1. Canada Takes a Stand for Independence
Chanak Crisis
The Halibut Treaty
The Imperial Conference
The Balfour Report
The Statute of Westminster

2. The Chanak Crisis 1922 Chanak was a Turkish port controlled by Britain
Condition of one of the treaties from the Paris Peace Conference
1922 British occupation troops were threatened by Turkish Nationalists
threat to the British Empire

3. The Chanak Crisis Significance
Britain asked Prime Minister King for help
****First time we refused unconditional support for the British Empire in war
Fight your own battles!

4. The Halibut Treaty 1923
Canada and the US negotiated a treaty to protect the Halibut stocks in BC and Alaska
Treaty established the international Pacific Halibut Commission
Way to co-manage the Pacific

5. The Halibut Treaty Significance
Canada negotiated the treaty without involving British officials
British protested!
Seen as a victory in independent diplomacy for Mackenzie King
- Key argument at the Imperial Conference

6. The Imperial Conference of 1926
Conference in which the dominions of the British Empire requested formal recognition of their autonomy
Where Canada made its greatest progress towards legal independence

7. The Balfour Report 1926
Reported the conclusions of the Imperial Conference
Acknowledged that Canada was an autonomous community within the British Empire, and not subordinate to Britain
The Canadian Governor General was only a representative of the British Monarch

8. Prime Minister Mackenzie King
Leader of the Liberal Party

9. Governor General Lord Byng
Representative of the British Monarch in Canada

10. Arthur Meighen
Leader of the Conservative Party

11. The King Byng Crisis of 1926
In 1926 the Governor General refused the Prime Minister’s request to dissolve Parliament and call an election
Significance
- Mackenzie King publically challenged Britain over the role of the Governor General and Britain's influence on Canada’s internal politics

12. The King-Byng Crisis Story Time
1925 Election
Liberals win fewer seats than Conservatives
King forms minority coalition government with Progressive party, so King stays in power!
Conservatives Angry!
Call for a vote of disapproval over King’s Liberal Government
Progressives avoid scandal and back out of coalition

13. The King-Byng Crisis 1926
King asked Byng to now dissolve parliament call an election
Knows he will win a majority!
Wants a do over
Byng Refuses
King Resigns
Meighen asked to form a new government

14. The King-Byng Crisis 1926 Meighen Government fails!
Subject to a vote of non-confidence
Byng forced to dissolve Parliament
Election set for September 1926

15. Return of the King! 1926 Election
King and his Liberals win a majority just as he predicted
All of that drama for the same ending

16. The Statute of Westminster 1931
Legalized the Balfour Report
Formally turned the British Empire into the British Commonwealth
Canada autonomous within the Commonwealth
The Dominion of Canada now independent from British colonial powers
- We controlled our own foreign policy

17. Restrictions on Canada’s Independence
1. The British North American Act remained
Why?
Canadian Federal and Provincial governments could not agree on Amending Formula
2. Judicial Committee of the Privy Council remained the final court of appeal for Canadians