War Measures Act | The Great War Begins | From Vimy to Juno: Canadians Through Two World Wars | From Vimy to Juno: Canadians Through Two World Wars

The War Measures Act gave the Canadian Government the ability to by-pass parliament and issue order-in-councils that directly affected the war. For instance, factories that previously made tractors were ordered to start making guns and ammunition. Chapter 2 of the Act is shown below, described as "An Act to confer certain powers upon the Governor in Council and to amend the Immigration Act." Please find a partial transcription below.

(Joseph De Labroquerie Taché, Law Printer: Ottawa, Ontario, 22 August 1914.)

There are 13 sections in the War Measures Act. The following is a transcription of the most relevant sections, numbers 3, 5, and 6.

[…] 3. The provisions…of this Act shall only be in force during war, invasion, or insurrection, real or apprehended. […]

5. It is hereby declared that war has continuously existed since the fourth day of August, 1914, and shall be deemed to exist until the Governor in Council by proclamation published in The Canada Gazette declares that it no longer exists....

6. The Governor in Council shall have power to do and authorize such acts and things, and to make from time to time such orders and regulations, as he may be reason of the existence of real or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection deem necessary or advisable for the security, defence, peace, order and welfare of Canada…it is hereby declared that the powers of the Governor in Council shall be extended to all matters coming within the classes hereinafter enumerated, that is to say : --

(a) censorship and the control and suppression of publications, writings, maps, plans, photographs, communications, and means of communication;

(b) arrest, detention, exclusion and deportation;

(d) transportation by land, air, or water and the control of the transport of persons and things;

(e) trading, exportation, important, production and manufacture;

(f) appropriation, control, forfeiture and disposition of property and the use thereof. […]

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