Thesis: The War Measures Act, since its invocation, has been a negative influence in Canadian history as well as an insult to Canada’s diversity and multiculturalism.

Support 1:

The rights of Canadians were abolished for the duration of the WWI as the government felt that the only way to have full control of the situation was by stripping civilians of their liberties, as well as discriminating against other immigrants.

-       Privacy was not considered a priority and because of that, all the incoming and outgoing posts during that time were censored.

-       The right of habeas corpus was suspended and anyone who was suspected of being a threat to the government could be detained by the authorities without being charged and could be sent to prison, or deported and sometimes both.

-       Immigrants who wanted to come to Canada from countries related to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Germany were banned. Furthermore, the immigrants who have already settled were required to carry ID’s and were identified as enemy aliens. On top of that, these immigrants were forbidden the possession of firearms, not allowed to go anywhere without permission and prohibited from reading or printing foreign languages other than English or French. Even worse, many of the enemy aliens were sent to internment camps or deported from Canada.

-       Through this act, the government also disenfranchised any enemy alien who had become citizens since 1902.

-       In addition, the War Measures Act also prohibited the right to strike, and the freedom of expression.

During World War II, the Canadian government accompanied the Defense of Canada Regulations with the act, sending Japanese-Canadians to internment camps at the time of the war and any property along with money were taken by the government.

Support 2:

The government had full control of the economy, during both world wars because of the War Measures Act, through transportation, manufacturing, agricultural production and trade, which meant a lot of trouble for native business owners, famers and such as the government had right to their operations as they saw fit.

• One of the many examples of this supremacy was trade.

-       Businesses were restricted from dealing with enemy countries.

-       Likewise, manufactures were pressured by the government to produce items for war and not export.

-       At the same time, the government also established a Board of Grain Supervisors to manipulate the wheat market, restricting the sales of grains and such for the benefit of the war.

-       The government exerted its control further by introducing war tax on profits for businesses and income tax which has continued to this day. However, they were intentionally only supposed to be in effect for the duration of the war.

-       Again, in 1939, when the government exercised the War Measures Act, they sent many laborers to essential jobs, regulated prices, were able to direct rents and wages, appoint the amount of food one was allowed to have and alternate the amount of non-essential goods produced.

Support 3:

The third time and last time it was put forth was amid the October Crisis, where it became a handicap to the country since the point of origin of the kidnapping incidents came from Quebec and there was no reason for it to be issued throughout the whole country.

-       Due to this act, hundreds of innocents were arrested for being involved with the FLQ, when in reality 20 were only convicted.

-       Consequently, the country was inserted in more fear when Prime Minister Trudeau distributed Canadian Forces to surround the areas of Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa in conjunction with the local police.

-       In other respects, the government at the time was also concerned with the impact of implementing the act as it would not only affect the members of the terrorist organization but Canada as well.

-       Many critics later summarize that Prime Minister Trudeau was attempting to intimidate the separatists in to abdicating their belief, further negating the relationship of the French-Canadians and English Canadians.

Sources:

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0008439

http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/canada_war/tribune/website/clippings/War_Measures_Act_1942-1970/thumbnails.shtml

http://alethonews.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/canadas-concentration-camps-the-war-measures-act/

http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/specifique/immigration_e.html#1914

http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/readings/warmeas.htm

http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/chronos/october.htm

http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/docs/october/index.htm

http://www.dcf.ca/en/events/warmeasuresactdebates.htm

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July 3, 2011 by january1994