Which act gave the vote to Canadian women related to servicemen while excluding certain other groups?

• A. Military Service Act
• B. War Measures Act
• C. Wartime Elections Act
• D. Military Voters Act

Answer: (C)

The Wartime Elections Act is significant in Canadian history as it granted the right to vote to certain women related to servicemen during World War I. This act was introduced in 1917 and was designed primarily to extend the franchise to wives, mothers, and sisters of soldiers who were serving in the military. It was part of a broader effort to support the war effort by engaging more citizens in the democratic process.

However, the act also had a restrictive aspect as it excluded some groups from voting, notably immigrants from enemy countries, and thus reflected the prevailing attitudes of the time towards citizenship and loyalty during wartime. This provision thus highlights the act's dual focus: expanding voter access for some while simultaneously reinforcing barriers for others, creating a landscape of voting rights that was complex and deeply intertwined with national identity and wartime sentiment.

The other acts mentioned had different aims; for example, the Military Service Act dealt with conscription, the War Measures Act enabled the government to take various actions during wartime, and the Military Voters Act specifically allowed soldiers to vote while away from home, but it did not pertain to the voting rights of women connected to servicemen in the same way that the Wartime Elections Act did.