Canada declares war with Germany
Canada officially entered the war against Nazi Germany on Sunday, when the Government gave effect to the almost-unanimous will of Parliament.
For the first time in history, the Dominion of the British Commonwealth, on its own account, by its own will, exercised the prerogative of nationhood by declaring a state of war. In 1914, the Government merely published the British war proclamation. Just 13 hours after the House of Commons signified its approval of the Government’s proposal to throw Canadian men and resources into war for the second time in 25 years, a royal proclamation was issued by Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor General, on authority of King George VI, announcing a state of war with Germany exists as and from Sunday. Prime Minister MacKenzie King, speaking in the House of commons, repeated his assertion of last March that the Government does not believe conscription necessary in Canada and “no such measures will be introduced by the present administration.” Rt. hon. Ernest Lapoints, minister of justice, speaking for himself and all the Quebec ministers in the Cabinet, told the House of commons Saturday they would support whole-heartedly the Government’s war policy and their support would cease only if the Government proposed conscription for overseas service.
- Kindersley Clarion, September 14, 1939