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For the 1916 British Act of the same name, see Military Service Act (United Kingdom).

In Canadian history, the Military Service Act was a 1917 Act passed by the Canadian government to introduce conscription during World War I.

On May 18, 1917, Prime Minister Robert Borden announced in the Canadian House of Commons that Canada would begin registering and conscripting men for the Great War. In the House, every French-Canadian Member of Parliament voted against conscription and virtually every English-Canadian voted for it. French Canadians voted against conscription as they believed it would divide the nation of Canada. French Canadians in Quebec at that time were mainly farmers and they believed their job was helping for the war effort. The majority won and the Military Service Act, which took away the right to vote from all who, because of their religious morals, opposed the war, became law on August 29, 1917.

Military service became compulsory for all males between the ages of 20 and 45. Only men in vital wartime production jobs, those who were sick or conscientious objectors (those for whom fighting was against their religious or other beliefs) did not have to join the Forces. When news of the high casualties was reported in Canada, it deterred many from volunteering for service. The war effort needed more soldiers, so on April 20, 1918, an order-in-council was passed that removed exemptions from the Military Service Act. This left farming operations across Canada short of much-needed labour.

See Also

• Alberta Supreme Court's difficulty with the order-in-council