Naval Service Act

rdf:langString Naval Service Act

rdf:langString An Act respecting the Naval Service of Canada

rdf:langString The Naval Service Act

rdf:langString The Naval Service Act of 1910 (An Act respecting the Naval Service of Canada) was an act of the Parliament of Canada, put forward by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier to establish a Canadian navy. Prior to the bill's introduction, Canada did not have a navy of its own, being dependent on the British Royal Navy for maritime defence. The act intended to provide Canada with a separate naval force, but one that, if needed, could be placed under British control during a time of war. Both French-Canadian nationalists and British-Canadian imperialists opposed the act, which eventually contributed to the fall of Laurier's government and the introduction of the Naval Aid Bill put forward by Prime Minister Robert Borden in 1912. After the passage of the Naval Service Act, the Naval Service was established on May 4, 1910. the initiation of this act was a direct response to the naval arms race that was happening between Britain and Germany. Also, Britain supported this act because it was worried over the expansion of the German Navy. By the end of 1910, the Naval Service's first vessels were inaugurated, two former British Royal Navy vessels. The act also established the Naval Reserve and the Naval College. The Naval Service became known as the Royal Canadian Navy in 1911.