Dominion Elections Act

The Dominion Elections Act[1] was a bill passed by the House of Commons of Canada in 1920, under Robert Borden's Unionist government. The Act allowed white women to run for the Parliament of Canada. However, women from most/all minorities, for example, Aboriginals and Asians, were not granted these rights.[13] This bill was passed due in part to the advocacy of Nellie McClung, a women's rights activist from Manitoba.

Dominion Elections Act
Parliament of Canada
  • An Act respecting the Election of Members of the House of Commons and the Electoral Franchise
CitationS.C. 1920 (10 & 11 Geo V), c. 46[1]
Enacted byHouse of Commons of Canada
EnactedJune 29, 1920
Enacted bySenate of Canada
Assented toJuly 1, 1920
Legislative history
First chamber: House of Commons of Canada
Bill title12[2]
Introduced byHugh Guthrie
First readingMarch 11, 1920[3]
Second readingMarch 25-26, 1920[4]
Third readingJune 28, 1920[5]
Second chamber: Senate of Canada
Bill title12
Member in chargeJames Alexander Lougheed
First readingJune 29, 1920[6]
Second readingN/A
Third readingJune 29, 1920[7]
Repeals
Amended by
  • SC 1921 (11 & 12 Geo V), c 29[8]
  • SC 1925 (15 & 16 Geo V), c 42[9]
  • SC 1929 (19 & 20 Geo V), c 40[10]
  • SC 1930 (20 & 21 Geo V), c 16[11]
Repealed by
Dominion Elections Act, 1932[12]
Related legislation
Canada Elections Act
Status: Repealed

The law established the agency now known as Elections Canada with the position of Chief Electoral Officer as head of the agency.[14]

Background
Main article: Conscription Crisis of 1917

During World War I, the country was split on the issue of conscription. Ahead of the 1917 election, the Liberal Party experienced splits among individual MPs. Protests erupted over the government's plan to introduce conscription in what became known as the Conscription Crisis of 1917. Pro-conscription Liberals joined forces with the Conservative Party to form the Unionist Party in 1917, led by Prime Minister Robert Borden.

In an effort to increase votes for the new Unionist Party, Borden granted the vote to female relatives of active-duty soldiers. The 1917 election had the highest female voter turnout out of any other election, and the Unionist Party won a safe majority, with only Quebec voting majority Liberal.

See also

References
  1. Dominion Elections Act, S.C. 1920, c. 46
  2. Bill 12
  3. March 11, 1920
  4. March 25-26, 1920
  5. June 28, 1920
  6. June 29, 1920
  7. June 29, 1920
  8. SC 1921 (11 & 12 Geo V), c 29
  9. SC 1925 (15 & 16 Geo V), c 42
  10. SC 1929 (19 & 20 Geo V), c 40
  11. SC 1930 (20 & 21 Geo V), c 16
  12. Dominion Elections Act, S.C. 1934, c. 50
  13. "Chapter 3: Modernization, 1920–1981". A History of the Vote in Canada. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  14. "The Role and Structure of Elections Canada". Elections Canada. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
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