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The roaring 20's
People were eager to enjoy life in the 1920s and a number of many things were added to the excitement. Most people were enjoying it but not the Prairie farmers. They were suffered from a collapse in the wheat market. Many of them moved to the city trying to find jobs, as soldiers returning from the War created a large number of workers. Lots of people were going unemployed in this era. This resulted in lots of legal action and the politicians getting involved also britian. -
1922 Chanak Affair
Britain and Turkey were arguing over Chanak, a small area linking the Black and Aegean Seas. Britain asked for Canadian military support. Prime Minister King said that only the Canadian Parliament could decide whether Canadian troops would be sent. (i.e., Canada would make its own foreign policy decisions). -
1923 Halibut Treaty
Canada and the USA negotiated an agreement regarding the halibut fishing season in the north Pacific Ocean. PM King insisted that Canada, and not Britain, sign the treaty. -
1926 Balfour Report
During a conference of Britain colonies and Dominions, PM King sought greater powers for the Dominions. He wanted Canada to be able to make its own foreign policy decisions. Canada was declared a self-governing, independent nation. Canada was no longer a Dominion, but Canada agreed to remain part of the voluntary British Commonwealth. Commonwealth nations were equal and united in their allegiance to the British monarch. -
1926 King-Byng Crisis
Byng was Canada’s Governor-General acting as an agent of the British Government. Byng refused to dissolve Canada’s Parliament and call an election when requested by PM King. King accused Byng of ignoring the advice of the elected government, and King worked to alter the role the Governor-General. He succeeded. The Governor-General became a representative of the British Crown, and more importantly, the Canadian Government secured powers to communicate with the British Government -
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1927-28 Foreign Embassies
Canada opened a Foreign Embassy in the USA, France and Belgium. -
1931 Statute of Westminister
On 11 December 1931, Britain passed the Statute of Westminister adopting as law the Balfour Report and making Canada a completely self-governing nation.