Arthur Gilbert (politician)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Gilbert was a Quebec
politician, farmer and merchant, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
as a Nationalist in a 1910 by-election.
riding
, occurred as a result of his opposition to the Laurier
government's Naval Service Bill
. The bill was seen by Quebec nationalists, such as Henri Bourassa
, as a sign of Laurier's support for British imperialism and, in particular, that Canada would send troops to support Britain in a future European war
.
Gilbert's by-election victory in Drummond—Arthabaska
, a riding once held by Laurier himself, was interpreted as a sign that the once solid support for Laurier's Liberals in Quebec was eroding, a trend that would contribute to Laurier's defeat at the hands of Robert Borden
's Conservatives in the 1911 federal election
. Gilbert's victory also indicated a growing nationalist mood in Quebec, which would later erupt in the Conscription Crisis of 1917
.
Gilbert's political career was short-lived, however. He sat in parliament for less than a year before losing his seat in the 1911 election to Liberal Joseph Ovide Brouillard
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
politician, farmer and merchant, who was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Nationalist in a 1910 by-election.
Election victory
Gilbert's surprise victory in what had been a safe LiberalLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
, occurred as a result of his opposition to the Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
government's Naval Service Bill
Naval Service Bill
The Naval Service Bill of 1910 was a piece of Canadian government legislation, which was put forward by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Prior to the bill's introduction Canada did not have a navy of its own, a state of affairs that left the Dominion dependent on the British Royal Navy for...
. The bill was seen by Quebec nationalists, such as Henri Bourassa
Henri Bourassa
Joseph-Napoléon-Henri Bourassa was a French Canadian political leader and publisher. He is seen by many as an ideological father of Canadian nationalism....
, as a sign of Laurier's support for British imperialism and, in particular, that Canada would send troops to support Britain in a future European war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Gilbert's by-election victory in Drummond—Arthabaska
Drummond—Arthabaska
Drummond—Arthabaska was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1968.It was created by the British North America Act of 1867...
, a riding once held by Laurier himself, was interpreted as a sign that the once solid support for Laurier's Liberals in Quebec was eroding, a trend that would contribute to Laurier's defeat at the hands of Robert Borden
Robert Borden
Sir Robert Laird Borden, PC, GCMG, KC was a Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as the eighth Prime Minister of Canada from October 10, 1911 to July 10, 1920, and was the third Nova Scotian to hold this office...
's Conservatives in the 1911 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1911
The Canadian federal election of 1911 was held on September 21 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 12th Parliament of Canada.-Summary:...
. Gilbert's victory also indicated a growing nationalist mood in Quebec, which would later erupt in the Conscription Crisis of 1917
Conscription Crisis of 1917
The Conscription Crisis of 1917 was a political and military crisis in Canada during World War I.-Background:...
.
Gilbert's political career was short-lived, however. He sat in parliament for less than a year before losing his seat in the 1911 election to Liberal Joseph Ovide Brouillard
Joseph Ovide Brouillard
Joseph Ovide Brouillard was a politician and businessman. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Member of the Liberal Party in the 1911 election to represent the riding of Drummond—Arthabaska. He was re-elected in the 1917 election and joined the Laurier Liberals March 18, 1918....
.