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Post by tiaradesmarais on Jan 11, 2011 15:54:13 GMT -5
Canada was torn apart from World War I in many different ways. Their was conflict between the French and English canadians over conscription. Mackenzie king promised that in World War II there would be no consciption but he went back on his word after he held a plebiscite, a federal referendum open to all Canadian Voters. After this plebiscite passed he was able to bring in consciption. Although, at first he did not.
In this case King did not make the decision to bring in conscription alone, but he confided the country and the majority wanted conscription.
If the voters said they did not want conscription would King be able to make the choice on his own? When a leader bring in conscription, would they too be going to war?
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Post by Mr. Delainey on Jan 24, 2011 13:21:50 GMT -5
That is a good question. Would King be forced to accept a majority "no" vote when it came to conscription? I suspect he would have to respect and follow it.
I also suppose that there'd be certain things he could do to push conscription through despite a "no" vote, e.g. He could threaten to resign (a symbolic gesture that might compel some Canadians to change their mind). He could call an election and make conscription the main question to be decided by Canadian voters. This would be a most unusual step to take during wartime methinks.
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