 The Conscription Crisis of 1917 divided the Liberal Party of Canada , and this division extended into the provincial camp . Federal Liberal leader Laurier opposed Prime Minister Borden 's proposal to implement wartime conscription , a stand which many Liberals , especially those outside Quebec , denounced as unpatriotic . Borden reached out to these Liberals to propose a coalition government , to be led by him and to include Conservatives and pro @-@ conscription Liberals . Clifford Sifton was a major broker of the resulting deal and , when the question of a suitable Alberta representative in the cabinet came up , Arthur Sifton was a natural choice . In 1914 , he had announced Alberta 's willingness to sacrifice " its last dollar and its last man " , and was a staunch supporter of conscription . He had agreed by August 1917 to join the Unionist government , and resigned as Premier in October . 
