Federal Politics and Death
The Conscription crisis of 1917 divided the Liberal Party of Canada, and this division extended into the provincial camp. Liberal leader Laurier opposed Prime Minister Borden's proposal to implement wartime conscription, a stand which was denounced by many Liberals, especially those from outside of Quebec, as unpatriotic. Borden reached out to these Liberals to propose a coalition government, to be led by him and to include Conservatives and pro-conscription Liberals. Clifford Sifton was a major broker of the resulting deal and, when the question of a suitable Alberta representative in the cabinet came up, Arthur Sifton was a natural choice. In 1914, he had announced Alberta's willingness to sacrifice "its last dollar and its last man", and was a staunch supporter of conscription. He had agreed by August 1917 to join the Unionist government, and resigned as Premier in October.
Although he was only 58 at the time of joining government, his health was suffering. He was short of energy, and required a car to transport him even the several hundred meters from his Ottawa residence to the Canadian House of Commons. Because of this, he was given relatively undemanding portfolios: Minister of Customs and Inland Revenue, Minister of Public Works, and Secretary of State. Hall has called him among the least visible of Borden's ministers. Because of his health and his short tenure in each position, he made very little impact. Despite this, Sifton was highly regarded by his colleagues - had he been in better health in 1920 he might have succeeded Borden in place of the somewhat abrasive Arthur Meighen, and as Prime Minister might have held together the wartime alliance of Liberal-Unionists and Conservatives. Borden himself later stated "there was no one in whose judgment I placed firmer reliance".
Despite his fragile health, Sifton agreed to become one of four Canadian delegates to the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, along with Borden, Charles Doherty, and George Eulas Foster. There, he acted as vice chair of the Commission on Ports, Waterways, and Railways, and served on the Commission on Aerial Navigation. In these capacities he argued for Canada to be treated as an independent state at a time when its foreign policy was still managed by the United Kingdom. On June 28, 1919, Arthur Sifton was one of two Canadians to sign the Treaty of Versailles. For his services at Versailles, Sifton was appointed to the Imperial Privy Council in the 1920 New Year Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
In January 1921, Sifton became ill and took leave from his duties for a few days. After recovery seemed imminent, his condition suddenly worsened and he died January 21 at the age of 62. Borden mourned the loss of "a public servant of the highest ability and of the most conspicuous patriotism".
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