Why did some English Canadians believe Canada’s contribution to the South African War was too small?

When the South African War broke out in 1899, many English Canadians actively urged the government to participate in the conflict to support the British Empire.1

Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier faced significant pressure regarding Canada's level of involvement. While some English Canadians pushed for a robust commitment, others—particularly French Canadians led by Henri Bourassa—were actively opposed to participating in overseas imperial adventures.12

To manage these conflicting domestic pressures and maintain national unity, Laurier reached a compromise: Canada sent volunteers to serve under British command and with British pay, rather than committing a formal, large-scale national force. Because this approach was a middle-ground solution designed to avoid a deeper political rift, those who strongly identified with the imperial cause viewed the contribution as insufficient or too small.1