The Negative Impact Of World War One On Canada

World War One (WWI) occurred from July 1914 to November 1918 and was devastating to many countries. Although the war was fought overseas, WWI had a significant impact on Canada. The economy transformed profoundly, and the war strengthened the divide between the French and the English. The war also shaped the roles of women in the workforce and society.
WWI caused a change in the economy. Profiteering was a issue faced, this was the intentional cheaping of goods, specifically war time goods, for profit. The Canadian Minister of Militia Sam Hughes, commissioned items such as the faulty ross rifle, cardboard sole shoes, easily breakable shovels, and uniforms that disintegrated. As a result of this, for the first time ever, the government directly got involved in the economy. In 1915, the Imperial Munitions Board was created by

While the men went off for war, women found themselves getting jobs. 30,000 worked in munition factories, 1000 were employed in the air force, 2000 were nurses, and rural women became farmettes. The paychecks provided a freedom that women had not had before the war. Gaining confidence, women broke their stereotypical role in society by taking on typically men dominated jobs. This led to the 1917 Wartime Election Act that allowed a temporary vote to nurses and anyone related or wed to soldiers, however, this was a strategic way for Robert Borden to pass conscription. In spite of this, the suffragist movement was created, this was a organization of women who fought for the full right for all women to vote. This movement gained strength and in 1918 women gained the permanent right to vote, and later in 1920 the Dominions Elections Act was passed, which that allowed women to run for the House of Commons. Thus, WWI encouraged women into the workforce which in turn helped them gain the right to