War Measures Act

The War Measures Act (enacted in 1914) was a Canadian statute that allowed the government to assume sweeping emergency powers. When the act was invoked, citizens could be arrested and imprisoned without the benefit of trial or even a stated explanation. Some wrongly claimed that it created a state of martial law throughout the country. Martial law is characterized by the assumption of powers of trial and punishment by the Armed Forces which did not apply under this act.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Statute - Martial law

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The act was invoked three times in Canadian history: World War I, World War II, and most controversially at the request of the government of the province of Quebec during the October Crisis of 1970.

Related Topics:
World War I - World War II - Quebec - October Crisis - 1970

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The act was later repealed and replaced with the Emergencies Act in 1988.

Related Topics:
Emergencies Act - 1988

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