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Naval Service Act
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Naval Service Act
The Naval Service Act (French: Loi du service naval) was a statute of the Parliament of Canada, enacted in 1910. The Act was put forward by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to establish a Canadian navy. Prior to the passage of the Act, Canada did not have a navy of its own, being dependent on the British Royal Navy for maritime defence.
After the passage of the Naval Service Act, the Naval Service was established on May 4, 1910. the initiation of this act was a direct response to the naval arms race that was happening between Britain and Germany. Also, Britain supported this act because it was worried over the expansion of the German Navy. By the end of 1910, the Naval Service's first vessels were inaugurated, two former British Royal Navy vessels. The act also established the Naval Reserve and the Naval College. The Naval Service became known as the Royal Canadian Navy in 1911.
The Act intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during a time of war. French-Canadian nationalists and British-Canadian imperialists both opposed the Act, although for different reasons. The controversy of the naval question was a contributing factor to the defeat of Laurier's government in the federal election of 1911. The new Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden, instead proposed the Naval Aid Bill which funded three battleships or cruisers, to be put at the service of the British navy. However, the Naval Aid Bill was three times as expensive without any benefit to Canadian industries, plus it could threaten Canadian autonomy. Although it passed the House of Commons after closure was invoked, it was defeated in the Senate by the Liberal majority. Thus the Naval Service Act remained in force, with amendments and modifications, until being repealed and replaced by the National Defence Act in 1950.
After the Canadian Confederation, naval army was a priority to the Dominion of Canada. Many naval battles happened in the Canadian waters such as between the British and French ships. Also, during the war between the British and Americans ships, Canadian waters were distributed. This indicates that The Dominion of Canada must be able to defend itself if a sea battle occur near its shores, which made it a priority in that time. The navy force began to be needed in the 1880s with fisheries disputes with the Americans. Britain had its own political concerns and did not want to be involved with protecting Canadian shores after the Canadian Confederation. Also, Britain did not want to anger the U.S. and break the relationship with them. As a result, Britain withdrew their military troops and left some ships to protect their interest in Halifax. Canada was left to no other choice but to create their own navy for protection against the U.S.
Britain's fear that Germany's navy would catch up to its Royal Navy has been coined as the "Dreadnought crisis". At the 1909 Imperial Conference, British officials requested help from the Dominion prime ministers, concerning its navy. This request imposed upon Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier what became known as his "naval question".
The proposal of the Naval Bill was for a naval force of 11 ships costing $3 million annually. As a result, the House of Commons was split. some of them preferred to contribute the money to the Royal Navy (Britain government) for them to benefit from the money and create more ships. Others favoured having a separate Canadian navy in order for better protection and to not depend on other countries for protection. It was important to initiate a Canadian naval force in order change the picture of Canada and can defend itself against predators. However, the Naval Service Bill passed on the third reading in the House of Commons.
Laurier's compromise was the Naval Service Act, which was introduced in January 1910. It set up the Department of Naval Services, which would operate a small Canadian Navy. Canada's navy was to be controlled by Ottawa, but during times of war it could be put under British control. Under this new act, Canada was to construct a naval college that was capable of training Canadian naval officers. This Naval College was constructed in 1910 in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It also proposed under the act that Canada would order the construction of five cruisers and six destroyers in order to create its own navy.
Within Canada itself, the Naval Service Act was very controversial. The act was strongly criticized by both French Canadian nationalists and English Canadians. Imperialistic-minded Canadians claimed that Canada was doing too little or was not showing enough loyalty to Britain. Conservatives famously dubbed Laurier's new policy as the “Tin Pot Navy”. The act was highly criticized by French Canadian Nationalists, led by Henri Bourassa. Bourassa felt that the establishment of a Canadian navy that could be placed under British control was even worse than transferring cash to the British Admiralty, and that Canada risked being dragged into every British war. In addition, the French-Canadian nationalists were concerned that the navy would mean conscription for the Canadian people.
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Naval Service Act
The Naval Service Act (French: Loi du service naval) was a statute of the Parliament of Canada, enacted in 1910. The Act was put forward by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to establish a Canadian navy. Prior to the passage of the Act, Canada did not have a navy of its own, being dependent on the British Royal Navy for maritime defence.
After the passage of the Naval Service Act, the Naval Service was established on May 4, 1910. the initiation of this act was a direct response to the naval arms race that was happening between Britain and Germany. Also, Britain supported this act because it was worried over the expansion of the German Navy. By the end of 1910, the Naval Service's first vessels were inaugurated, two former British Royal Navy vessels. The act also established the Naval Reserve and the Naval College. The Naval Service became known as the Royal Canadian Navy in 1911.
The Act intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during a time of war. French-Canadian nationalists and British-Canadian imperialists both opposed the Act, although for different reasons. The controversy of the naval question was a contributing factor to the defeat of Laurier's government in the federal election of 1911. The new Conservative government, led by Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden, instead proposed the Naval Aid Bill which funded three battleships or cruisers, to be put at the service of the British navy. However, the Naval Aid Bill was three times as expensive without any benefit to Canadian industries, plus it could threaten Canadian autonomy. Although it passed the House of Commons after closure was invoked, it was defeated in the Senate by the Liberal majority. Thus the Naval Service Act remained in force, with amendments and modifications, until being repealed and replaced by the National Defence Act in 1950.
After the Canadian Confederation, naval army was a priority to the Dominion of Canada. Many naval battles happened in the Canadian waters such as between the British and French ships. Also, during the war between the British and Americans ships, Canadian waters were distributed. This indicates that The Dominion of Canada must be able to defend itself if a sea battle occur near its shores, which made it a priority in that time. The navy force began to be needed in the 1880s with fisheries disputes with the Americans. Britain had its own political concerns and did not want to be involved with protecting Canadian shores after the Canadian Confederation. Also, Britain did not want to anger the U.S. and break the relationship with them. As a result, Britain withdrew their military troops and left some ships to protect their interest in Halifax. Canada was left to no other choice but to create their own navy for protection against the U.S.
Britain's fear that Germany's navy would catch up to its Royal Navy has been coined as the "Dreadnought crisis". At the 1909 Imperial Conference, British officials requested help from the Dominion prime ministers, concerning its navy. This request imposed upon Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier what became known as his "naval question".
The proposal of the Naval Bill was for a naval force of 11 ships costing $3 million annually. As a result, the House of Commons was split. some of them preferred to contribute the money to the Royal Navy (Britain government) for them to benefit from the money and create more ships. Others favoured having a separate Canadian navy in order for better protection and to not depend on other countries for protection. It was important to initiate a Canadian naval force in order change the picture of Canada and can defend itself against predators. However, the Naval Service Bill passed on the third reading in the House of Commons.
Laurier's compromise was the Naval Service Act, which was introduced in January 1910. It set up the Department of Naval Services, which would operate a small Canadian Navy. Canada's navy was to be controlled by Ottawa, but during times of war it could be put under British control. Under this new act, Canada was to construct a naval college that was capable of training Canadian naval officers. This Naval College was constructed in 1910 in the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. It also proposed under the act that Canada would order the construction of five cruisers and six destroyers in order to create its own navy.
Within Canada itself, the Naval Service Act was very controversial. The act was strongly criticized by both French Canadian nationalists and English Canadians. Imperialistic-minded Canadians claimed that Canada was doing too little or was not showing enough loyalty to Britain. Conservatives famously dubbed Laurier's new policy as the “Tin Pot Navy”. The act was highly criticized by French Canadian Nationalists, led by Henri Bourassa. Bourassa felt that the establishment of a Canadian navy that could be placed under British control was even worse than transferring cash to the British Admiralty, and that Canada risked being dragged into every British war. In addition, the French-Canadian nationalists were concerned that the navy would mean conscription for the Canadian people.
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