Economy and Trade

If you wanted to start a new business, or supplement your existing one,  during the Second World War it was necessary to apply for a commercial license with the Wartime Prices and Trade Board. This document is what a commercial license for retail and services would have looked like, in this case, granted to Herb's Electric Service in Coldwater, Ontario. 

This study was commissioned in 1940 "to help people make up their minds about future policy." The Keirsteads apologized if the final product was "a bit patchy and dull", but asked for forbearance in view of the importance of the subject.

By 1917, Sir George Foster, the Minister of Trade and Commerce, called for a National Business Conference to discuss the potential damage of the First World War to the Canadian economy, and the steps to take to combat the ramifications. 

The annual statement of the town of Newcastle, New Brunswick, from the year 1918 details how the town’s money was disbursed in the final year of the First World War - including over $7000 invested in Victory Loan bonds.

The National War Finance Committee published this guide for finance workers during the Second World War to provide them with "the information necessary to the effective performance of his duties" in the national program of saving and lending. This program was created by the Government of Canada and directed by the National War Finance Committee.

An informative booklet that covers the basics on how to apply for unemployment insurance, a new form of social welfare necessary to address some of the new realities of Canadian society following the end of the Second World War. This informative sheet mentions the active service time that could count towards the unemployment benefits time frame for application. 

The Second World War brought many changes to Canada, including the advent of a program of unemployment insurance. This booklet explained what was, at the time, a revolutionary system of social welfare.

This collection of War Contract Scandals, investigated by the Public Accounts Committee, was released by the Liberal party to demonstrate the government's misuse of thousands of dollars, on such wastes as horses unfit for service, overpriced drugs, poor-quality binoculars, submarines rejected as unfit by other governments, and defective Shield-Shovels. Also included are the results of investigations by the special Boot Committee.

During the Second World War, the demands of the wartime economy meant that non-essential tasks - like the issuance of certain financial statements - had to be curtailed.

Charles McGrath was in charge of Canada's fuel supply during the First World War, and in this speech he discussed various ways in which Canadians could serve the war economy.