Total War Canada in WWII Total War Crown

Total War: Canada in WWII Total War Crown Corporations Wartime Economy Social Security Conscription Crisis

Total War • The mobilization of the entire resources of a nation for war - government controls the economy - All industry now producing for the war effort • April 1940 Department of Munitions and Supply created - C. D. Howe put in charge

Crown Corporations • Businesses and industries owned by the government • Howe created Crown Corporations to produce for the war effort - Public sector not producing enough

Wartime Economy With so much increased production, people suddenly had money to spend Yet fewer goods to buy as most went to Britain

King and the War Economy King wanted to avoid the inflation and massive dept of WWI, so he took the following steps: • Encouraged Canadians to buy Victory Bonds • Increased Income tax • 1941 Wartime Prices and Trade Board froze all wages and prices • 1942 Food Rationing introduced

Cradle to the Grave Social Security • Social assistance provided by the government from birth to death • 1945 King expanded Canada’s Social assistance program by bringing in the Family Allowance Program - Help cover the costs of child expenses

National Resource Mobilization Act • 1940 this Act gave the government special emergency powers to take over the nation’s resources - Take over industries for the war effort • Allowed conscription for Home defence

Canada Votes on Conscription King held a plebiscite (vote) on Conscription - Being pressured to bring in conscription “ Not necessarily conscription, but conscription if necessary” • All provinces said yes except Quebec

Yes to Conscription • 1942 King amended the National Resource Mobilization Act to allow for overseas conscription - Riots in Quebec to protest • 1944 King conscripted 15 000 men for service - - 12 908 sent to Europe - 2463 reached the front lines