Canada’s Response and C anada Declares W ar

1. Canada’s Response and Canada Declares War

2. Policy Of Isolationism Canada practiced isolationism , keeping out of affairs Prime minister Mackenzie King didn’t want Canada to become involved in another world conflict and hoped that Britain’s policy of appeasement toward Hitler would be successful. The economy was slowly improving and King did not want the country plunged back into debt. Policy Against Jewish people refugees Canada practiced isolationism , keeping out of affairs Prime minister Mackenzie King didn’t want Canada to become involved in another world conflict and hoped that Britain’s policy of appeasement toward Hitler would be successful. The economy was slowly improving and King did not want the country plunged back into debt.

3. Canada Declares War On September 1 , 1939 Germany invaded Poland and sometime later Britain & France declared war on Germany this meant if Britain declared war Canada would automatically be part of the war. Canada decided to be independent and not join the war right after Britain did they wanted to be an autonomous country. On September 8th King called a special session of Parliament to decide whether Canada should go to war. On September 10th 1939 Canada declares war on Germany. Canada Mobilizes Canada was unprepared for war and there army consisted of only 4300 troops. they were unskilled and untrained. In the beginning of the war Canada denied any Aboriginal or African volunteers but soon they had to go against their racist ideals because they needed more troops.

4. The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan King hoped that Canada contribution to the war would be mostly supplies and training , rather than troops so that he could avoid the issue of conscription. In December 1939  Canada agrees to host and run the British commonwealth air training plan (BCATP). This air training plan had a major effect on the war disabling German cities and supplying Britain with food and artillery.

5. Total War The federal government became more involved with the planning and controlling the economy. In April 1940 the department of munitions and supply was created and industrialist C.D Howe was put in charge. Howe had a major control over what the industries did and how they produced it   Important Fact Canada was expected to join the war because Britain had declared war on Germany but Canada decided they were going to have a special session of Parliament to decide whether Canada would join the war. On September 10 1939 , Canada declares war on Germany but this time this was Canada’s decision that they had made on their own.

6. Interesting Facts - Many Canadians did not share the government's anti - Semitic views   - Some Canadians supported the dictators who had seized power in Europe or approved of Hitler's policies and hatred of Jewish people  - Canadians also believed that what was happening in Germany was a domestic issue that should not affect them.  

7. “Memories of 1914-18 were in everyone's mind , and we were now convinced that it was al going to happen again. Yet , strangely there was mixed with the dejection and wrath a curious and almost universal sense of relief. Well , we knew it was coming and it has. We’ll have to go through the whole bloody thing again” Ontarian citizen , 1939 “As the crises in Europe unfolded, King called Parliament into session to debate what action to take. Overwhelmingly , the decision was to join to fight against Hitler’s Germany.” Canadians Issues (1998) Quotes “I have boys of my own and I hope they are not cowards. But if any of these boys , not from cowardice but through belief , is willing to take his stand on this matter and if necessary to face a concentration camp or a firing squad , I shall be more proud of that boy than if he enlisted for the war” J.S Woodsworth, speech in the House Of Commons , 1939 Leader of the CCF BY : Naima