Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

THE BEGINNING OF WAR, 1939war, an Order in Council was passed declaring that a state ofapprehended war existed in Canada and had existed sinceAugust 25.' This step was taken under the War MeasuresAct of 1914, a statute so comprehensive that it authorizedalmost any measure which was "by reason of the existence ofreal or apprehended war, invasion or insurrection, deem[ed|necessary or advisable tor the security, defence, peace, orderand welfare oi Canada . . ."•* An emergency session of Parliamentwas called for September 7, and although a declarationof war was not specifically mentioned, the Prime xMinisterstated that should the United Kingdom become engaged in awar with Germany, parliamentary authority would be soughtfor effective co-operation by Canada at the side of Britain.Six subcommittees of the Cabinet had been set up onAugust 30 in order to provide tor the proper distribution ofwork ciuring the emergency, with the respective subcommitteesfor supplies, legislation, public information, finance, and in-Council whoseternal security, reporting to the Emergencyduties were to consider general policy and to co-ordinate alloperations of the government.^ The armed forces were placedon active service, and even before Parliament assembled severalprecautionary measures had been sanctioned: on September1 the Censorship Regulations were put into force; twodays later the Defence of Canada Regulations were proclaimedand the Wartime Prices and Trade Board was set up; provisionwas made for the internment of enemy aliens on the 4th;and on the following day trading with the enemy was prohibited.*Plans for strengthening the Royal Canadian MountedPolice, including the engaging of several hundred special constablesfor guard duty at vulnerable points, had been authorizedon September 1, and on the 3rd the Commissioner of thatforce was appointed Registrar General of Alien P^nemies. Onthe maritime front, the extension of the War Risks InsuranceScheme to British ships registered in Canada was approved onthe 2nd; three days later an order was passed which providedfor the control of shipping; and the Kxchequer Court ofCanada was constituted a prize court. ^3P.C. 2477, Sept. 1, 1939; The Canada Gazette, Sept. 9, 1939.* Revised Statutes of Canada, 1927, iv, ch. 206.'P.C. 2474, Aug. 30, 1939.6P C 2481 Sept. 1, 1939; P.C.'s 2483 and 251C., Sept. 3, 193«»; I'.C ,2..21, Sept. 4. 19o9;P.C. 2512, Sept. 5, 1939; P.C. 2586, Sept. 8, 1939.^P.C. 2484, Sept. 1, 1939; P.C. 2485, Sept. 3, H)39, RC 2504 Sc,u. 2, 1>.39; P.C. s 2524and 2489, Sept. 5, 1939. For pri/e court rules sec I .L.li^h>, Sept. 14, I.M.».