1. The King-Byng Affair

2. 1925 Federal Election
Prime Minister King’s LIBERALS win fewer seats than Meighen’s CONSERVATIVES
116
101

3. Progressive Party
King gains their support and refuses to resign!

4. Scandal ensues!
King’s Minister of Customs is discovered to have taken bribes and allowed liquor to flow freely to the US!

5. King reacts
King fires the minister, but then appoints him to the Senate

6. Progressive Party reacts
Slowly, they withdraw their support of the Liberals

7. Mackenzie worries…
…that he’ll be defeated in parliament, so he asks Governor General Byng to “dissolve” parliament in order to have a new election

8. Byng reacts…
HE felt that King should have resigned when he didn’t gain a majority of seats, so he REFUSES to dissolve parliament

9. King is forced to resign
Byng invites the Conservatives to form the government

10. Meighen loses a vote of confidence by one vote!
So Byng now HAS to dissolve parliament and another election is called.

11. The new Prime Minister is…
Mackenzie King! Elected in with a clear majority…

12. King seeks change…
In the role of Governor General! Claiming that the appointed official of Britain should never refuse the Canadian Prime Minister’s advice!

13. Today’s governor general:
Michaelle Jean