The+War+Measures+Act

media type="file" key="The War Measures Act.mp3"

The War Measures Act gave strong powers to the prime minister and Cabinet and limited the freedoms of civilians. It said that in a state of emergency (the war), Prime Minister Robert Borden and his government ministers could legally make laws without having to debate them and pass them through Parliament. The War Measures Act also allowed officials to arrest and imprison people without charging them with any offence. Furthermore, people born in enemy countries could be deported without trial.

 The Great War cost Canada about a million dollars a day. Prime Minister Borden knew that large amounts of money, food, and weapons were needed, so he used the War Measures Act to ensure that Canadian citizens participated in the war effort. For example, in 1917, a "temporary" income tax of 3 percent was applied to people with a certain level of income. Here are other ways the government directed the war on the home front:

 - The government issued War Savings Stamps and Victory Bonds with good interest rates. People could buy the stamps and bonds, with the money going toward the war effort, and then cash them in after the war.

 - The government formed the Canada Food Board to direct food production and consumption. People were asked to ration (limit to a fixed amount) their food so that there would be more to send to the troops overseas. The board set fines for hoarding food.

Questions
1. Do you agree with the governments decision to enact the War Measures Act? Why or why not? 2. Do we still have an "income tax"? How do you know?