of Canada from these men a message that they need to be supported, that they need to be sustained, that reinforcements must be sent to them… I have promised in so far as I am concerned that this help will be given. After this initial recruitment it was the job of the Department of Militia and Defense, headed by Sam Hughes, to campaign for voluntary service.
For the most part, many English Canadians saw the draft to be a necessary way to raise the enlistment numbers of French Canadians, the majority of which were living in Quebec. However, only 48,000 of these men were sent over seas, and only 24,000 men actually saw the front lines. Along with these, clergy from any recognized order were also exempt from this policy.
· Class 2: Those who have attained the age of twenty years and were born not earlier than the year 1883 and are married or are widowers who have a child or children. In May of 1916, Borden went to France to see the aftermath at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in which he witnessed the stress these soldiers were under, and the low spirits they were all in. As Canadian readers learned, the House of Representatives passed America’s Draft Bill 399 votes to 24, while their Senate passed it 81 votes to 8.
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