What issues dominated the Canadian federal election of 1911?

The Canadian federal election of 1911 was primarily dominated by two major issues that ultimately led to the defeat of Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier and his Liberal government.1

• Reciprocal Trade Agreement: Laurier’s government negotiated a trade agreement with the United States to reduce tariffs on food and agricultural products. While intended to boost the economy, the proposal faced intense backlash. In English Canada, critics feared the deal was a "sellout" of Canada’s British birthright and a potential first step toward annexation by the United States.12
• Naval Policy: In 1910, Laurier established a Canadian navy to assist with imperial defense, a move that required the fleet to be placed under British command during wartime. This policy was denounced by nationalists in Quebec as imperialistic, as they feared it would lead to conscription for Britain’s wars.13

The Conservative Party, led by Robert Laird Borden, successfully capitalized on these tensions, securing a victory by aligning with business interests concerned about trade and French-Canadian voters uneasy about the naval policy.13