For ten years following the election of Sir Wilfrid Laurier as Premier, in 1896, the Liberal party was in power. This period was marked by remarkable eco nomic developments and the tightening of the ties of loyalty between Canada and the Empire. It was also marked by friendly and close relations between the United States and Canada. The partici pation of Canada in the Boer War indi cated her feeling of loyalty toward the mother country.
Differences between the United States, Great Britain, and Canada were success fully settled during Laurier's govern ment. This included the settlement of the Alaskan boundary, which had been a source of irritation for many years. The period was also marked by the develop ment of the rich vacant lands of west ern Canada, to which American settlers in large numbers were attracted. In 1907 the Dominion entered upon the develop ment of foreign relations, chiefly as a result of the objection against Japanese immigration and labor competition. As a result Canada was included in the com mercial part of the treaty of alliance be tween Japan and Great Britain.
The revival of the issue of reciprocity of the Unjted States brought about the defeat of The Liberal party in 1911. The initiative in the negotiations was taken by the United States under President Taft. Sir Wilfrid Laurier warmly favored reciprocity, but it was unpopular with the people, and the Liberals were de cisively defeated. Robert Laird Borden became Premier. Under his administra tion the Dominion continued to develop economically and financially, and at the outbreak of the World War it was pre pared to exert its entire power on the side of the Allies.
The part taken by Canada in the great conflict was a notable one. In the valor of her soldiers and the extent of her sac rifices she can bear comparison with any of the participants. The mettle of Cana dian troops was tested first at Ypres, where they stemmed the German rush to ward Calais, April 22-27, 1915. At Festubert and Givenchy, in the follow ing May and June, they sustained their reputation. Routine trench warfare fol lowed for the greater part of the year, but in 1916 they fought brilliantly at the battles of St. Eloi in April, Sanctuary Wood in June, Hooge later in that month, and at Mouquet Farm and Courcelette in September and October, respectively. It was in 1917, however, that they cov ered themselves with deathless glory in the taking of Vimy Ridge, one of the most brilliant achievements of the entire war. In the early days of the great Ger man drive in March, 1918, the Canadians performed heroic work in keeping the enemy in check, and when the tide of battle turned with the beginning of Foch's great counter-offensive of July 18, they were conspicuous in the work of driving the Germans out of France.
They broke the enemy's lines at Arras in August and smashed the Queant-Dro court spur of the Hindenburg line in September. Terrific fighting followed .at Bourlon Wood, Cambrai, and Valen ciennes, and on Nov. 10, the day before the armistice was signed, they took the town of Mons in a splendid bayonet charge. From the beginning to the end of the war their gallantry shed luster on Canadian arms. See WORLD WA.R.
The total number of Canadian troops participating in the war was 595,440. Of these 59,575 lost their lives. The total casualties reported up to Jan. 15, 1919, were 218,463, made up as follows: Killed in action, 35,684; died of wounds, 12,437; died of disease, 4,087; wounded, 155,839; prisoners of war, 3,049; presumed dead, 4,682; missing, 398 and died in Canada, 2,287. The total number of troops who were transported overseas was 418,052.
The personnel of the Canadian navy at the signing of the armistice included 749 officers and men of the Royal Canadian Navy, and 4,374 officers and men of the Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. Over 1,700 man in addition had been recruited in Canada for the Royal Navy and were on service abroad. The work of the home forces consisted in patrolling the Cana dian coast and waterways and in serving as convoys and protectors of the fishing fleet.
Five War and Victory Loans were issued in Canada during the war, the total subscriptions amounting to $1,432, 389,277.
Canada was also an important factor in the supply of munitions to the British Government.
Voluntary contributions to the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., and other socie ties, for purposes connected with the war, totaled about $95,000,000.
The years 1919 and 1920 were given up to reconstruction. In 1920 Sir Robert Borden resigned and was succeeded by Arthur Mighen, formerly Minister of Mines. In 1920 a new franchise bill was introduced by the Government. Accord ing to its terms the only requirements for franchise are British citizenship, resi dence in Canada for one year, and in the particular constituency for two months, and the attainment of the age of 21. These requirements apply in the case of male and female voters alike.
To meet the expenses of the Govern ment, a number of special taxes were put into effect in 1920. Modifications were made on the luxury tax and other forms of taxation which had proved to be un popular.