The End of a Career in the Opposition

The electoral campaign of the fall of 1917 found the Liberals once again in the Opposition. The Conservatives won 153 seats and the Liberals 82, of which 62 in Quebec. The rest of Canada wanted nothing to do with the Francophone Liberal Party leader because of his position on conscription.

Relegated to the Opposition in the House of Commons, Laurier continued to guide his members towards his vision of modern Canada. He worked to unite new members and older members, and tried to heal the wounds caused by the summer of 1917. Finally, he wanted to instil a new, positive vision of the Liberal Party so that it might regain its place of honour among electors.