{{Short description|Faction of the Unionist Party of Canada}} {{For|the British party|Liberal Unionist Party}} {{Infobox political party | name = Liberal–Unionists | logo = | logo_alt = | colorcode = {{Canadian party colour|CA|Liberal-Unionist}} | leader = Robert Borden{{efn|Robert Borden was not a member of the Liberal–Unionist faction, but was the de facto leader of the group due to his leadership of the Unionist Party}} | founded = {{start date|1917|10|12}} | dissolved = {{Circa|{{end date|1921}}}} | ideology = British imperialism<br />Liberalism | country = Canada | split = Liberal Party | merged = Liberal Party (majority) <br /> Conservative Party (partially) | wing1_title = {{nowrap|Faction within}} | wing1 = Unionist Party }} '''Liberal–Unionists''' were members of the Liberal Party of Canada who, as a result of the Conscription Crisis of 1917 rejected Sir Wilfrid Laurier's leadership and supported Robert Borden's Unionist caucus from 1917 to 1920.
Much of the Ontario Liberal Party declared themselves to be Liberal–Unionists, including provincial party leader Newton Rowell, who joined Borden's Cabinet, and a variety of Liberal MPs.
Following the dissolution of the 12th Canadian Parliament but before the 1917 federal election, Borden appointed a new cabinet, which included 1 former Liberal MP and 1 Ontario Liberal member of Provincial Parliament. In the 1917 election, many Liberals ran as Liberal–Unionists or Unionists against the Laurier Liberals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/election-of-1917|title=Election of 1917|work=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=March 18, 2026}}</ref>
After the war, most Liberal–Unionists rejoined the Liberal Party despite efforts by Borden and Arthur Meighen to make the coalition permanent by renaming the Conservative party the National Liberal and Conservative Party. Several Liberal–Unionists ended up staying with the Conservatives including Hugh Guthrie and Robert Manion.
== Notable Liberal–Unionists == {|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+Liberal–Unionists elected in 1917 federal election<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Elections/Profile?election=1917-12-17|title=General Election (1917-12-17 - 1917-12-17)|website=Library of Parliament|access-date=March 6, 2026}}</ref> |- ! Member ! Riding ! Notes |- | {{sortname|Frank Broadstreet|Carvell}} | Victoria—Carleton | Minister of Public Works (October 13, 1917 – August 6, 1919) |- | {{sortname|William Andrew|Charlton}} | Norfolk |- | {{sortname|Sanford Johnston|Crowe}} | Burrard |- | {{sortname|Charles Edwin|Long}} | North Battleford |- | {{sortname|John Flaws|Reid}} | Mackenzie |- |}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+Liberals in Borden's cabinet |- ! Member ! Portfolio ! Term ! Notes |- | {{sortname|Frank Broadstreet|Carvell}} | Minister of Public Works | {{dts|October 13, 1917}} – {{dts|August 6, 1919}} |- |- | rowspan="2" | {{sortname|Newton|Rowell}} | Minister presiding over the Department of Health | {{dts|June 6, 1919}} – {{dts|July 10, 1920}} | rowspan="2" | Ontario Liberal MPP (1911–1918) |- | President of the Privy Council | {{dts|October 12, 1917}} – {{dts|July 10, 1920}} |}
==See also== *List of political parties in Canada * History of the Liberal Party of Canada * 12th Canadian Parliament * 13th Canadian Parliament
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Sources== * {{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=John Holland |last2=Newton |first2=Arthur Percival |last3=Benians |first3=Ernest Alfred |title=Canada and Newfoundland |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=1930 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Canada_and_Newfoundland/8ySZ8H37idgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA757 |access-date=2026-03-18 | pages=757-758}}
{{Liberalism in Canada}} {{Canadian federal election, 1917A}} {{Robert Borden}} {{Liberal Party of Canada}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liberal-Unionist}} Category:Defunct political party factions in Canada Category:Unionist Party (Canada) Category:1917 Canadian federal election Category:Premiership of Robert Borden Category:History of the Liberal Party of Canada Category:Ontario Liberal Party Category:Conscription in Canada Category:Politics of Canada in World War I Category:Party switching