12th Parliament of Canada
Sir Robert Borden was Prime Minister during the 12th Canadian Parliament.
The 12th Canadian Parliament was in session from 15 November 1911 until 6 October 1917. The membership was set by the 1911 federal election on 21 September 1911, and it changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections until it was dissolved prior to the 1917 election . At 5 years, 10 months and 22 days, it was the longest parliament in Canadian history. The parliament was extended beyond the normal limit of five years by the British North America Act, 1916 as a result of World War I .
It was controlled by a Conservative /Liberal-Conservative majority under Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden and the 9th Canadian Ministry . The Official Opposition was the Liberal Party , led by Wilfrid Laurier . The last year of the wartime parliament was dominated by the Conscription Crisis of 1917 . At the end of the parliament, a new ministry, the Union Government , was formed by Borden as a wartime coalition government including Liberals. Laurier refused to join and those Liberals who supported Borden took the name Liberal-Unionists . The Union Government went on to win the 1917 federal election .
The Speaker was first Thomas Simpson Sproule , and later Albert Sévigny . See also List of Canadian electoral districts 1907-1914 for a list of the ridings in this parliament.
There were seven sessions of the 12th Parliament:
Session
Start
End
1st
15 November 1911
1 April 1912
2nd
21 November 1912
6 June 1913
3rd
15 January 1914
12 June 1914
4th
18 August 1914
22 August 1914
5th
4 February 1915
15 April 1915
6th
12 January 1916
18 May 1916
7th
18 January 1917
20 September 1917
List of members
Following is a full list of members of the twelfth Parliament listed first by province, then by electoral district.
Party leaders are italicized .
Parliamentary secretaries is indicated by "‡".
Cabinet ministers are in boldface .
The Prime Minister is both .
The Speaker is indicated by "(†)".
Electoral districts denoted by an asterisk (*) indicates that district was represented by two members.
Electoral district
Name
Party
First elected/previously elected
Algoma East
William Ross Smyth
Conservative
1908
Algoma West
Arthur Cyril Boyce
Conservative
1904
Brantford
William Foster Cockshutt
Conservative
1904, 1911
Brant
John Henry Fisher
Conservative
1911
Brockville
John Webster
Conservative
1911
Bruce North
Hugh Clark
Conservative
1911
Bruce South
James J. Donnelly (until 26 May 1913 Senate appointment)
Conservative
1904, 1908
Reuben Eldridge Truax (by-election of 30 October 1913)
Liberal
1913
Carleton
Edward Kidd (died 16 September 1912)
Conservative
1909
William Foster Garland (by-election of 30 October 1912)
Conservative
1912
Dufferin
John Best
Conservative
1909
Dundas
Andrew Broder
Conservative
1896
Durham
Charles Jonas Thornton
Conservative
1900, 1908
Elgin East
David Marshall
Conservative
1906
Elgin West
Thomas Wilson Crothers (until 10 October 1911 ministerial appointment)
Conservative
1908
Thomas Wilson Crothers (by-election of 27 October 1911)
Conservative
Essex North
Oliver James Wilcox
Conservative
1909
Essex South
Alfred Henry Clarke
Liberal
1904
Frontenac
John Wesley Edwards
Conservative
1908
Glengarry
John Angus McMillan
Liberal
1908
Grenville
John Dowsley Reid (until 10 October 1911 ministerial appointment)
Conservative
1896
John Dowsley Reid (by-election of 27 October 1911)
Conservative
Grey East
Thomas Simpson Sproule
Conservative
1878
Grey North
William Sora Middlebro
Conservative
1908
Grey South
Robert James Ball
Conservative
1911
Haldimand
Francis Ramsey Lalor
Conservative
1904
Halton
David Henderson
Conservative
1887, 1888
Hamilton East
Samuel Barker
Conservative
1900
Hamilton West
Thomas Joseph Stewart
Conservative
1908
Hastings East
William Barton Northrup
Conservative
1892, 1900
Hastings West
Edward Guss Porter
Conservative
1902
Huron East
James Bowman
Conservative
1911
Huron South
Jonathan Joseph Merner
Conservative
1911
Huron West
Edward Norman Lewis
Conservative
1904
Kent East
David Alexander Gordon
Liberal
1904
Kent West
Archibald Blake McCoig
Liberal
1908
Kingston
William Folger Nickle
Conservative
1911
Lambton East
Joseph Elijah Armstrong
Conservative
1904
Lambton West
Frederick Forsyth Pardee
Liberal
1905
Lanark North
William Thoburn
Conservative
1908
Lanark South
John Graham Haggart (died 13 March 1913)
Conservative
1872
Adelbert Edward Hanna (by-election of 13 December 1913)
Conservative
1913
Leeds
George Taylor (resigned 25 October 1911)
Conservative
1882
William Thomas White (by-election of 6 November 1911)
Conservative
1911
Lennox and Addington
William James Paul
Conservative
1911
Lincoln
Edward Arthur Lancaster
Conservative
1900
London
Thomas Beattie (died 2 December 1914)
Conservative
1891, 1900
William Gray (by-election of 1 February 1915)
Conservative
1915
Middlesex East
Peter Elson (died 11 June 1913)
Conservative
1904
Samuel Francis Glass (by-election of 21 October 1913)
Conservative
1913
Middlesex North
George Adam Elliott
Conservative
1911
Middlesex West
Duncan Campbell Ross
Liberal
1909
Muskoka
William Wright
Conservative
1904
Nipissing
George Gordon (resigned 25 October 1911)
Conservative
1908
Francis Cochrane (by-election of 8 November 1911)
Conservative
1911
Norfolk
William Andrew Charlton
Liberal
1911
Northumberland East
Henry Joseph Walker
Conservative
1911
Northumberland West
Charles Arthur Munson
Conservative
1911
Ontario North
Samuel Simpson Sharpe
Conservative
1908
Ontario South
William Smith
Conservative
1891, 1892, 1911
Ottawa (City of) *
John Léo Chabot
Conservative
1911
Alfred Ernest Fripp
Conservative
1911
Oxford North
Edward Walter Nesbitt
Liberal
1908
Oxford South
Donald Sutherland
Conservative
1911
Parry Sound
James Arthurs
Conservative
1908
Peel
Richard Blain
Conservative
1900
Perth North
Hugh Boulton Morphy
Conservative
1911
Perth South
Michael Steele
Conservative
1911
Peterborough East
John Albert Sexsmith
Conservative
1908
Peterborough West
John Hampden Burnham
Conservative
1911
Prescott
Edmond Proulx
Liberal
1904
Prince Edward
Bernard Rickart Hepburn
Conservative
1911
Renfrew North
Gerald Verner White
Conservative
1906
Renfrew South
Thomas Andrew Low (until resignation)
Liberal
1908
George Perry Graham (by-election of 22 February 1912)
Liberal
1907,[ c] 1912
Russell
Charles Murphy
Liberal
1904
Simcoe East
William Humphrey Bennett
Conservative
1892, 1911
Simcoe North
John Allister Currie
Conservative
1908
Simcoe South
Haughton Lennox (until judicial appointment)
Conservative
1900
William Alves Boys (by-election of 10 June 1912)
Conservative
1912
Stormont
Duncan Orestes Alguire
Conservative
1911
Thunder Bay and Rainy River
John James Carrick
Conservative
1911
Toronto Centre
Edmund James Bristol
Conservative
1905
Toronto East
Albert Edward Kemp (until ministerial appointment)
Conservative
1900, 1911
Albert Edward Kemp (by-election of 14 December 1916)
Conservative
Toronto North
George Eulas Foster (until ministerial appointment)
Conservative
1882,[ d] 1904
George Eulas Foster (by-election of 27 October 1911)
Conservative
Toronto South
Angus Claude Macdonell
Conservative
1904
Toronto West
Edmund Boyd Osler
Conservative
1896
Victoria
Sam Hughes (until ministerial appointment)
Liberal-Conservative
1892
Sam Hughes (by-election of 27 October 1911)
Liberal-Conservative
Waterloo North
William George Weichel
Conservative
1911
Waterloo South
George Adam Clare (died in office)
Conservative
1900
Frank Stewart Scott (by-election of 1 February 1915)
Conservative
1915
Welland
William Manly German
Liberal
1891, 1900
Wellington North
William Aurelius Clarke
Conservative
1911
Wellington South
Hugh Guthrie
Liberal
1900
Wentworth
Gordon Crooks Wilson
Conservative
1911
York Centre
Thomas George Wallace
Conservative
1908
York North
John Alexander Macdonald Armstrong
Conservative
1911
York South
William Findlay Maclean
Independent Conservative
1892
By-elections
By-election
Date
Incumbent
Party
Winner
Party
Cause
Retained
Dorchester
January 27, 1917
Albert Sévigny
Conservative
Albert Sévigny
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Inland Revenue
Yes
Toronto East
December 14, 1916
Albert Edward Kemp
Conservative
Albert Edward Kemp
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Militia and Defence
Yes
Hochelaga
October 15, 1915
Louis Coderre
Conservative
Esioff-Léon Patenaude
Conservative
Appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec
Yes
Terrebonne
February 8, 1915
Wilfrid Bruno Nantel
Conservative
Gédéon Rochon
Conservative
Appointed a Railway Commissioner
Yes
Westmorland
February 1, 1915
Henry Emmerson
Liberal
Arthur Bliss Copp
Liberal
Death
Yes
Jacques Cartier
February 1, 1915
Frederick D. Monk
Conservative
Joseph Adélard DesCarries
Conservative
Resignation (ill health)
Yes
Prince Albert
February 1, 1915
James McKay
Conservative
Samuel James Donaldson
Conservative
Appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan
Yes
London
February 1, 1915
Thomas Beattie
Conservative
William Gray
Conservative
Death
Yes
Waterloo South
February 1, 1915
George Adam Clare
Conservative
Frank Stewart Scott
Conservative
Death
Yes
Champlain
November 7, 1914
Pierre Édouard Blondin
Conservative
Pierre Édouard Blondin
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Inland Revenue
Yes
Quebec County
November 7, 1914
Louis-Philippe Pelletier
Conservative
Thomas Chase-Casgrain
Conservative
Resignation prior to being appointed a judge
Yes
York
December 31, 1913
Oswald Smith Crocket
Conservative
Harry Fulton McLeod
Conservative
Appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New Brunswick
Yes
Lanark South
December 13, 1913
John Graham Haggart
Conservative
Adelbert Edward Hanna
Conservative
Death
Yes
Macdonald
December 13, 1913
Alexander Morrison
Conservative
Alexander Morrison
Conservative
Election declared void
Yes
Bruce South
October 30, 1913
James J. Donnelly
Conservative
Reuben Eldridge Truax
Liberal
Called to the Senate
No
Middlesex East
October 21, 1913
Peter Elson
Conservative
Samuel Francis Glass
Conservative
Death
Yes
Châteauguay
October 11, 1913
James Pollock Brown
Liberal
James Morris
Conservative
Death
No
Portage la Prairie
July 19, 1913
Arthur Meighen
Conservative
Arthur Meighen
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Solicitor General
Yes
Hochelaga
November 19, 1912
Louis Coderre
Conservative
Louis Coderre
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Secretary of State for Canada
Yes
Carleton
October 30, 1912
Edward Kidd
Conservative
William Foster Garland
Conservative
Death
Yes
Richelieu
October 24, 1912
Arthur Cardin
Liberal
Arthur Cardin
Liberal
Election declared void
Yes
Macdonald
October 12, 1912
William D. Staples
Conservative
Alexander Morrison
Conservative
Appointed Grain Commissioner for Canada
Yes
Simcoe South
June 10, 1912
Haughton Lennox
Conservative
William Alves Boys
Conservative
Appointed a judge
Yes
Kootenay
May 30, 1912
Arthur Samuel Goodeve
Conservative
Robert Francis Green
Conservative
Appointed a Railway Commissioner
Yes
Renfrew South
February 22, 1912
Thomas Andrew Low
Liberal
George Perry Graham
Liberal
Resignation
Yes
Nipissing
November 8, 1911
George Gordon
Conservative
Francis Cochrane
Conservative
Called to the Senate
Yes
Leeds
November 6, 1911
George Taylor
Conservative
William Thomas White
Conservative
Called to the Senate
Yes
Yale—Cariboo
November 4, 1911
Martin Burrell
Conservative
Martin Burrell
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Agriculture
Yes
Halifax
October 27, 1911
Robert Borden
Conservative
Robert Borden
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Prime Minister
Yes
Elgin West
October 27, 1911
Thomas Wilson Crothers
Conservative
Thomas Wilson Crothers
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Labour
Yes
St. Anne
October 27, 1911
Charles Doherty
Conservative
Charles Doherty
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Justice
Yes
Toronto North
October 27, 1911
George Eulas Foster
Conservative
George Eulas Foster
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Trade and Commerce
Yes
City and County of St. John
October 27, 1911
John Waterhouse Daniel
Conservative
John Douglas Hazen
Conservative
Resignation to provide a seat for Hazen
Yes
Victoria
October 27, 1911
Sam Hughes
Liberal-Conservative
Sam Hughes
Liberal-Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Militia and Defence
Yes
Jacques Cartier
October 27, 1911
Frederick Debartzch Monk
Conservative
Frederick Debartzch Monk
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Public Works
Yes
Terrebonne
October 27, 1911
Wilfrid Bruno Nantel
Conservative
Wilfrid Bruno Nantel
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Inland Revenue
Yes
Quebec County
October 27, 1911
Louis-Philippe Pelletier
Conservative
Louis-Philippe Pelletier
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Postmaster-General
Yes
Grenville
October 27, 1911
John Dowsley Reid
Conservative
John Dowsley Reid
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Minister of Customs
Yes
Marquette
October 27, 1911
William James Roche
Conservative
William James Roche
Conservative
Recontested upon appointment as Secretary of State for Canada
Yes
Winnipeg
October 27, 1911
Alexander Haggart
Conservative
Robert Rogers
Conservative
Resignation to provide a seat for Rogers
Yes
References
Notes
Succession
Parliaments House members Senate members Women