War Measures Act Passed
In August 1914 the Government of Canada passed the War Measures Act. The Act
expanded the role and powers of the government during the war. The Act was created
to protect the welfare of Canada. The government could make decisions that it believed
necessary to defend the country. This included the creation of
internment camps
.
People worried about immigrants from countries Canada was at war with. Some
people believed these immigrants would attack Canadians because they were still loyal
to their homeland. People called these immigrants “enemy aliens.”
Many immigrants were Ukrainians, who came from what was then called
Austria-Hungary to settle and farm in Canada. After the War Measures Act was
passed, thousands of immigrants were forced to leave their homes. Their money and
businesses were taken away, and they were made to live in internment camps. More
than 8,500 Canadian immigrants were forced into 24 receiving stations and camps
between 1914 and 1920.
Find a related web link at
canada150.beechstreetbooks.ca
.
Did You Know?
In 2008 the federal government provided $10 million
to create the Canadian First World War Internment
Recognition Fund. This fund helps educate Canadians
about the country’s internment operations between 1914
and 1920.
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