Canada's Internal Security

In: Canadian journal of economics and political science: the journal of the Canadian Political Science Association = Revue canadienne d'économique et de science politique, Band 12, Heft 1, S. 18-29

Abstract

May 8 and 9, 1945, were officially proclaimed V-E Days in England. On the latter day in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Mr. Herbert Morrison, as Home Secretary, announced certain revocations of the Defence Regulations which had been in effect since the outbreak of war in 1939. He stated that in accordance with the government's declared policy of relaxing war-time restrictions as soon as changes in the war position made this possible or desirable, advance consideration had been given to the question of what Defence Regulations could be dispensed with on the termination of hostilities in Europe, with the result that as of May 9, by order-in-council, eighty-four of the Defence (General) Regulations were revoked entirely and another twenty-five in part. He added that he was happy to announce the sweeping away of these limitations, the relinquishment of the exceptional powers entrusted to the Home Secretary, and the return to traditional British freedoms.In Canada, on June 14, 1945, an order-in-council was passed establishing an inter-departmental committee to examine the Defence of Canada Regulations "with a view to the revision thereof, including the variation, modification and revocation of the same." The inter-departmental committee so established was to report to the President of the Privy Council and make such recommendations regarding war-time regulations as it considered appropriate, and consistent with the vigorous prosecution of the war against Japan.The precipitous surrender of Japan hastened the relaxation of the provisions for Canada's internal security. Twelve of the Defence of Canada Regulations, among which were most of the regulations directly affecting civil liberties, were revoked by order-in-council of August 16, 1945. A month later, on September 14, forty-four of the remaining Defence Regulations were revoked and four others revoked in part or amended. The net result of these two orders-in-council was to remove most of the restrictions on liberties normally enjoyed by individuals in peace-time, but continuing in effect upwards of forty Defence Regulations, including some of those relating to enemy aliens, to protection of property, and to custody of Japanese persons, and those Regulations containing administrative and procedural provisions. It is therefore timely to present a survey of the nature and extent of Canada's Defence Regulations, and to assay their value in preventing sabotage and controlling subversive activity.