The Meighen Government

Sir Robert Borden, whose health had been impaired by the strain of the war, and who had perhaps read the handwriting on the wall, retired to private life in 1920; and the Unionist government was reorganized under Arthur Meighen , one of the ablest of his lieutenants. A convention was held of the supporters of the government; and at this convention the Unionist party was re-christened ¾ with singular ineptness ¾ “the National Liberal and Conservative party”, in the hope that this name would draw all men under it. The hope, however, was vain. The Meighen government gave the country eighteen months of honest and capable administration; but the tide was setting too strongly against them, and on December 6, 1921, they went down to a disastrous defeat. The Liberals captured in the new House 117 seats, the Progressives 66, and the Conservatives only 50. Meighen immediately submitted his resignation to the governor-general; and Mackenzie King was sent for to form a government.

The Second Meighen Government

The situation that resulted had in it elements of comedy, reminiscent of the ” Double Shuffle ” of 1858. It is [this custom has been abandoned since] a rule of Canadian political life that members of the House of Commons when appointed as ministers of the Crown, must resign, and appeal to their constituents for re-election. As soon as the members of the Meighen government assumed office, they automatically vacated their seats in the Commons. In order to carry on, a “shadow cabinet” of acting ministers was formed; but with the ministers absent from the House, the Conservatives were in a minority, and on July 2 the new government was defeated by a majority of one. Thereupon Mr. Meighen asked for a dissolution; and a new election was held on September 14, 1926. In this election the Conservatives failed to hold their gains of 1925. The Liberals captured a total of 118 seats [the number of elected Liberals was in fact 128], and they were able to count on the support of some of the Liberal-Progressive, Progressive, United Farmers of Alberta , Labour, and Independent members elected; so that they had a substantial majority over the 91 Conservatives returned.

Source: W. Stewart WALLACE, “Political History”, in W. Stewart WALLACE, The Encyclopedia of Canada , Toronto , University Associates of Canada , 1948, 396p., pp. 175-186

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This entry was last updated: November 4, 2014