The 1911 General Election

It is sad that there has been no mention during the current 2011 Federal Election of the federal election of 1911.  As a student of Canadian history, years ago, I learned that the 1911 election was one of the great turning points in Canadian history.  In a typical Canadian way, it was a great turning point because it continued the status quo.  The two major issues of the election were: 1. Proposed freer trade with the United States (called "reciprocity" at the time), and 2. a large commitment to military spending symbolised by the Naval Bill calling for the creation of a Canadian navy.
Prime Minister Laurier had taken a huge gamble of running against his previous record on the trade issue of continuing Macdonald's so-called National Policy of high tariffs.  Now, in 1911, he proposed returning to his much earlier sentiment in favour of freer trade.  Perhaps the largest constituency which had been calling for an end to protective tariffs were farmers, especially those in Western Canada.  Laurier had made several tours of the West and, perhaps carried away by the tremendous growth and optimism of Westerners, he attempted to negotiate a broad "free trade" agreement with the Taft administration in the United States.
The other issue arose from the growing arms race between the British and German Empires.  Britain had requested Canadian financial assistance to build more battleships and destroyers.  This unleashed a controversy in Canada with Quebecois opposed to aiding the British.  Laurier attempted to compromise by proposing a Canadian Navy.  Like many compromises, it displeased people across the spectrum. 
From this background, Laurier made another tactical error. He departed Canada to attend the Coronation of King George V in June of 1911.
While Albertans delivered 6 of their 7 seats to the Laurier Liberals, the combination of anti-Americanism in English Canada and Anti-British Empire in Quebec swept Laurier from power and committed Canadian consumers to a prolonged period of high tariffs and energized French Canadian nationalists.
One hundred years later - no mention of this decisive battle - and all too little discussion of any issues, let alone those of importance to prairie folk.  However, there are a lot of parallels.
1. French and English Canada motivated by different issues but perhaps contributing to the same conclusion.
2. Concern about large scale military spending.  This time American jet fighters rather than British battleships.
3. Western concerns overwhelmed by large voter blocks in Ontario and Quebec.
4. Question of the Canadian Prime Minister attending a Royal Family event in pre-election days.

However, it doesn't appear that students of Canadian history will long study the General Election of 2011 as other generations did of the election a century earlier.