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Paris Peace Conference
Canada's war effort was a significant contribution to World War I, so Canada was invited to the Paris Peace Conference and granted separate delegation there. The Treaty of Versailles was a result of the conference and at Prime Minister Robert Borden's insistence Canada was permitted to sign the peace treaty as it's own individual nation that was completely independent of Great Britain. This was an important symbol of Canada's increasing authority regarding its own matters and affairs. -
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Canada Autonomy Timeline
Timeline of Canada's Autonomy -
Chanak Crisis
Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King’s first trial on dealing with major foreign matters and policies was the Chanak Crisis. After World War I, British forces located in Turkey were being threatened by Turkish soldiers. Canada decided against providing Britain with immediate military support, and this was one of the first times Canada had its own individualistic voice in world issues. -
Halibut Treaty
The Halibut Treaty was an agreement between America and Canada regarding fishing rights in the Northern part of the Pacific Ocean. This was also the first treaty that Canada signed and negotiated independently on its own accord, with no consultation in Great Britain. -
King-Byng Crisis
One of the main outcomes of the King-Byng Crisis was how it changed the Governor General's role in Canada. By taking more authority and power away from Britain, it ensured Canada had more control over its government and how it was run. The cause of this affair was Governor General, Viscount Byng, rejecting Prime Minister King's request for a re-election. King believed it was undemocratic of a British Official, and this was an indication of how Britain could still intervene with Canada's affairs. -
Balfour Report
At the Imperial Conference in 1926, countries (such as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa) that were dominions of the British Empire requested that they all receive formally acknowledged equal freedom to establish official foreign policies of their own. It was an indication of how Canada could eventually become its own formal country.This request was analyzed by Lord Balfour, a British foreign secretary, and it was later approved in 1931 through the Statute of Westminister. -
Statute of Westminister
Approved by the British government, the Statute of Westminister officially changed the British Empire into the British Commonwealth. This statute also gave Canada full autonomy by making its status equivalent to Britain's and granting it the ability to create its own legislation. Canada was now self-governing and was able to make its own decisions without consultation or interference from Great Britain.
