The Canadian Government decided to forgive & forget. In the House of Commons last week Defense Minister Douglas Abbott announced that henceforth the Dominion's 15,858 draft-dodgers, absentees and deserters would be exempt from arrest or prosecution. There was one exception : the order would not apply to absentees and deserters who are still overseas. To anti-conscription Quebec the amnesty brought immense relief: most of the delinquents hiding out at home are Quebeckers.
The move would save Canada around $12,000,000 annuallymoney which would have been paid to the delinquents (as clothing allowances, discharge pay, etc.) after their capture and punishment. But to...
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