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War Measures Act (1914)

The War Measures Act was adopted on 22 Aug. 1914, granting the governor in council the authority to respond immediately to an emergency and the demands of the First World War. The law gave the government extraordinary powers of coercion over Canadians, some of whom expressed reservations since the resulting suspension of habeas corpus was a threat to certain liberties. The War Measures Act was again invoked during the Second World War, notably for the internment of “enemy aliens,” and in Quebec during the October crisis of 1970.

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Other Resources

An act to confer certain powers upon the Govern... - Early Canadiana Online
Canada A Country by Consent: World War I: War Measures Act
Emergencies Act (PRB 01-14E)
Enemy Aliens - The Internment of Ukrainian Canadians | Canada and the First World War
History: August 22, 1914: War Measures Act. Content archived on 27 Feb. 2024 (original link)
Snapshots in History: October 16: Remembering the October Crisis and the War Measures Act - Albert Campbell District Blog
The History of the Emergency Act: What Are We Willing to Sacrifice? – NAOC. Content archived on 21 May 2024 (original link)
War Measures Act - Wikipedia
War Measures Act | Canada [1970] | Britannica.com
War Measures Act | Wartime Canada
War Measures' Act - Readings - Quebec History. Content archived on 19 July 2024

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