CANADA’S GROWING

AUTONOMY
Autonomy
• Complete control over one’s affairs
• When Mackenzie King became PM, he was
determined to push for Canadian autonomy
 The Chanak Affair - 1922
• Britain became involved in a dispute with
Turkey over Chanak
• They asked for Canadian support if a war
broke out
• King said only the Canadian parliament
could decide (change from previous
wars)
 The Halibut Treaty - 1923
• Canada and the US worked out an
agreement on the fishing season for halibut
in the Pacific
• Previously, Britain signed treaties for
Canada (Huge deal…we basically told
Britain to stop making decisions for us!)
 The King-Byng Crisis-1926
(Yes..This Does Rhyme!)
• In 1926 Prime Minister Mackenzie King wanted
to call an election
• At this time only the Governor General could
dissolve parliament and call an election.
Gov.Gen.Byng refused to do this.
• King argued that it was unacceptable for the
appointed British gov.gen. to ignore the wishes of
the elected Canadain government.
• King vowed to fight to reduce the power
that the Gov.Gen. held. King was
successful (Byng lost the crisis!)
 The Balfour Report - 1926
• King was determined that Canadians should
make their own decisions without Britain’s
interference
• Balfour Report - Canada and other Dominions
were declared self-governing and independent
but remain part of a Commonwealth of Nations
• Governor General - be the representative of the
Crown in Canada, not the agent of the British
government
 The Statute of Westminster -
1931
• The Statute made recommendations of the Balfour
Report law:
• Britain could no longer make any
laws for Canada
• Privy Council in Britain remained a
highest court
• Criminal Cases ended 1933
• Civil case ended 1949
• British government could still amend
the BNA Act (our constitution)