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Crossing the Floor

The definitive bilingual database of political floor-crossing in Canadian history.

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~15 other Liberal MPs (1917) | Crossing the Floor

War & Conscriptionfederal

~15 other Liberal MPs

1917Liberal→Unionist

2/5 - Some moderate benefit, eventuallyRe-elected After Crossing

Why They Crossed

The WWI conscription crisis split the Liberal Party. Most English-speaking Liberal MPs supported conscription and crossed the floor to join the Union Government.

What Happened

Most were re-elected in 1917. Many eventually returned to the Liberals after the war.

Historical Eras

WWI & Conscription Crisis (1914-1921)

Related Crossings

Hugh Guthrie

Liberal → Unionist

Same party switch

Frank Broadstreet Carvell

Liberal → Liberal-Unionist

Same party involved

William Stevens Fielding

Liberal → Liberal-Unionist

Same party involved

Brendan Maguire

Liberal → Prog. Conservative

Same party involved

2018

Leona Alleslev

Liberal → Conservative

Same party involved