 Even though the war was fought in Europe, Canadians were afraid that Germany might attack Canada.  The Premier of BC even bought 2 submarines to protect our coast from attack.  Disasters like the Halifax explosion were blamed on German agents.  In reality, Germany did not attack Canada directly at all.

Halifax Explosion 1917

 Canada’s economy benefitted greatly from the war!  Britain was desperate for resources, ammunitions and armaments, and Canada was the perfect place to get these.  Why? It was safe from German attack.  By 1917, over 250,000 Canadians in over 600 factories were busy building weapons for the war.  The lumber, mining, and farming industries also benefitted.  Unemployment was eliminated!

 The difficulty of paying for the war brought changes to the Canadian government:  Spending went from $185 million in 1913 to $573 million in 1917 ( $344 million of that was for the war).  Income tax was introduced as a temporary measure to help pay for the war.  The government also decided to borrow money from Canadians by selling “Victory Bonds”.

 Because 500,000 men had gone to Europe, it became necessary for many women to work outside the home.  Many women began to run farms and work in munitions factories.  Now that women had a more important role, they began to get involved in issues that interested them:  Suffrage  Prohibition

 By 1918, nation wide prohibition was introduced.  In 1917, the Wartime Elections Act gave women with relatives in the military the right to vote.  Also in 1917, the Military Voters Act gave women who were serving overseas the right to vote.  By the end of the war, all women had earned the right to vote.

 Approximately 450,000 Canadians served in the armed forces overseas.  Of these, approximately 60,000 never returned.  Canadians fought very well in the war and won the admiration of their allies and their enemies.  In the beginning of the war, volunteers rushed to go into the army.  By 1917, fewer people were volunteering as news of what the war was really like was scaring them away.

 Because of the high casualty rate, Canada needed about 80,000 new soldiers every year.  By 1917, this number was not being met.  Result: Prime Minister Borden felt that conscription was necessary.  Problem: The French Canadians in Quebec were against conscription.  They were upset because the Canadian military had no French speaking units and very few French officers.  They were also upset because French schools in Manitoba were being closed down.

 Problem: The English Canadians in the rest of the country felt that the French were betraying Canada.  Result: In late 1917, the Conscription Act was passed.  This was opposed in Quebec, and resulted in a riot in Quebec City that caused 4 deaths.  In the end, 130,000 soldiers were drafted, but only 25,000 reached Europe before the end of the war.