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Price Control in Canada
This pamphlet emphasises price-consciousness through an overview of Canada's price control policy and its effectiveness on combating inflation.
Speaking of Money and the War
J.L. Ilsley, Minister of Finance for Canada, was responsible for the nation's economic budget for the duration of the Second World War. These speech extracts outline Canada's pay-as-you-go policy to finance the war and its impact on wartime debts, taxes, and business.
Pork at war
This advertisement used a modern version of the old nursery rhyme to show that 80% of Canadian pork production went overseas, to feed British civilians and Allied troops in Europe.
Post-war price controls
This pamphlet, written by the Economic Adviser to the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, offers thoughts on Canada's post-war price stabilization program in terms of inflation, wage control, supply of essentials, and cost of living.
Selling postcards to soldiers
Printing companies that had used templates to make "local" postcards for tourists found they could use the same templates during the First World War, substituting a unit name in place of the city.
Letters from the front
There was a strong demand for soldiers' writings during the First World War. This collection of letters by "A whole-hearted, manly boy" to his family in Fort William, Ontario, was one of the more popular such books.
Advertising tires and rubber
This manufacturer of tires, tubes, belts, hoses, and boots had published a similar advertising book during the First World War, and used the same format in this updated version.
Commercial gasoline ration
The operator of this commercial vehicle was allowed 200 units of fuel each year. Each coupon bore the vehicle license plate number, to guard against misuse.
Gasoline rationing
Ration coupons were a coveted necessity for civilians. This is an example of "Special, Category A" coupons which governed vehicle licencing and gasoline allotments.
Can We Return to Freedom?
In June 1942 J.M. MacDonnell, a decorated veteran of the First World War, addressed a business group on the implications of wartime economic controls.
Armistice Food Products
The advertising decal not only celebrated the armistice that ended the First World War, but also the unity of the Allied nations in a common cause.
Buy British goods
To ease the strain on Canada's currency, Canadians during the Second World War were urged to buy British goods, rather than American, whenever possible.
"Paper is a Munition of War"
During the Second World War, the Wartime Prices and Trade Board printed and distributed labels that allowed envelopes to be reused, as a way to save paper.
Tires rolling to victory
This Sarnia, Ontario, automobile dealership used in its advertising a painting by Ted McCormick "symbolizing unity between industry and war services."
Wartime vacation - business as usual
One way to help Canada's economy in the early years of the Second World War was to encourage American tourists to continue to come north and spend money - hence this pamphlet produced by the federal government.
Cameras and Photography
Photography was subject to government controls during the Second World War, for tourists and locals alike.
Advertisement for Victory Special
A Second World War advertisement for a patriotic picture frame, aimed at the families of men and women in uniform, probably from 1945.
Have your soldier or sailor photographed
A First World War advertisement for a Toronto photography studio, aimed at the families of men and women in uniform.
Marshal Foch sells insurance!
This picture of Supreme Allied Commander Ferdinand Foch was used to advertise the London Life Insurance Company during the First World War.