since the 1911 election, the country had been governed by the conservatives, first under the leadership of prime minister robert borden and then under prime minister arthur meighen. during the war, the conservatives had united with the pro-conscription liberal-unionists and formed a union government. a number of members of parliament (mps), mostly quebecers, stayed loyal to sir wilfrid laurier, however, and they maintained their independence. when laurier died, he was replaced as leader by the ontarian mackenzie king. after the 1919 federal budget, a number of western unionist mps, who were former liberals, left the union government in protest against high tariffs on farm products imposed by the budget. led by thomas alexander crerar, the group became known as the progressive party. also running were a number of labour advocates, foremost amongst them j. s. woodsworth of winnipeg, who had organized their political movement after the winnipeg general strike of 1919. meighen had played a key role in violently suppressing the strikers and this earned him the animosity of organized labour.