Let's say Laurier decides that his legacy is more important than a silly cloture taboo, and uses cloture to pass the Reciprocity Treaty in 1911. No need for an early election, and time to try and woo back the politically promiscuous manufacturers. Like Chretien with NAFTA, I don't think Borden will rip up an enacted treaty given the immense damage it would cause bilateral relations and the path towards autonomous FP, plus being a cautious, sober political actor.
Canada 1911: Reciprocity enacted
- Thread starter RogueBeaver
- Start date
Such things are not solely the decision of the Prime Minister, though. It has to be presented to the House, and the Members vote on it. Is it going to pass? Maybe, but maybe not. Also, there is the mood of the electorate to consider.
Maybe just have Champ Clark not rail about having the American flag advance through Canada to the North Pole?
Laurier's probably gonna lose anyway. Even in the 1908 campaign, clear the government was almost outta gas and carried on his shoulders almost alone. Reciprocity was a Hail Mary, and Laurier's no longer at peak form. Amazingly for such a specialist in emotional appeals, he failed to articulate an emotional counternarrative or formulate a Mulroney-style punchy counternarrative. Combine that with the naval bill and he's getting whipsawed from both sides.