War Measures Act Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

The War Measures Act WHEN: August 22nd, 1914 WHAT: Parliament passed the WMA to allow the federal government more power in making critical and fast decisions during war time or invasion

War Measures Act When the WMA is in action, the federal government could: 1- Pass laws without the approval of Parliament 2- Overrule provincial laws 3- CENSORSHIP  news and media

Continued… When the WMA is in action, the federal government could: 4- Control production by manufacturers and farmers 5- Arrest and imprison people without trial 6- Label certain groups of people in Canada as enemies (or threats) -Control transport by land, air, or water

What were governments trying to achieve through the War Measure Act?

Enemy “Aliens” Who were we at war against? Immigrants: -before the WW1, Canada tried to attract Immigrants from Europe During WW1  immigrants of German, Austrians, and Ukrainian heritage were labeled as Enemy Aliens through the War Measures Act  800, 000 + people labeled “Enemy Aliens” Fear: these immigrants could be spies or could sabotage the war effort Is this true? Were all immigrants spies?

Enemy Alien Internment Internment: forcible confinement of people in camps The WMA allowed the government to place immigrants in internment camps: 8, 500 + people Including 156 children 24 camps throughout Canada What did they do?  build roads, railways  clear land work in mines  contributed to building some of Canada’s national parks

READ Textbook, page 31, “The Enemy Within”