The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

Canada: War Measures Act regulations authorize review of hundreds of newspapers and ban political organizations

CanadaRSF 2026 rank: 20th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

Canada invoked the War Measures Act at the outset of the Second World War and used it to bring in the Defence of Canada Regulations, which gave the government power to review and restrict hundreds of newspapers and periodicals and to ban dozens of organizations, including the Communist Party of Canada.12345

What happened

The War Measures Act was invoked again for the Second World War and took effect on August 25, 1939, one week before Canada's own declaration against Germany. Cabinet used the Act to bring in the Defence of Canada Regulations, which were implemented on September 3, 1939. The Regulations gave authorities power to review and restrict 325 newspapers and periodicals and to ban more than 30 religious, cultural, and political organizations, including Jehovah's Witnesses and the Communist Party of Canada. They also let the Minister of Justice detain, without due process, anyone who acted in a manner prejudicial to public safety or the safety of the state, and free speech was restricted as a result. Montreal's mayor, Camillien Houde, was arrested at city hall in 1940 and interned for four years in Ontario for denouncing government conscription policy. The Communist Party of Canada was itself banned the following year, and more than 100 of its leading members were imprisoned. The wartime Regulations remained in force until they were replaced by similar legislation on December 31, 1945.123467859

What reason was given

Stated justification

The Regulations let the Minister of Justice detain, without due process, anyone who acted in a manner prejudicial to public safety or the safety of the state, the standard the government invoked to justify wartime press restrictions and internment.6

What changed for reporting

Free speech was restricted and anyone critical of government positions risked internment without charge or trial; Montreal's mayor was interned for four years after he criticized conscription policy, and more than 100 Communist Party leaders were imprisoned after the party was banned.78

Timeline

1939

3 September 1939
Canada: War Measures Act regulations authorize review of hundreds of newspapers and ban political organizations

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
William Lyon Mackenzie KingimplementedPrime Minister of Canada

Sources

  1. War Measures ActThe Canadian Encyclopedia, reporting. Source record
  2. Communist Party of CanadaThe Canadian Encyclopedia, reporting. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Cabinet invoked the War Measures Act again for the Second World War.The War Measures Act was invoked again during the Second World WarWar Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 884, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. The War Measures Act took effect on August 25, 1939, one week before Canada's own declaration of war, and Cabinet used it to bring in the Defence of Canada Regulations.One week before Canada declared war, the Act was used to implement the Defence of Canada RegulationsWar Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 885, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. The Defence of Canada Regulations were implemented on September 3, 1939.The Defence of Canada Regulations were implemented on 3 September 1939.War Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 886, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. The Regulations gave authorities power to review and restrict 325 newspapers and periodicals and to ban more than 30 organizations, including the Communist Party of Canada.They gave authorities the ability to censor 325 newspapers and periodicals and to ban more than 30 religious, cultural and political organizations, including Jehovah's Witnesses and the Communist Party of CanadaWar Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 887, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. The Communist Party of Canada was officially banned and more than 100 of its leading members were imprisoned.the party was officially banned in Canada, and more than 100 leading members were imprisoned.Communist Party of Canada, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 891, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. The Regulations let the Minister of Justice detain, without due process, anyone who acted in a manner prejudicial to public safety or the safety of the state.The Defence of Canada Regulations also allowed the Minister of Justice to detain anyone without due process who acted “in any manner prejudicial to the public safety or the safety of the state.”War Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 888, checked 2026-09-26.
  7. Free speech was restricted and anyone critical of government positions could be interned without charge or trial.As a result, free speech was restricted. Any person critical of government positions could be interned without charge or trial.War Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 889, checked 2026-09-26.
  8. Montreal mayor Camillien Houde was arrested at city hall in 1940 and interned in Ontario for four years for denouncing government conscription policy.Montreal mayor Camillien Houde was arrested at city hall in 1940. He was interned in Ontario for four years for denouncing government policies that led to conscriptionWar Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 890, checked 2026-09-26.
  9. The wartime Regulations were replaced by similar legislation on December 31, 1945.replaced by similar legislation on 31 December 1945War Measures Act, The Canadian Encyclopedia.Claim 892, checked 2026-09-26.